Eurovision asks Azerbaijan to simplify visa rules

21:17 • 01.09.11

The Eurovision Song Contest management has asked the Azerbaijani authorities to simplify visa regulations in the run-up to next year's contest in Baku, RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service reported.

Eurovision Executive Supervisor Jon Ola Sand was speaking to RFE/RL in an exclusive interview on September 1, as the contest's governing body, the so-called Reference Group, met in Baku for the first time.

"It's paramount for us that during Eurovision weeks people be able to come to Azerbaijan; the contestants, the delegations, journalists be able to come in and work freely," Sand said. "It is very important for us. We have asked the government to simplify the visa rules. It should be easy to come and work here."

Last October, the Azerbaijani authorities toughened visa regulations for foreigners. Until then, it was possible to obtain a visa on arrival at Baku airport.

The 57th Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Baku in May 2012 after Azerbaijan's Ell & Nikki duo won this year's contest in Dusseldorf, Germany.

Sand said the contest's governing body this week held talks with Ictimai (Public) TV, the co-organizers of the contest, and added they had very good meetings with first lady Mehriban Aliyeva, who heads Azerbaijan's Eurovision Organization Committee, and with the minister of youth and sports, Azad Rahimov, to discuss preparations.

Sand said Eurovision is a huge chance for every broadcaster, and he has no doubts that Azerbaijan will organize a good contest.

Sand said the precise venue for the competition has not yet been decided. "We have several options; we've been shown several options. All are on the table, and we have not decided yet. It's too early to take a decision," he said.

Dozens of residents have recently been relocated from the area near Flag Square, where locals say a Eurovision arena is being built.

 

Armenian News - Tert.am

LATEST NEWS

Videos

15:20 • 24.05.21

Interview with Francis Malige, EBRD Managing Director

11:39 • 24.04.21

Armenians Commemorating 106th Anniversary of Genocide

09:40 • 23.04.21

Biden Under Pressure to Recognize Armenian Genocide - KTLA 5 News

15:34 • 22.04.21

Governance and Oversight Capacities Account for Our Bank's Robust Management System - Philip Lynch, Independent Board Member at Ameriabank

14:09 • 21.04.21

'Mr. President, It Is Now in Your Power to Right Decades of Denial' - US Congressman Adam Schiff Urges Joe Biden to Recognize Armenian Genocide

12:37 • 03.04.21

Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh in Despair After Trauma of Military Defeat - France 24

17:33 • 11.03.21

Interview with Kakhaber Kiknavelidze, an Independent Member of Ameriabank Board of Directors

17:57 • 26.01.21

Only Terrorists Keep Hostages, Putting Forward Preconditions for Their Release - Edmon Marukyan

13:33 • 22.01.21

Rep Adam Schiff Says Congress Should Recognize Artsakh

09:42 • 29.12.20

UN's Guterres Issues Global Appeal to Make 2021 'Year of Healing'

18:41 • 24.12.20

NASA's Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover Landing Animations

13:33 • 31.10.20

Azerbaijan Uses Prohibited Phosphorus Chemical Munitions - Defense Army Video

16:37 • 30.10.20

Artsakh Defense Army Units Neutralizing Azerbaijani Arms Supplies

11:25 • 28.10.20

Artsakh Defense Army Units Neutralizing Azerbaijani Drone

13:45 • 24.10.20

Nagorno-Karabakh's Status Has Been At the Heart of Our Approach - Zohrab Mnatsakanyan

11:51 • 24.10.20

Artsakh Defense Army Releases Video Featuring Damaged Azerbaijani Military Equipment

11:40 • 24.10.20

Artsakh Defense Army Units Inflicting Manpower Losses on Azerbaijan

10:39 • 24.10.20

Gas Pipeline Damaged in Azerbaijani Fire Targeting Nagorno-Karabakh's Capital

12:41 • 23.10.20

President Armen Sarkissian Meets Emmanuel Macron at Élysée Palace

12:16 • 23.10.20

Artsakh Defense Army Neutralizes Azerbaijani Military Hardware

12:02 • 22.10.20

Artsakh Defense Army Units Neutralizing Azerbaijani Military Infrastructures

10:35 • 22.10.20

President Armen Sarkissian Meets with NATO Secretary-General in Brussels

10:51 • 17.10.20

Buildings and Homes Lying in Ruins in Nagorno-Karabakh's Capital After Azerbaijani Shelling

15:09 • 15.10.20

Artsakh Defense Army's Precision Fire Gives Deadly Blow to Enemy

13:13 • 13.10.20

Artsakh Defense Army Units Destroying Azerbaijani Tank

12:56 • 12.10.20

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: Ceasefire Does not Mandate Azerbaijan to Kill Civilians and Hit Civilian Settlements

12:23 • 12.10.20

Armenians Protest Outside Turkrish Embassy in Los Angeles

17:23 • 09.10.20

Losses in Azerbaijan's Military Featured in Defense Army Footage

15:53 • 09.10.20

Artsakh Defense Army Neutralizing Adversary's Transport Column

14:11 • 09.10.20

Turkey openly backs Azerbaijan 'far more aggressively than in the past' - ABC News on Syrian mercenaries fighting in Karabakh

15:52 • 08.10.20

Iconic Armenian Church Hit in Azerbaijani Attacks in Nagorno-Karabakh City (photos)

10:57 • 08.10.20

Artsakh Defense Army Continues High-Precision Strikes

14:24 • 07.10.20

War Situation in Karabakh on European Parliament's Agenda

19:31 • 05.10.20

Call for Urgent Action: Armenian Journalist Brings Intn'l Colleagues' Attention to Situation iin Artsakh After Azerbaijani Attacks

16:17 • 04.10.20

Turkey's Support to Syrian Mercenaries Fighting Against Artsakh: Facts About Azerbaijani Aggression

12:39 • 04.10.20

Nagorno-Karabakh's Capital Under Azerbaijani Strikes

13:49 • 03.10.20

Armenian Armed Forces Neutralize Azerbaijani Defense Positions

10:12 • 29.09.20

ArmenianTroops Destroy Azerbaijani Armored Fighting Vehicle on Frontline

23:42 • 28.09.20

There is a solid evidence that Azerbaijan has launched a thoroughly planned attack on the NKR

18:45 • 28.09.20

EU calls for Immediate End to Hostilities over Nagorno-Karabakh

Show all

Most popular articles Today Yesterday For a week

Politics

Law

Economy

Event

Press digest

Science/tech

Sports

Culture

Entertainment