Culture policy

Culture policy

Eurovisionâ€™s security conception elaborated

09 March 2012 09:39 (UTC +04:00)

Head of police officeâ€™s public security department Nurullah Mammadkhanli told POLIS newspaper that the plan of measures was elaborated during the operational meeting of the Ministry of Internal Affairs on November 8, 2011. Minister of Internal Affairs Ramil Usubov said during the meeting that police will have important duties during the European contest. â€œIt is not a first experience to organize international event in Baku. Series of international events, including sport tournaments were organized in the capital. No security problems occurred during these events, but Eurovision Song Contest is different for some of its parametersâ€.

Mammadkhanli said 30 percent of the city police forces would be involved in security measures during the Eurovision 2012 contest in May. â€œPolice will tighten security measures during the contest. We elaborated special plan for enhancing security in the areas where the contest will be held, the participants and guests will stay. We are drawing electronic map of those areasâ€.

Mammadkhanli also said the security measures for Eurovision 2012 do not differ from those taken during the international events in Baku.
â€œBut, unlike such events song contest lasts longer. Police tighten security for about a month. Therefore, the scale of the security measures is larger. Of course, the police of the capital intend to make use of the international practice in ensuring the security of such a large-scale event. The practice of several countries that hosted Eurovision song contest is being studied. The security measures taken in Russia, Ukraine and Germany are being studied. The practice of Russia is being studied more, meetings have already been held with the officials of this country,â€ he said.

Mammadkhanli added that Security Concept has been prepared in connection with Eurovision song contest. This concept has been positively assessed by the European Broadcasting Unionâ€™s representatives dealing with the security issues. The Europeans are satisfied with the serious preparations for ensuring security.