The EBU has received an official letter from the Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, Artur Rasizadeh, concerning the organization of next year’s Eurovision Song Contest, to be held in Baku, in May.

The letter from Prime Minister Artur Rasizadeh was handed to EBU delegates by Azerbaijani broadcaster, Ictimai TV, at a Eurovision Song Contest Reference Group* meeting, in Geneva.

"The Azerbaijani government conceives the organization of the Eurovision Song Contest as a great responsibility and is ready to take all necessary measures for that," Mr Rasizadeh wrote, adding, "Every citizen of Azerbaijan is proud that our country won the contest in 2011 and is honoured to host the next contest in Baku."

PM Rasizadeh wrote that the European Convention on Human Rights would be respected and Eurovision delegates, crews, press and fans would be granted freedom of expression and assembly.

Finally, he provided security guarantees and agreed to simplify visa arrangements for thousands of fans who will travel to Baku for the Eurovision Song Contest.

While the EBU is looking forward to a smooth organization of the 2012 Contest, it is deeply committed to media freedom and condemns all arrests, harassment and intimidation of all journalists who must be allowed to do their job, without fear of recrimination.

In July 2010 the EBU General Assembly, meeting in Baku, issued a common declaration on media freedom and freedom of expression declaring that “the right to freedom of expression and information takes precedence over political or economic interests, and States have a duty to ensure and protect this fundamental cornerstone of democracy”.

The Final of the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest is scheduled to take place on 26 May, two Semi-Finals are set for 22 and 24 May. Around 40 nations are expected to be represented, of which several have already started their search for a winner.

*Reference Group:
The Reference Group consists of a Chairman, the Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of the EBU, this year's Executive Producer on behalf of Ictimai TV, the Executive Producer of the previous edition and four elected members, who represent the participating broadcasters.
The body meets four to five times a year to evaluate the progress of preparations and to take strategic decisions about the contest.