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EUROVISION 2012: INTERNATIONAL COVERAGE OF CONTEST IN BAKU INCLUDES REFERENCES TO ARMENIA PULLOUT
http://armenianow.com/arts_and_culture/38298/eurovision_2012_song_contest_azerbaijan_armenia_hu man_rights
Arts and Culture | 25.05.12 | 13:44
The current Eurovision song contest in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku
has been highlighted by major international media and advocacy groups
not only for its musical value, but also in terms of the oil-rich
South Caucasus nation's human rights record, including its relations
with neighbor Armenia.
Euronews, a Pan-European news television channel, in particular,
reports on the latest arrests in Baku of opponents of President
Ilham Aliyev in Azerbaijan using the occasion of Europe's biggest pop
music contest to get their message across. It says: "For Azerbaijan,
hosting the glitz and glamour of the Eurovision Song Contest was part
of a charm offensive to put the ex-Soviet Republic on the map. But
increased international attention has also led to criticism of the
country's human rights record."
CNN also covers the street protests and clashes "inspired" by
Eurovision and also dwells on the boycott of the contest by Armenia
as part of the political background.
Azerbaijan's politicization of the song contest also became part of
a recent documentary shown by the BBC as part of its Panorama series
that included references to 2009 when Azerbaijan's broadcaster "pulled
the plug" on the performance by an Armenian duet and the country's
national security summoned several people for questioning over their
voting for the Armenia entry.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International's Azerbaijan campaigner Max Tucker,
who is currently in the country's capital Baku writes: "Despite
publicly committing to support free expression in Azerbaijan, the
European Broadcasting Union has maintained a deathly silence on recent
repeated violations of that right. The lack of action by the EBU and
the international community is giving the authorities carte blanche
to continue violently crushing dissent without consequence."
Armenia pulled out of this year's Eurovision contest accusing the
Azerbaijani leadership of having an anti-Armenian stance. The Public
Television of Armenia has not broadcast the two semifinals of the
competition on May 22 and 24. It remains unclear whether H1 will
broadcast the final show on Saturday night. By not broadcasting the
show Armenia risks exclusion from next year's participation in the
popular contest.
http://armenianow.com/arts_and_culture/38298/eurovision_2012_song_contest_azerbaijan_armenia_hu man_rights
Arts and Culture | 25.05.12 | 13:44
The current Eurovision song contest in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku
has been highlighted by major international media and advocacy groups
not only for its musical value, but also in terms of the oil-rich
South Caucasus nation's human rights record, including its relations
with neighbor Armenia.
Euronews, a Pan-European news television channel, in particular,
reports on the latest arrests in Baku of opponents of President
Ilham Aliyev in Azerbaijan using the occasion of Europe's biggest pop
music contest to get their message across. It says: "For Azerbaijan,
hosting the glitz and glamour of the Eurovision Song Contest was part
of a charm offensive to put the ex-Soviet Republic on the map. But
increased international attention has also led to criticism of the
country's human rights record."
CNN also covers the street protests and clashes "inspired" by
Eurovision and also dwells on the boycott of the contest by Armenia
as part of the political background.
Azerbaijan's politicization of the song contest also became part of
a recent documentary shown by the BBC as part of its Panorama series
that included references to 2009 when Azerbaijan's broadcaster "pulled
the plug" on the performance by an Armenian duet and the country's
national security summoned several people for questioning over their
voting for the Armenia entry.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International's Azerbaijan campaigner Max Tucker,
who is currently in the country's capital Baku writes: "Despite
publicly committing to support free expression in Azerbaijan, the
European Broadcasting Union has maintained a deathly silence on recent
repeated violations of that right. The lack of action by the EBU and
the international community is giving the authorities carte blanche
to continue violently crushing dissent without consequence."
Armenia pulled out of this year's Eurovision contest accusing the
Azerbaijani leadership of having an anti-Armenian stance. The Public
Television of Armenia has not broadcast the two semifinals of the
competition on May 22 and 24. It remains unclear whether H1 will
broadcast the final show on Saturday night. By not broadcasting the
show Armenia risks exclusion from next year's participation in the
popular contest.