During Thursday’s second semifinals in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 being held in the Azerbaijani capital city Baku, the commentator of the Dutch television once again reflected on Armenia.

“Armenia’s absence is fully noticed,” the commentator said, and added that during an interview, Azerbaijan’s First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva—who also chairs Eurovision 2012’s Organization Committee—stated that Armenia did not come to Baku because it considers Azerbaijan its enemy.   

Also, the Dutch commentator reflected on the position and wealth of the Aliyev family, and informed that their correspondent had learned that the Aliyev had made a very handsome amount from construction of the Eurovision 2012 concert hall.    

It is interesting why Mehriban Aliyeva decided to express a view that runs counter to his husband’s—President Ilham Aliyev’s—logic, since Aliyev had recently stated that all Armenians are their enemies. 

Separately, the journalist of Dutch RTL 7 television presented a report from Baku, where different groups of people clashed with police. The TV camera showed how people were arrested and dragged toward the police vehicles.