Urtasun sees “whitewashing of genocide” in the Eurovision Song Contest and celebrates that RTVE is withdrawing

The Minister of Culture, Ernest Urtasun, sees “whitewashing of genocide” by the Eurovision Song Contest for allowing Israel to participate in the contest, and has highlighted RTVE’s brave decision for Spain to withdraw.

He said this in statements to journalists this Friday during his visit to the 31st Manga Barcelona, ​​which is held at the Gran Via venue of Fira de Barcelona, ​​in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona), where he assured that, “in the face of an incomprehensible decision by Eurovision to allow a genocide to be whitewashed, RTVE has made the right decision” and respect for human rights.

He regrets that Eurovision allows “the whitewashing of an ongoing genocide as is taking place in Palestine by accepting the participation of Israel,” and believes that cultural and sporting contests should not allow countries to participate under their flag that are committing genocide, he says verbatim.

“I believe that the cultural and sports boycott of a State that practices genocide is essential” and he has defended that culture must be at the service of peace and human rights.

In this sense, he recalls that “in the case of South Africa that boycott was key to ending apartheid” and has insisted on defending that boycott.

“A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY HAS BEEN MISSED”

“We had an opportunity to continue reinforcing diplomatic pressure towards Israel, and I think that Eurovision has lost a golden opportunity and I think that a genocide is thus being whitewashed,” he added.

For him, culture must be “at the service of peace and human rights” and he wanted, on behalf of the Ministry of Culture, to give full support to RTVE’s decision, which he considers to be the correct one.