Responding to a question from journalist Thornsten Jungholt on Baku’s hosting the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov noted his gladness that his country won the right to host it in May this year.
Mammadyarov emphasized that democratization, respect for human rights and rule of law are priority aspects of Azerbaijani policy. He reminded that Azerbaijan is a member of many international organizations, such as the UN, the Council of Europe and the OSCE. The country has free parties and opposition, many of which publish their own papers and have websites criticizing the government.
The foreign minister noted that he understands people politicizing Azerbaijan’s hosting the contest. But it is mainly a cultural event, not political, and everyone has the right to their own opinion.
Commenting on Armenia’s boycott of the contest and possible escalation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Mammadyarov emphasized that the Eurovision Song Contest must not be used for political purposes, especially within the framework of Nagorno-Karabakh.
The minister reminded that Nagorno-Karabakh is Azerbaijani territory occupied by Armenia. The territory has been occupied for 20 years, despite demands of UN resolutions to withdraw. Mammadyarov says that negotiations have brought no results, yet Azerbaijan is willing to continue them.
