Tweet
Armenia and European Games: Pluses and minuses of visiting Baku
16:40 * 14.03.15
The Armenian sportsmen participating in the European Games in Baku
will enjoy the highest-level protection during their stay, says the
head of the National Olympic Committee's Department for Relations with
Federations.
"Guarantees have been given by both the Olympic Committee and the
Azerbaijani authorities and president," Gagik Bolshikyan told Tert.am,
commenting upon the advantages and disadvantages of Armenia's presence
at the sporting event.
Asked whether the national team team may face any restrictions, the
official he doesn't expect more than a precautionary decision against
touring the city. "If what is called restrictions applies to such
absurd things as avoiding hosting the Armenian flags in case of a
victory, that's ruled out," he said.
Addressing the topic, Karen Bekaryan, a political analyst who heads
the NGO European Integration, first of all stressed the importance of
security guarantees. "If the decision made is for participation, they
have apparently given guarantees," he told our correspondent.
Bekaryan said he thinks that the general attitude to the country would
be different had European countries raised boycott against
Azerbaijan's poor human rights and democracy record. "Armenia was not
supposed to initiate that. Armenia might have jointed [such a
campaign] if there was any, but what we hear are only calls, not
facts. So I don't think proactive steps by Armenia would have been
perceivable," he added.
Bekaryan said he only hopes that the international community's
attention to the games will cause Azerbaijan to abstain from tension
along the border with Armenia or the Line of Contact surrounding
Nagorno-Karabakh. "Azerbaijan's ruling government, i.e. - the Aliuev
clan, have not always fitted itself into what can be called logic or
image," he added.
Speaking to Tert.am, Professor Alexander Manasyan said he doesn't
positively treat the National Committee's decision. "I wouldn't go,
for instance, given that a genocide of Armenians was committed there.
So before going, they should have offered their apologies for the
Azerbaijani-Armenians' genocide," he said.
The expert said he thinks that the demand for recognizing the
1988-1990 Armenian pogroms in Azerbaijan as a crime of genocide would
be treated as a fair cause rather than a boycott, raising the world's
awareness of the tragic events.
"Going to a city which has seen a genocide of Armenians and heard no
subsequent word of repentance is not permissible," he added.
Manasyan said he thinks that non-attendance would raise more questions
for the world than the decision to send sportsmen to Baku.
"Azerbaijani-Armenians could have made a statement condemning the
Armenian sportsmen's presence in a city where a crime of genocide was
committed but never reacted to," he noted.
Manasyan said he expects absolutely anything from a country like Azerbaijan.
"With these games, it is raising its repute. So instead of complaining
about Europe's choice of Baku, we are raising Azerbaijan's image," he
added.
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2015/03/14/europeangames/1615292
16:40 * 14.03.15
The Armenian sportsmen participating in the European Games in Baku
will enjoy the highest-level protection during their stay, says the
head of the National Olympic Committee's Department for Relations with
Federations.
"Guarantees have been given by both the Olympic Committee and the
Azerbaijani authorities and president," Gagik Bolshikyan told Tert.am,
commenting upon the advantages and disadvantages of Armenia's presence
at the sporting event.
Asked whether the national team team may face any restrictions, the
official he doesn't expect more than a precautionary decision against
touring the city. "If what is called restrictions applies to such
absurd things as avoiding hosting the Armenian flags in case of a
victory, that's ruled out," he said.
Addressing the topic, Karen Bekaryan, a political analyst who heads
the NGO European Integration, first of all stressed the importance of
security guarantees. "If the decision made is for participation, they
have apparently given guarantees," he told our correspondent.
Bekaryan said he thinks that the general attitude to the country would
be different had European countries raised boycott against
Azerbaijan's poor human rights and democracy record. "Armenia was not
supposed to initiate that. Armenia might have jointed [such a
campaign] if there was any, but what we hear are only calls, not
facts. So I don't think proactive steps by Armenia would have been
perceivable," he added.
Bekaryan said he only hopes that the international community's
attention to the games will cause Azerbaijan to abstain from tension
along the border with Armenia or the Line of Contact surrounding
Nagorno-Karabakh. "Azerbaijan's ruling government, i.e. - the Aliuev
clan, have not always fitted itself into what can be called logic or
image," he added.
Speaking to Tert.am, Professor Alexander Manasyan said he doesn't
positively treat the National Committee's decision. "I wouldn't go,
for instance, given that a genocide of Armenians was committed there.
So before going, they should have offered their apologies for the
Azerbaijani-Armenians' genocide," he said.
The expert said he thinks that the demand for recognizing the
1988-1990 Armenian pogroms in Azerbaijan as a crime of genocide would
be treated as a fair cause rather than a boycott, raising the world's
awareness of the tragic events.
"Going to a city which has seen a genocide of Armenians and heard no
subsequent word of repentance is not permissible," he added.
Manasyan said he thinks that non-attendance would raise more questions
for the world than the decision to send sportsmen to Baku.
"Azerbaijani-Armenians could have made a statement condemning the
Armenian sportsmen's presence in a city where a crime of genocide was
committed but never reacted to," he noted.
Manasyan said he expects absolutely anything from a country like Azerbaijan.
"With these games, it is raising its repute. So instead of complaining
about Europe's choice of Baku, we are raising Azerbaijan's image," he
added.
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2015/03/14/europeangames/1615292