Armenia and Azerbaijan: Nagorno-Karabakh Controversy At Eurovision 30
Wiwi was probably the last person on Earth to hear that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict reared its ugly head at Eurovision. For those of you who don’t know, Nagorno-Karabakh is a breakaway region in the South Caucuses that Armenia and Azerbaijan have been fighting over for, like, a hundred years. When the Soviet Union took control in 1923, it made Nagorno-Karabakh a part of Azerbaijan (despite the fact the region’s primary language is Armenian). When the USSR fell apart in 1991, Armenia and Azerbaijan resumed fighting over the territory—and Nagorno-Karabakh declared its independence, which no country or international organization has recognized.
“We Are Our Mountains,” the statue above, depicts the people of Nagorno-Karabakh and is located amid Nagorno-Karabakh’s best farmland. It was built during the Soviet era to celebrate the region’s Armenian heritage (even if it’s technically in Azerbaijan). On May 14, during the first Eurovision Semi-Final, an image of the monument appeared in the ‘postcard’ montage that preceded Armenia’s performance. You can see it below at 0:17, in the top right corner.
Azerbaijani officials complained to the European Broadcasting Union, noting that the Nagorno-Karabakh monument is in Azerbaijan. The EBU conceeded, and edited the statue out of the Armenian postcard for the May 16 final.
When the Armenians got wind of that change, they were all like, “Oh no you didn’t, Azerbaijan!” So as Sirusho—Armenia’s 2008 Eurovision contestent—read out the results of Armenian voting, she repeatedly flashed a clipboard containing an image of “We Are Our Mountains.” And she was standing before another image of the statue. (Subtlety isn’t one of her qualities, but Wiwi gathered as much from her hip-shaking performance last year). See annotated video below.
Can’t we all just get along? Wiwi seriously wishes broadcasters would leave politics out of Eurovision and focus on all the glitter and skanky outfits and catchy europop instead. Luckily, it seems like Armenian jury members and tele-voters did just that: Armenia gave Azerbaijan one point.
What do you guys think? Did Azerbaijan have a right to complain? Should Sirusho have flashed the image of “We Are Our Mountains”? Comment below and be sure to vote in Wiwi’s poll.
Related posts: Azerbaijan Questions Citizens Who Voted For Armenia
Sirusho Marries the Son of Former Armenian President
Did Inga & Anush Borrow Their Eurovision Song from an Azeri Artist?
Armenia and Romania Will Be Among 43 Countries at Eurovision 2012 | WiwiBloggs.Com
Jan 17, 2012 @ 19:32:09
[...] for the Armenian entry. As y’all already know, Armenia and Azerbaijan have been engaged in political hostilites for decades. Eurovisin's Next Top Model 2010: Romania's Paula [...]
As Azerbaijan Prepares to Host Eurovision 2012, Armenians Worry About Safety - Eurovision 2012 | Baku
Jul 23, 2011 @ 14:29:45
[...] Eurovision in recent years. In 2009, the Armenians used the Eurovision vote call as a chance to lay claim to the disputed territory. Azeris subsequently summoned all Azeris who voted for Armenia’s Inga & Anush to police [...]
Jun 03, 2010 @ 11:41:51
OK, Just say me what means Karabakh???
You can never answer this question. Then shut up.
Jun 03, 2010 @ 11:36:59
Armenia is stealing our culture. They are most talented plagiarists in the world.
These lands belong to Azerbaijan. Shut up!!! History shows it everything. Go read history but not fake history like unbeen “great armenia” Study REAL history if you don’t do it then shutting up your mouth is enough…
May 26, 2010 @ 14:03:05
It was moskows mistake. If they put the statue in the first place they should have not taken it away. Because in that case they are lisening to Azerbaiajan. Or they should have put in something else there insted.
But overal it is Azerbaijans’ fault. Becasue it isn’t Azerbaijan anymore and therefore they can’t say it is their terretory… because it’s not :S
May 08, 2010 @ 17:37:49
The last “Anonymous”..
Are you retard? Not related to armenians? Lmaooo its build by armenians and Arzakh aka Karabach is belongs to armenians thousands of years .. even Strabo, Xenophon etcetc.. had it about Armenia and Armenians and there is no even slightest hint known in their books of history about so called Azerbaijan and azeri’s .. Go bullshit somewhere eles stupid mongol scum! The term azeri appeared in the 1918th or something.. damn caucasian tatars or just muslims? Hmm..?
May 03, 2010 @ 04:14:18
We do not create our own history like armenians by destroying monuments and etc. We are not honorless like you LIKE armenians DOGS of RUSSIA
Apr 05, 2010 @ 12:42:23
blahblahblah… “Everyone knows true..” who are those? Your brainwashed retards fellow azeri’s and turks? Bah..
Sep 18, 2009 @ 19:38:44
Shut up, Yes I remember who is a loser loser is you and armenia = dogs of Russia. Occupier. If Russia did not support armenia then armenia did not occupy our territories. It is proven do not insult to change subject History shows everything. Everyone knows true, you have to shut up untill you have a bit of honor and manliness
Sep 15, 2009 @ 22:36:53
You shut up retarded mongol.. still remeber who is a real loser?
Aug 27, 2009 @ 09:17:38
Shut up! anddo not change subject!!! You became loser again.
Aug 20, 2009 @ 05:37:37
Lmao check that bullshit those mongol scum azeri just wrote here! so called Armenia? LOOL you gonna be you kiddin me.. brainwashed retards go tell your stories to your moronic children! There is no such thing as ancient azeri or turk or whatsoever… There was never in the History of the Earth such country as Azerbaijan but only province of Iran. That Iranian dinasty weren’t of azeri descend but of kurdian, greek, iranian… anyways people can always google things and not listen to these azeri retards! Seems like Armenians were w8in those mongol scum to come from the depth of the Asia in the late of middle ages to borrow from them music, cuisine, architechture style, the way how to dress.. etcetc.. thnx to the nomads seljuks and oguz’s that they have brought civilization to the Caucasus and Armenians at last after some 2 thousand year of their history they get civilized by turks/azeri’s! Lmao! There is nothing turkish/azeri under the sun except death, destruction, pilferage, usurpation, denial, murder, anti-civilization. Period!
Jul 11, 2009 @ 07:29:12
And I would like to take chance to add that we’re more than ready to get our lands back with force. We now have the strongest army in the Caucasus. We have our Azerbaijan made sniper gun named “Istiqlal”, which means independent in English ,of which armenian soldiersare scared to death. But unfortunately countries like USA and other european countries do not approve this way. And it’s a fact that we should consult with them too, as they have big capitals in our country. This is the only reason.
Jul 11, 2009 @ 07:07:20
Yeah, after having watched this video some might think: So what?
)) ) If you’re a little curious , go and search for this document recorded in 1724.
Dears, I guess Teymur wanted to focus your video on that, what armenians always say about having lived in this region right from their “holy” birth is just their dream, that some part of their people believe it’s true. I guess nobody can rise to say “No, it’s a fake video, and that document does not really exist” (But, i can expect them to claim this
And remember how Putin starts on his speech: “Good day my dearest friends”. It’s like saying “Good day, my tools that I and my fathers have used for many ambitions”. You see how satisfied he is when greeting them.
And then pay attention how they applause him as if they want to say:”Thank you and your great, “very kindhearted” fathers for accommodating us in these beautiful lands. Thanks for settling us nearby generous neighbours.
Yeah, you must go search and see what they have done to this generous neighbours in 1992,Khodjali.But’ it’s not the only “heroism” they have shown towards our innocent and armless people.
Just a few days ago armenian president serj sarkisian himself said:” I’ve always said Agdam is not our land”(as if the rest are theirs). I want to ask a question, why then did you invade Agdam. You know how many billions of dollars we lose every year because our Lachin, Kalbadjar and other rich with gold and other resources lands are under occupation.
Shusha, our heartache. A week ago some armenian and our intellectuals had a visit to Karabakh together. They’d been to historical buildings of Shusha and seen what they’ve done to our mosques, museums etc. .Then they went to armenia and the last destination was Baku. They’d been to the armenian church right in the center of the city, seen the difference between our and their attitude towards foreign culture and property. I wonder if they felt any embarrassed.
I sometimes pity them and feel proud because wherever they go, whatever contest they take place in they present our culture, music, meals, monuments as theirs. With this they prove they have no talent. Except for the talent to betray.
Jul 10, 2009 @ 15:36:10
Wiwi, thank you for your kind attention.
Jul 09, 2009 @ 20:11:07
Hi guys. I am posting Teymur’s youtube link overnight, so it will be up in the morning. It’s very interesting.
Jul 09, 2009 @ 19:59:20
Teymur please write this post on everywhere, everyone must see armenia’s nasty actions
Jul 09, 2009 @ 08:24:39
Visit also this to find out that Armenian eurovision 2009 song is a true copy of a dance-song composed by Azerbaijani composer Tophig Guliyev who passed away years ago. This is again a proof of what Armenians do: they steal, steal and steal…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGRzY5bJD2w
Jul 09, 2009 @ 07:54:02
Wiwi, I would suggest you come to Azerbaijan and learn the true history of Karabagh (or Arsak) here. In fact in 1978, Armenians celebrated the 150 year’s anniversary of their first ever arrival to Karabakh and Armenian intellectuals then made speeches full of ‘thanks to Azeris for hot welcome in their teriitory. Azerbaijani hospitality make us feel at home…’. Karabagh = kara (‘big (black)’ in Azeri) + bagh (‘garden’ in Azeri), Arsak = ar (‘man (manly)’ in Azeri) + sak (‘sak’ the name of a turkish tribe that lived in the region in ancient times. Then all turkish tribes of the region made the nation called Azerbaijan (Aderbaygan in original)). Prior to Russian invasion of Caucasus there was not any country called Armenia. There were Irevan (today’s Yerevan) and Karabakh khandoms (Azerbaijani feodal states) both of which were ruled by Azeri dynasties and 90% of the population were Azeris then in both states. It was Russian policy to bring Armenians to Azerbaijani territory and construct a new government called Armenia that would always serve to bring to life dirty Russian wishes. Today’s Armenia is a forepost of Russian Empire now called Russian Federation. And Karabagh conflict is a conflict bounding Azerbaijan from leaping forward. Azerbaijan cannot claim for the 35 000 000 Azeris living in the country now called Iran only because of Karabagh problem. But in fact Azerbaijani territory was devided into two parts by 1813 and 1828 treaties between Russia and Iran and the most of the territory of Azerbaijan is now under protectorate of Iran.
Wiwi, you are saying that Armenian was the main language in Karabagh. Actually Armenian was the main language only for Armenians living in Karabagh. But all Karabagh Armenians new also Azerbaijani which proves that Azerbaijani was the international language in the region. See what Serj Sarkisyan – Armenian president, who is from Karabagh, says in return to Turkish reporter’s question ‘Do you speak Turkish?’. He says: ‘twenty years ago I could speak Azeri (which is also a Turkic language) …’
Starting from XVI century their was an Azeri dynasty ruling in the region including today’s Azerbaijan, Iran and so called Armenia and the official state language was Azerbaijani (Turkic). Shah Ismail Khatai, the founder of united Azerbaijan and Sefevids state was also a great Azerbaijani poet who wrote in Azeri of course. Most of the cultural values that Iran and Armenia have today belong to Azeris. Just one example: All World-famous Iranian carpets are Azeri carpets of mainly Tebriz school. And Azerbaijani real capital is not Baku but Tebriz.
I mean there is a lot what you do not know about the reality of the region. And my advise: do not believe what Armenians say. I can understand them: they are brough up to tell lies under Russian orders and they cannot stop doing this because they truly believe to what they claim for. You may also not believe my words. You better come to region and try to find out the real truth about the region yourself.
As a proof of what I say please follow the link below and find out what Russian former president PUTIN says in his visit to so-called Armenia:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-1FK57LSik
Sirusho Marries the Son of Former Armenian President - Wiwi Bloggs
Jun 29, 2009 @ 18:18:31
[...] president of the semi-autonomous region of Nagorno-Karabakh, which might explain why Sirusho got all political during this year’s presentation of voting results. In any event, Sirusho clearly has faith in her new man: the wedding was timed with the release of [...]
Jun 25, 2009 @ 19:28:33
I said that armenians may be out of their mind. bedros wrote that azeris always criticizing armenians. Azeris reveales their nasty and evil actions. If armenians have a bit of manliness they should say what azeris did to armenians. Answer is nothing. But armenians occupied our territories and stole whatever they can. And now they are talking about unproven armenian “genocide” which has never been. Listen, azeris do not criticizing armenians, azeris only reveals true which armenians concealed by armenians. But azeris have right to criticize armenians. Because armenians are occupiers. Armenians said it themselves by showing postcard of stolen monuments from Azerbaijan.
Jun 25, 2009 @ 11:40:26
bobo, you must be from western country because you can’t understand difficulty we armenians face with aggressive, hateful azeris always criticizing us. if we don’t speak out to defend ourselves who will? azerbaijan have always been cruel to us. we must speak against them!
Jun 25, 2009 @ 11:23:40
guys, please have your political debate somewhere else. everywhere i read something about your countries, you have to make injuries and political shit. please, leave us alone!… i am sure there are lots of political forums where you can express your views and feelings
Jun 24, 2009 @ 19:26:08
Dima you’re completely right. I agree with you.
Jun 24, 2009 @ 14:47:06
It is Armenian Mistake! Armenian always trying to take away what belong to Azerbaijan — even before there was a USSR. Sirusho was very unprofessional to do this and show clipboard. She should know better than to act so childish. I curse to Armenians!
Jun 22, 2009 @ 16:47:04
This was completely armenians mistake.
Jun 22, 2009 @ 11:45:44
I don’t know why armenians write here whatever they want. May be they are out of their mind. Because first they showed monument which belongs to azeris. They are really the most talented thieves in the world. Azeris have never steal from another country like armenians. Armenians write here false and ridiculous things to “justify” themselves. But they only show their nasty actions.
Jun 21, 2009 @ 12:25:09
This was azeries mistake. Why azeries showed the monumet from Iran? does this monument belong to them I doubt!!! In this Eurovision showed his real ugly face!
Jun 15, 2009 @ 21:37:40
I am sure that it’s armenians mistake, ’cause in the postcard are thing that not related with armenians, KHARABAKH does bot belongs to them, they’re just occupiers. It is proven historical fact and noone can deny it.
Jun 09, 2009 @ 15:32:25
I THINK ITS AZERBAIJANS MISTAKE, BECAUSE IN THE POSTCARD ARE THINGS WHICH CONNECT THE ARMENIANS…ANBD BERG KARABACH CONNECT THEM…EVEN IF ITS ON AZERBAIJAN TERRETORY!!