Azerbaijan is facing a smear campaign by "some forces” in the West as Baku prepares to host the inaugural European Games next month, a senior government official said.
"The campaign will not produce any results,” said Novruz Mammadov, head of the foreign relations department at the Azerbaijani president’s office.
"In today’s international relations system, it is a very shameful process,” Mammadov said. "The implementation of such insidious plans has a negatively impact on Europe and its image.”
Mammadov said Azerbaijan pursues an independent foreign policy and will not back away from its policy line.
Baku 2015 is the first ever European Games, which will take place from 12 June to 28 June.
There will be a total of 20 sports at Baku 2015: 16 Olympic sports and four non-Olympic sports. More than 6,000 athletes from across Europe will be representing their nations over 17 days of competition.
Twelve of the sports will offer qualification opportunities for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Those sports include Archery, Athletics, Boxing, Cycling, Judo, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Triathlon, Volleyball and Wrestling.
Baku was awarded the Games by the European Olympic Committees (EOC) in December 2012. The Baku European Games Operations Committee (BEGOC) will organise and run the Games in cooperation with the EOC.
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