Armenia’s Eurovision boycott dashed Karabakh settlement hopes – NYT

March 9, 2012 - 15:54 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Article titled “Armenians Are Shunning Song Contest in Azerbaijan” published by journalist Andrew E. Kramer in The New York Times deems Armenia’s Eurovision 2012 song contest boycott to undermine Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement.

“The greatest cultural chasm evoked by Eurovision, the kitschy pop-song contest, might seem to lie between those who watch it and those who do not, but in fact, behind the boy bands, teenage heartthrobs, novelty acts and sequins lies real-world conflict,” the article reads.

“Armenian’s recent boycott to participate in the contest has dashed hopes that the contest might, improbably, overcome two decades of vendetta and violence in the Caucasus. The two countries fought a war over Nagorno Karabakh that ended in 1994 with a cease-fire, but border skirmishes remain common,” Kramer writes.

“While withdrawing from Eurovision lacks the gravity of walking out of peace talks or the Olympics, it is a negative symbol in a delicate and long-running effort to demilitarize one of the most intractable ethnic conflicts in the former Soviet Union,” the article further reads.

Azerbaijan’s Ell/Nikki duet with Running Scared song won the Eurovision 2011. Italy's Raphael Gualazzi with Madness Of Love song took second place followed by Eric Saade from Sweden.

Armenia’s Emmy was knocked out of Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in the May 10 seminal, although her performance of Boom Boom song was met warmly by the audience at Arena stadium in Dьsseldorf, Germany.

For several months Armenia couldn’t decide on participation in the song contest. Public Television of Armenia demanded safety guarantees for the Armenian delegation from Baku and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

On February 24, Armenian singers refused to participate in Baku-hosted Eurovision 2012 song contest, following the February 23 death of an Armenian soldier in Azeri sniper attack. On March 7, Armenian Public Television officially informed the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) of Armenia’s withdrawal from the contest.

42 countries will take part in the contest, each semi-final featuring 18 participants. The final will be held on May 26.