Azernews.Az

The Azerbaijani government strongly condemns the politicization of Eurovision song contest, a Presidential Administration official said prior to the event held in Baku on Saturday.

``Eurovision song contest has already been politicized,`` Ali Hasanov told Trend news agency. ``Sweden`s ambassador to Azerbaijan and the Eurovision Swedish participant have started working with the opposition circles, political groups and the Norwegian Human Rights House and Amnesty International in conducting anti-Azerbaijani activity.``

Hasanov said the European Broadcasting Union must intervene and stop these ``politicized actions``.

``On the other hand, their statements are disrespectful to the other Eurovision participants, the viewers who bought tickets and came to see this show, and the partners of the European Song Contest. I think that if one fails to stop this politicization, Eurovision participants and those who organized this contest will express their attitude to it.``

Meanwhile, Swedish Ambassador Mikael Eriksson dismissed media reports saying he had asked the country`s Eurovision 2012 participant Loreen to make political statements in Baku.

Eriksson told the Baku-based APA news agency that he had merely organized a reception on May 22.

``Representatives of the government, civil society, mass media and opposition were invited to the reception. Such receptions are normal practice and there is nothing strange here. The Swedish Eurovision 2012 representative Loreen participated in that reception``.

Eriksson said the issue was discussed at a meeting in the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry on May 23. ``I assured the ministry`s employees that this information was incorrect``.

Asked about the ethnic Moroccan singer Loreen`s meeting with opposition leaders and local rights defenders, as well as her statements on the situation of human rights and democracy in Azerbaijan, the ambassador said he was aware of the meeting. But he added, ``This is her own choice. I didn`t participate in this meeting and didn`t initiate it.``

In an interview with Trend new agency, Eriksson said the Eurovision song contest should not be used for making political statements.

Some local and international groups prior to the Eurovision song contest also called on the contest participants to make political statements urging Azerbaijan to improve its human rights record.