Comments on: Ethnic rivalry wins over kitsch in the Caucasus

By: Onnik Krikorian

Onnik Krikorian — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:51:05 +0000

Unfortunately, the stupidity continues even three months later with news that the Azeri security services obtaining the names of 43 people who voted for Armenia during the competition. At least one has been questioned. I'll be putting together a post for Frontline a little later, but in the meantime there's a roundup of blogger reaction to the latest scandal to hit Eurovision on Global Voices: http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/08/18/azerbaijan-eurovision-voting-scandal/

By: Onnik Krikorian

Onnik Krikorian — Fri, 22 May 2009 11:59:43 +0000

Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso has now published my article on the Eurovision squabbling which pretty much puts together all of the above into 1,000 or so words.

Already notorious more for its political block voting than even its kitsch and glitzy musical entries, nothing could have prepared anyone for the controversy surrounding the three countries of the South Caucasus in this yearâ€s Eurovision Song Contest. link

L'Eurovision Song Contest famoso per le esibizioni musicali ostentate e sdolcinate, quest'anno Ã¨ stato teatro di una controversia del tutto inaspettata che ha coinvolto i tre paesi del Caucaso meridionale. link

By: Mikael

Mikael — Mon, 18 May 2009 07:30:42 +0000

Armenians and Azeris hate each other, and that’s the grim reality of today.
This hatred has to come out somewhere – it’s good that we have Eurovision for this.
After all, it’s better to be fighting at the Eurovision, rather
than on the battlefied.
Eurovision: Transforming Conflicts since 1956 :)))

By: Onnik Krikorian

Onnik Krikorian — Sun, 17 May 2009 18:13:39 +0000

Writing on her new English-language blog, Azeri blogger Nigar Fatali (coincidentally one of those detained last Sunday in Baku) also weighs in with perhaps the most thought provoking and compelling commentary of all:

I didn't notice the picture Sirusho held in her hands but I saw it today on TV and it made me think. I finally realized that there's no chance for this region to become a civilized one unless we rewrite the whole history which makes all of us think we're fucking special. We might have had plenty of lands and legendary kings but what do we have today? 3 major and several minor conflicts in a tiny region and headlines in the world news? Is this something to be proud of? Are hating-the-neigbor zombie generations good future for us? Not for me or the kids I will eventually have. Not for any of us. Perhaps, it's time to switch from Kindergarten approach to the real Conflict Resolution one, don't you think? Our kids need fairytales not war tales, love, not hatred. Our kids deserve the peaceful happiness we have never had. link

By: Onnik Krikorian

Onnik Krikorian — Sun, 17 May 2009 13:48:54 +0000

Well, on a brighter note, a local publication reports that Armenia gave 1 point to Azerbaijan. Not a lot, but something considering the unresolved conflict over Karabakh between the two countries. http://armenianow.com/?action=viewArticle&AID=3740&CID=3591&IID=1235&lng=eng Incidentally, a friend in Azerbaijan said she didn't notice the voting procedure, but reckoned Azeris might have awarded 1 point to Armenia too if given the chance. Of course, we'll never know, but one thing is for sure. The action, again apparently coordinated by a group of bloggers working in Armenian Public TV, will hardly contribute to peace and might just have set back any hopes for progress in that area. Designed to anger the Azeri population, it probably succeeded in that goal. Maybe it's time for Eurovision to hand down very strict rules to both countries on how to behave in the future? At the very least I'd expect the two TV stations to be at least fined if possible. On a brighter note, more sensible individuals in both countries just think the tit-for-tat battling in Eurovision is plain irresponsible and immature.We'll see if things change next year, but I wouldn't bet any money on it.

By: Onnik Krikorian

Onnik Krikorian — Sun, 17 May 2009 12:30:33 +0000

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http://www.disput.az/index.php?showtopic=131846&st=1800

By: Onnik Krikorian

Onnik Krikorian — Sun, 17 May 2009 11:17:27 +0000

Incidentally, regarding the interruption to Azerbaijan’s live vote segment, I’m told that the same happened in the U.K. which means it was simply a technical problem. Still, that didn’t stop some from getting a little too carried away…

By: Onnik Krikorian

Onnik Krikorian — Sun, 17 May 2009 11:00:02 +0000

It's probably worth pointing out that while the battle between Armenia and Azerbaijan was waging, Georgia too was continuing in its spat with Russia by hosting an "alternative" to the competition in its capital.

Tbilisi Open Air-Alter/Vision will be the first event of this scale and sophistication to take place in Tbilisi . Freed from politics and social clichÃ©s, this festival will be carrying the European cultural spirit, thus perfectly opposing â€œEurovisionâ€ which will be held in MOSCOW. link

By: Onnik Krikorian

Onnik Krikorian — Sun, 17 May 2009 09:38:50 +0000

Well, just had a phone call from Armenian Public TV to say they had read my Frontline post on Eurovision. There was an important detail about the statue left out, the voice said, and explained what it was.
No, it wasn’t left out, I responded and said it was in the introduction. Oh, you’re right, it said after a pause long enough to read the first few paragraphs again. Thank you very much. Enjoy the rest of Eurovision.
Damn! And I thought it had finished…
Meanwhile, the voice also said that an official complaint had been made against Azerbaijan for what might be a violation of the rules of the contest, while I suppose the same will be happening there against Armenia.
Like I said, this is going to continue for some time now, and it’s probably wise for any sane mortal to keep away from either reading the online news and certainly the blogs. Eurovision – bringing nations together since 1956.
Or apparently not…