Armenia 2012 officially out of the Euro Vision Song Contest

Today the Armenian Public Television has officially informed the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) announced his resignation from the Euro Vision Song Contest 2012th "We are very pleased with the decision to give the sender of the Euro Vision disappointed this year - said the Executive Supervisor of the contest Jon Ola Sand, on behalf of the EBU -. Despite efforts by EBU and TV channels to all the participation of the Armenian delegation meet for the competition this year, which was beyond our control, an unfortunate decision "Consequently, only 42 countries -. announced instead of 43 - will be presented in 2012 at the Euro Vision Song Contest in Baku. In the semi-finals will compete with 18 countries, while France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK and the host country Azerbaijan competition automatically qualified to the final. Previously, on 23 Issued February 22 Armenian singer a statement that they. As inadmissible the participation of Armenia in the Euro Vision Song Contest "Euro Vision 2012" in Baku in connection with the anti-Armenian policy of Azerbaijan The statement was issued after the news of the death of the Armenian Defense Ministry conscripts Albert Adibekyan take positions near the village of Tavush region Chinari by snipers from the Azerbaijani side. Relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan complicates the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, which began in February 1988 when the predominantly Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region (Nagorny Karabakh) announced its withdrawal from Azerbaijan. In September 1991, at the center of Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh was announced on the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR). Official Baku indeed declared illegal, and abolished in the time of the Soviet Union existed Karabakh autonomy. Began after the armed conflict lasted until 12 May 1994 when the treaty came into force a ceasefire. As a result of Azerbaijan lost control of Nagorno-Karabakh and - wholly or partly - seven surrounding districts. Since 1992, negotiations for a peaceful settlement of the conflict in the OSCE Minsk Group co-chaired by the United States, Russia and France. Azerbaijan insists on maintaining its territorial integrity, Armenia protects the interests of the unrecognized republic because Karabakh is not involved in the negotiations.