The European Movement Azerbaijan (EMA) issued an official statement on the Eurovision Song Contest-2012, which will be held in Baku.
“Azerbaijan is known in the region and Eurasia for centuries as a country, combining Eastern and Western culture,” the statement reads. “Azerbaijan is home to people of different nationalities and religions, moved in here at different times. Their cohabitation with other nations indicates tolerance and hospitality of the people living in the country.”
The document noted that the Eurovision Contest gives Azerbaijani people a great chance to learn the culture of European nations closer.
“Propaganda of those countries, which are not interested in the integration of Azerbaijanis into Europe, is aimed at complicating the process for many years. So, the Eurovision Contest hosted in Baku will play big role in preventing this propaganda, and Azerbaijan’s integration into Europe,” the statement says.
The EMA’s main objective is support of the civil society and all organizations that we are planning to cooperate with in the future to EU-Integration process.
“Therefore, we believe that the Eurovision-2012 as a European song contest will contribute to the spread of European culture in Azerbaijan and integration of Azerbaijani citizens into Europe,” the EMA says.
Given all the above-mentioned, the EMA invites all its partners in the European countries, representatives of organizations working in the field of integration and representatives of organizations working towards the European Neighbourhood Policy in Azerbaijan to support this cultural event, to observe the contest and to get acquainted with Baku, which combines Western and Eastern cultures.
“Besides, we encourage our partners – the European Movement of Armenia – to support this process and to cooperate in the integration process of Armenia and Azerbaijan into Europe,” the document reads. “It will also contribute to consolidation of the peace process.”