Eurovision 2009: EBU condemns Baku but will not sanction it for officially harassing citizens voting for ArmeniaSeptember 17, 2009 - 22:54 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Organizers of the Eurovision Song Contest have decided to change its rules but will not sanction Azerbaijan for officially harassing citizens who voted for arch rival Armenia in the May contest, RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service reports.The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the song contest, was considering fining Azerbaijan or banning it from the contest for up to three years for violating contest rules. The EBU said in a September 17 statement that its ruling body, the Reference Group, acknowledges that some Azerbaijanis who voted for the Armenian entry were called to the National Security Ministry. The union also decried the breach in privacy of Azerbaijanis who voted via mobile phone for the Armenian song and were reported to the government. EBU Director-General Jean Reveillon said violating the privacy of voters "or interrogation of individuals...is totally unacceptable." The EBU says the Reference Group decided at a meeting in Oslo on September 11 to amend Eurovision Song Contest rules so that the country's participating broadcaster is liable "for any disclosure of information which could be used to identify voters." The union said the rule change is aimed at ensuring that the privacy of Eurovision contest voters is protected. It added that its previous rules put the obligation for protection of voters' privacy on the respective telecommunications companies. The EBU said it does not have the ability to penalize the telecom companies but can now, in future contests, impose sanctions against the broadcaster. Top stories David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Partner news | Ucom General Director gives lecture at French University in Armenia The General Director of Ucom Ralph Yirikian delivered a lecture at the French University of Armenia. Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. |