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WHO MADE OUTRAGEOUS DECISION ON PARTICIPATION IN BAKU OLYMPICS?
Siranuysh Papyan, Interviewer
Interview - 11 March 2015, 16:02
Mr. Papyan, the National Olympic Committee decided to participate in
the first European Olympics in Baku in summer. What is your opinion
on this decision and does it contain risks?
Ahead of the European Olympics in Baku some European organizations,
including human rights organizations, have been calling their
countries to boycott the games for the violations of human rights in
that country.
At least several such statements have been published in press.
Now in this context there is no need to hurry and announce a decision
on participation. As if we are hereby telling the whole world that
human rights are not violated in Baku, everything is fine, whereas
we know a lot of cases when our civilians, having lost their way into
Azerbaijan, were killed, tortured to death. At least, I would not hurry
yet, it is still March, we could take our time to make a decision. We
have been placed in a setting where if tomorrow the situation gets
worse, and we refuse, we will appear in a very bad situation.
Could the Olympic Committee make this decision beyond the policy
of Armenia?
Of course, not. I think this is a decision made outside Armenia. Not
even the Armenian government made this decision. Some are again doing
a favor to Baku at our expense.
Do you think as of now that it will be possible to cancel this
decision? And why would they ever make a decision for us outside?
Well, there are no facts, it's just my assumption. Such a hasty
decision was not in our interests. Where do we rush, why couldn't
we do it in June, considering that the games will be in mid-July? We
could at least wait to see how it is going. It is changing every day,
that country is killing an [Armenian soldier] every day. After all, the
ceasefire is an international commitment. People signed and committed
to respect the truce, they were begging that truce and now they are
breaching it. I think one should not deal with such people at all
because sports are fair competition, and we have seen one hundred
times that they are not fair players even in sports.
Besides, sport is politics.
It is big politics. You know the teams that Azerbaijan invites and
covers their expenses fully. This is something unique, in other words,
Azerbaijan is bribing everyone, making a showcase. And we are going
to participate in that show. What are we trying to demonstrate to the
world? That we are so good? Or what are we after? A couple of stupid
medals? What are we going to do with the medals of Baku Olympics?
Note that we boycotted Eurovision in Baku.
We have boycotted more narrow things, and this is a big show. Let
alone the serious psychological problem for our tourists. Security is
also important but there is a psychological problem too. How will our
athletes perform? Will they perform outrageously? And then we will not
be able to criticize our athletes because it is really hard. There
is a general mania in our politics to appear good. We want to look
like something fluffy to make sure that we don't hurt anybody.
After all, we are at war with Azerbaijan. Everyone understands that
the war is still going on. I don't understand whether we could imagine
that countries would participate if the Olympics were held in Germany
in 1940. Imagine the USSR participating in the 1920 Olympics in Berlin
to make sure that everyone said it's so nice of the USSR. Since the
beginning of this year, January 1, we have a victim every day. So,
such a decision is not comprehensible.
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/interview/view/33745#sthash.gepEmrR6.dpuf
From: A. Papazian
Siranuysh Papyan, Interviewer
Interview - 11 March 2015, 16:02
Mr. Papyan, the National Olympic Committee decided to participate in
the first European Olympics in Baku in summer. What is your opinion
on this decision and does it contain risks?
Ahead of the European Olympics in Baku some European organizations,
including human rights organizations, have been calling their
countries to boycott the games for the violations of human rights in
that country.
At least several such statements have been published in press.
Now in this context there is no need to hurry and announce a decision
on participation. As if we are hereby telling the whole world that
human rights are not violated in Baku, everything is fine, whereas
we know a lot of cases when our civilians, having lost their way into
Azerbaijan, were killed, tortured to death. At least, I would not hurry
yet, it is still March, we could take our time to make a decision. We
have been placed in a setting where if tomorrow the situation gets
worse, and we refuse, we will appear in a very bad situation.
Could the Olympic Committee make this decision beyond the policy
of Armenia?
Of course, not. I think this is a decision made outside Armenia. Not
even the Armenian government made this decision. Some are again doing
a favor to Baku at our expense.
Do you think as of now that it will be possible to cancel this
decision? And why would they ever make a decision for us outside?
Well, there are no facts, it's just my assumption. Such a hasty
decision was not in our interests. Where do we rush, why couldn't
we do it in June, considering that the games will be in mid-July? We
could at least wait to see how it is going. It is changing every day,
that country is killing an [Armenian soldier] every day. After all, the
ceasefire is an international commitment. People signed and committed
to respect the truce, they were begging that truce and now they are
breaching it. I think one should not deal with such people at all
because sports are fair competition, and we have seen one hundred
times that they are not fair players even in sports.
Besides, sport is politics.
It is big politics. You know the teams that Azerbaijan invites and
covers their expenses fully. This is something unique, in other words,
Azerbaijan is bribing everyone, making a showcase. And we are going
to participate in that show. What are we trying to demonstrate to the
world? That we are so good? Or what are we after? A couple of stupid
medals? What are we going to do with the medals of Baku Olympics?
Note that we boycotted Eurovision in Baku.
We have boycotted more narrow things, and this is a big show. Let
alone the serious psychological problem for our tourists. Security is
also important but there is a psychological problem too. How will our
athletes perform? Will they perform outrageously? And then we will not
be able to criticize our athletes because it is really hard. There
is a general mania in our politics to appear good. We want to look
like something fluffy to make sure that we don't hurt anybody.
After all, we are at war with Azerbaijan. Everyone understands that
the war is still going on. I don't understand whether we could imagine
that countries would participate if the Olympics were held in Germany
in 1940. Imagine the USSR participating in the 1920 Olympics in Berlin
to make sure that everyone said it's so nice of the USSR. Since the
beginning of this year, January 1, we have a victim every day. So,
such a decision is not comprehensible.
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/interview/view/33745#sthash.gepEmrR6.dpuf
From: A. Papazian