Armenia demands transferring Eurovision -2012 from Azerbaijan to another country

Armenia demands transfer of the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 from Azerbaijan to another country, says the statement by over 20 popular Armenian singers addressed to the European Broadcasting Union and the Armenian Public Television overdeath of Armenian soldier on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border onFebruary 23.

To recall, on Feb 23, around 1:50 pm Albert A. Adibekyan (born in1992), soldier of the Armenian armed forces, was killed by an Azerisniper during the performance of his duties at the battle positionnear Chinari village in Tavush region of Armenia, the press serviceof the Armenian Defense Ministry told ArmInfo.

"The Defense Ministry expresses its deep condolence to AlbertAdibekyan's relatives. The provocation of the Azeri snipers willreceive a proper response. The command staff of the Azerbaijani armedforces will be brought to responsibility for their actions", ArmenianDefense Ministry Spokesperson David Karapetyan says.

The statement by the Armenian singers provided to ArmInfo reads: "Werefuse to perform in a country that is notorious for its masskillings and massacres of Armenians, a country where anti- Armenian sentiment is part of state policy, a country where ethnic Armeniansare denied entry, even if they are citizens of other countries. Underthese circumstances we, the undersigned, are stating in public that we have the most serious reservation over Armenia's participation inthe Eurovision to be held in Baku.We are declaring that we refuse to take part in the contest to be held in Baku." Further, the singers declared that they are ready to take part in it, if the European Broadcasting Union decides to hold the contest in another country.

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