Armenia is one of 43 countries that have applied to take part in the Eurovision Song Contest in Baku this May, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) announced today.
The head of the Armenian delegation to Eurovision, Gohar Gasparyan, told Novosti-Armenia on Tuesday that Armenia had submitted its application to take part in the contest.
"We apply to take part in this competition every year and this year is no exception. This is a normal procedure and, as in previous years, we have submitted our application to take part," Gasparyan said, making no reference to the fact that Armenia and Azerbaijan have yet to sign a peace agreement to end the Karabakh conflict.
The Armenian side said earlier that it expected serious security guarantees for its delegation both from Azerbaijan and the EBU and other international organizations involved in Eurovision.
Asked by Novosti-Armenia about security guarantees, Gasparyan said that the details were not yet being made public.
The official Eurovision website reported that the contestants include the countries that made their return last year. Most notably, Italy, Hungary and Austria are set to take part also in the contest this year.
Montenegro, which has been absent from the last three song contests, is to compete this year.This brings the number of participating broadcasters on a par with the record of 43 from last year and 2008.
Jon Ola Sand, the executive supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest, said: "We are excited to once again see over 40 countries at the Eurovision Song Contest. They will gather in Baku in May, get to know the country and its people, and most of all, be part of the most spectacular music entertainment show on earth."
The 43 represented countries and their respective broadcasters are:
Albania (RTVSH)
Armenia (AMPTV)
Austria (ORF)
Azerbaijan (Ictimai TV) (Host Broadcaster)
Belarus (BTRC)
Belgium (VRT)
Bosnia & Herzegovina (BHRT)
Bulgaria (BNT)
Croatia (HRT)
Cyprus (CyBC)
Denmark (DR)
Estonia (ERR)
Finland (YLE)
France (France TV)
FYR Macedonia (MKRTV)
Georgia (GTVR)
Germany (NDR/ARD)
Greece (ERT)
Hungary (MTV)
Iceland (RÚV)
Ireland (RTÉ)
Israel (IBA)
Italy (RAI)
Latvia (LTV)
Lithuania (LRT)
Malta (PBS)
Moldova (TRM)
Montenegro (RTCG)
The Netherlands (TROS)
Norway (NRK)
Portugal (RTP)
Romania (TVR)
Russia (RTR)
San Marino (SMRTV)
Serbia (RTS)
Slovakia (STV)
Slovenia (RTVSLO)
Spain (RTVE)
Sweden (SVT)
Switzerland (SRG/SSR)
Turkey (TRT)
Ukraine (NTU)
United Kingdom (BBC)
The Polish national broadcaster TVP has decided not to take part his year. "As host broadcaster of Euro2012, TVP has a challenging year ahead. We truly hope to welcome TVP back again in 2013," Sand explained.
Host City Insignia Exchange
The semi-final allocation draw, which determines in which semi-final each country will participate, will be held on 25 January in Baku, during the Host City Insignia Exchange.
Thirty-seven countries will take part in the two semi-finals, whereas only 20 of them will qualify for the Grand Final, 10 from each semi-final.
In the Host City Insignia Exchange ceremony at the Buta Palace, Dirk Elbers, mayor of last year's host city Dusseldorf, will hand the official Eurovision key to Baku mayor Hajibala Abutalibov.
The "concept" of the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 will be presented at the ceremony and the logo and slogan unveiled, Gun.Az reported.
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