Why did Lucia Moon refuse to give interview to Azerbaijani journalist? (video)

US based Armenian singer Lucia Moon seems to have been targeted by the Azerbaijani media after recent reports unveiling her plans to represent Armenia in the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest in Azerbaijan.

Born in Nagorno-Karabakh, the singer spent her childhood in Baku, but after the well-known Armenian pogroms in Sumgait, her family moved to Armenia. Since 1992, they have been residing in the United States.

After completing her studies at the California University, Moon got master's degree from the Chicago School in Professional Psychology, but her talent in singing paved her way to the music career. For many years she sang in "Yerevan" choir, and participated in different musical programs and broadcasts. In 2005, she released her first Album – Lvitsa – which won The Best International Album award the same year.

Lucia first returned to her homeland, in January this year. The idea of singing at Eurovision was proposed by her producer, David Iondem. Lucia kindly agreed to the proposal, deciding to introduce a song fitting the standards of the contest.

After the plan was unveiled, the Azerbaijani news agency Media Forum found the singer's e-mail address on her personal website and asked her for an interview. It subsequently published an article entitled "The Armenian Singer Attempts to Cheat Journalists".

Speaking to Tert.am, Moon explained the reasons why her interview with the Azerbaijani journalist failed.

"I got four requests for an interview simultaneously - from Azerbaijan, Turkey, Greece and Sweden. Because of my overloaded schedule and work over my new album and new disc, I explained to all the four plainly and politely that I would be able to give an interview only after a week when I am through with my new song and music video. I also informed them that it is an old American song about love. All but the Azerbaijani reporter showed understanding and respect for my request and said they would be looking forward to both my new music video and my song, and especially the answers to the questions they had sent me in advance," the singer said, adding that the Azerbaijani reporter attempted to make a scandal of that story.

"The Azerbaijani journalist from Media Forum agency entangled me in a scandal, sending me emails and attempting to get me into politics and thus obtain a sensational interview. A journalist not known to anyone accused me of practically all kinds of deadly sins – the bloodshed in Khojaly and attempts to use the report for 'advertising' my song (which she called political instead of historical) and breeding provocation and interethnic hostility" she said.

Realizing the Media Forum reporter's unwillingness to listen to and understand her, Lucia refused to give an interview in future.
But her refusal drove the Azerbaijani journalist to a fury, pushing her to write the article.

"I am a former Baku resident who has proposed her candidacy to represent Armenia in contest set to take place in Baku," the singer said, adding that she had not not given up the idea even after the Armenian sportsmen were beaten with stones during the World Boxing Championship in Baku.

"I think Azerbaijan overestimates Armenia's desire to participate in Eurovision. Should there be another candidate, I would be very pleased to sit back in my Los Angeles apartment with a box of pop corns and be his or her fan," Moon added.

She noted further that Deir-ez-Zor night have been the cause of the entire scandal.

"I think my song devoted to the Armenian Genocide caused the conflict but I don't understand what the Azerbaijanis have to do with that. I have written about the history of my people and there are thousands of such songs and films," she added.