Azernews.Az

German human rights commissioner Markus Loning "rashly and unfairly" politicized the issue regarding the Eurovision song contest due in Baku, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman Elman Abdullayev told Trend news agency Thursday.

"Loning's efforts to politicize the Eurovision song contest are unacceptable," Abdullayev said. "Loning is trying to create a biased attitude towards this event in German society by making unfounded accusations and appeals, which were circulated by the German media."

In an interview with the Neue Osnabrucker Zeitung newspaper, Loning accused Baku of human rights abuses ahead of the Eurovision song contest in Azerbaijan in May.

Loning's approach and statement do not reflect Germany's position, Abdullayev said.

"Loning's rash steps are based on his personal initiative and do not serve to strengthening relations between Azerbaijan and Germany, which are at a high partnership level," Abdullayev said.

"The German Foreign Ministry spokesman stressed a while ago that the federal government welcomes the approval of an action plan to protect human rights in Azerbaijan. He also stressed that this is the right step in this direction," Abdullayev said.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on December 27, 2011 approved the national program of activities to improve the protection of human rights and freedoms.

Azerbaijani duo Eldar Gasimov and Nigar Jamal (Ell/Nikki) with their pop-ballad "Running Scared" won the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in Dusseldorf, Germany.

The Eurovision 2012 semi-finals will be held in Baku on May 22 and 24, and the final on May 26. The 57th Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Baku Crystal Hall, which is under construction near the National Flag Square.