Expanding the Count of EU Member States Proposed by the Commission
In a bold move, Josef Schellhorn, State Secretary in the Foreign Ministry of Austria, has declared his intention to support Israel's participation in the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna. Speaking on the matter, Schellhorn emphasised that the contest is primarily a meeting and a competition among musicians and artists, rather than a political event.
Schellhorn's stance is not limited to artists from Israel. In the past, he found the discussion around the renowned Russian opera singer Anna Netrebko to be misguided. Russian artists, including Teodor Currentzis, have faced discussions about performing if they didn't distance themselves from the Russian regime and Vladimir Putin.
However, Schellhorn is vehemently against cultural boycotts, deeming them 'stupid and pointless.' He believes that subjecting cultural figures to an 'ideological test' is unacceptable. This stance is shared by Beate Meinl-Reisinger, the Foreign Minister, who will join Schellhorn in sending a letter to European counterparts advising against cultural boycotts.
Schellhorn finds it counterproductive to link the freedom of art with distancing from political regimes. He considers giving in to pressure or blackmail over cultural boycotts a 'sin.' The recent treatment of Israeli conductor Lahav Shani, who was disinvited from a music festival in Belgium due to his association with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, is seen by Schellhorn as wrong and dangerous.
In a show of solidarity, Schellhorn has praised Belgium's Prime Minister for standing up for a disinvited Israeli. Lahav Shani will conduct in Vienna this Saturday and Sunday, adding to the diversity and richness of the contest.
Austria's stance on the Eurovision Song Contest is not just about supporting a particular country's participation. Schellhorn views art and culture as essential, as they enable dialogue and build bridges, especially in challenging times. This approach will be coordinated with the ÖVP and SPÖ.
However, Austria may risk countries like Ireland or Slovenia not participating in the Eurovision Song Contest due to the ongoing debate about cultural boycotts. Despite this potential risk, Schellhorn remains firm in his belief that art and culture should be separated from politics.
Read also:
- United States tariffs pose a threat to India, necessitating the recruitment of adept negotiators or strategists, similar to those who had influenced Trump's decisions.
- Weekly happenings in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Southwest region's most popular posts, accompanied by an inquiry:
- Discussion between Putin and Trump in Alaska could potentially overshadow Ukraine's concerns
