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Head of GPB writes to broadcasters
Georgia will not participate in Moscow Eurovision
Estonian media reports that the Georgian public broadcaster has announced they will withdraw from the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest in protest against Russian politics.
The Chief Executive Officer of the broadcaster Levan Kubaneichvili said that "Eurovision cannot be held in a country which violates human rights and international law and does not respect democratic values". The Georgian broadcaster is also not sure that Russia can guarantee the safety of all participants according to the new portal of the Estonian broadcaster ERR.
Kubaneichvili mentioned in his letter to other broadcasters' leaders that Georgia respects the song contest as a non-political even which unites Europe and the world in music and creates cultural bridges.
The leader of the Georgian Eurovision project that they are afraid about the people who participate in Moscow. "From our angle Russia cannot guarantee the safety of our representatives and perhaps the safety of participants from other countries either. Maybe this is a good example for the whole world if you think about the situation, to think about the Russian aggression."
The news has not been confirmed by the EBU, who at this point, have told esctoday.com that they have no knowledge of an official statement from Georgian broadcaster GPB. There is also several months before a final decision on participation has to be made, and thus there is still time for the Georgian broadcaster to reconsider their position if these early reports are correct.
Whilst officially, no countries have yet been invited to participate in the competition, it appears at this stage that Georgia has decided to announce that it will not submit an entry when the EBU issues the rules and asks broadcasters to participate later this year.
There has been discussion in Estonia sparked by the Culture Minister about whether Estonia and the Baltic states should refuse to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest, due to take place in Moscow next year following Dima Bilan's victory. His Lithuanian counterpart was quick to reply, saying "Spontaneous decisions might aggravate the efforts of diplomats to harmonize the conflict. It is not right time to speak about that".
esctoday.com hopes for a speedy resolution to the conflict and that peace will come to the region with speed. We would like to remind readers to avoid making political comments regarding the crisis. We kindly ask our members to keep reactions focussed on the Eurovision Song Contest.
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let there be hope, what are you taking about? recongnition of Kosovo happened just half a year ago. and you say it's an old case.
Stephen, I agree with you pretty much, especially in terms that we do not have complete information to make final judgements and support anybody fully (as long we are not biased).
But I am sure that safety of Georgian delegation is not an issue! Significant proportion of this country lives on the money transfers coming from Georgian succesfully working in Russia. and among celbrities in Russia there are many Georgians - nobody is questioning their safety!
Georgia would send a more effective message by participating. Imagine if they won the whole shebang - in Moscow?
SAKARTVELO GAUMARDJOS
UKRAINE WITH YOU, GEORGIA!!!!
UKRAINE WITH YOU, GEORGIA!!!!
UKRAINE WITH YOU, GEORGIA!!!!
UKRAINE WITH YOU, GEORGIA!!!!
UKRAINE WITH YOU, GEORGIA!!!!
UKRAINE WITH YOU, GEORGIA!!!!
UKRAINE WITH YOU, GEORGIA!!!!
UKRAINE WITH YOU, GEORGIA!!!!
SAKARTVELO GAUMARDJOS
UKRAUNE WITH YOU, GEORGIA!!!!!11
@Benji
cyprus case happend in 1974..and albanian one is old either....i agree with Georgians...support their boykott..
I don't think that Georgia should boycott ESC 2009 in Moscow. If Albania felt comfortable about participating in this year's contest in Belgrade or Cyprus about taking part in ESC 2004 in Istanbul.....
Fariz...
As an American, I can tell you that FOX is considered a right-wing (read Pro-Bush) network. Only war-supporters give that channel credibility.
As for who is right and wrong in the war, I have just as much expertise on the subject as you: none. Neither of us live in Georgia, so neither of us can give an "expert opinion." I try to read up on as much as I can of the world, and watch multiple news broadcasts, not just American.
If Georgia stays out of ESC 2009, I suspect it is not to make a political point (read: a slap in the face) to Russia. I would guess that it is fear over the safety of their delegation. If that is the case, than I can not blame them (whether Georgia was at fault in the war or not.)
I respect your opinion, I please hope you will respect mine as well.
Passareli, it is not the propoganda machine making Georgia to look like villain, Georgia is villain.
by the way the western propaganda machine has worked much more intenesively and outragiously over last weeks. to name just one - we all could see a shameful video from FOX where the US has "brilliantly" demonstrated their freedom of speech.
It's a difficult situation for Georgians. The contest is non political, but politics do have an impact on it. If I were the Georgian responsible for deciding to send a delegation to Moscow, I would think it well. On one hand, with all the propaganda machine in Russia making Georgia appear like a villain, it wouldn't be strange that, once in Moscow, the Georgians would be treated differently, or even badly, not only by the organising party but by Russian citizens themselves.
In the other hand, it would be a very good opportunity for Georgia to intensify a PR campaign in Russia and the rest of Europe. To ratify their European vocation.
In any case, even if Georgia decides to attend the contest next year, it will not be strange to see other countries withdraw. It has happenned in the past and it will happen again, I'm sure.
OMG I really can't understand some fans here...
Why shouldn't Georgia participate in Moscow ??? To boycott Russia??
O PLEASE. This is not some Russian festival, this is Europe music contest and the fact that Georgia is not competing will not harm Russia one bit, I really can't understand this decision!
And what will happened if Russia win again ???
really? then i can remind you that, Georgia is interested in our conflict in Karabakh, because as the neutral country, Georgia gets the most of regional projects (foreign organisations prefer to settle in Tbilisi, so that both Armenians and Azerbaijanis can come). Georgia has been successfully using this situation.
Also, Georgia never clearly supported us against Armenian occupation.
Third, Georgians and Armenians call each other brothers, moreover they are both caucasian orthodox and are more tied up than we and georgians. So, if we are brothers with Georgians, then Armenians are also our brothers? absurd!
Finally, never forget that millions of Azeris work in Russia (not in Georgia) and transfer money to their families in Azerbaijan.
4 me their are our brothers...and i am not alone with my opinion...all azeris i know are with georgia...!
Prime Time, since when Georgians became our brothers?
I am sooooo upset!....GEORGIA OUR BROTHERS IT's ALL GONNA BE GOOD!.....
Chris,
i couldn't agree with you more on this point!
The original point of the contest is a non voilent, non poitical and impartial SONG contest to celebrate the divertisty of the EBU, bring back the LIVE orchestra, part public/jury voting, singing on ethnic languages.. I may be sad, niave and living in lala land but that was the remit that has been hijacked in the 21st Century....
Whatever....talk to the hand.
Ron, we all can see your confidence - endless list of mistakes. can't you admit it? 
I know that a country must be a EBU member to get in Eurovision and first in UN to get in EBU.
Kosovo is (still) no member of any international organization so don't expect them in the contest (soon)
@Ron
They won't accept independence of Kosovo because of their own interests, not because solidarity with Serbia. They don't care about Serbia, ofcouse. And this is OK, I can understand it.
US needs Kosovo to be independent because of the biggest American (not NATO, but 100% American) biggest military base in Europe, in Urosevac (Kosovo) - Bondsteel. The base is named after "Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipient James L. Bondsteel". See wikipedia if u want more info.
Ron, I know in western media they never say anything against USA, but the truth is they terrorize this region for last 18-20 years. That's a lot. So, u can imagine how people feel about USA and Russia (both), in this region. They're pretty much fed up with everything.
Fariz G, I will not sink to your level of personal assaults and spite. I speak with confidence on matters of substance and don't need a lecture from you on the difference between EU and EBU.
Gorki List, Kosovo's public broadcaster RTK is in the process of applying for membership in the EBU. If it won't make it in 2009, it will happen in 2010. Countries which at the moment haven't recognized Kosovo publicly, will do so in the course of the coming months and years. They have their reasons, most of which are not to offend Serbia at this stage.
@Ron
Just one thing, Kosovo is not recognized by EU, nor EBU.
EU can't recognize any country, but member states can do it individually (EU said it hundreds of times).
I don't know what your government told u, but not even all member states recognized it (Greece, Romania, Spain, Portugal, Slovakia, Cyprus - did not). Moreover, they told they r not going to recognize it even if Serbia recognize Kosovo, which would never happen, really.
Other thing is EBU. Kosovo is not EBU member - therefor can not enter Eurovision. Also, many EBU members don't recognize it (Greece, Romania, Spain, Portugal, Slovakia, Cyprus, Moldova, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Israel, Bosnia Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia and ofcourse, Serbia).
Honestly, for many many reasons I don't think Kosovo will participate in 2009 or in near future (or maybe never, sorry to disappoint u), cause formally it is still a region in Serbia (when it comes to international low and United Nations).
Or, other countries can send their own regions to the ESC?
I guess not.
Very interesting is position of Montenegro, Bosnia and Macedonia who said they're facing big pressures from US ambassadors to recognize Kosovo.
Than, Poland and Czech who 'apologized' for recognition, but as the say they 'didn't have other choice, although they know it's not really legal'.
Than Italy who said it was one of the hardest decision ever for them to recognize it and to allow bombing of Serbia from Italian NATO bases. Now their minister support Serbia in EU very much - feel of guilty?
Double standards and hypocrisy.
Unfortunately humans will destroy Eurovision Song Contest.
It is the destiny of the contest itself.
Ron, you are again wrong!! and I am going to explain why only for the sake of other readers, because I am now even more convinced that your knowledge is poor and extremely restricted (but at the same time you talk with such a confidence - this is the worst thing about you).
FYI, Eurovision and European Union are 2 different things (I try to speak the language of children so it's better to understand, otherwise you could think i divert to other topics). EU does not organize, coordinate or even fully comprises Eurovision. Not all EU countries take part in Eurovision - Lux, Austr, Italy, Slovakia for example. And far not all Eurovision countries are EU countries (CH, Iceland, Norway, Andorra, CIS countries, Turkey etccccc).
Morever for your dissapointment, not all EU countries have recognized Kosovo, e.g. Spain, Greece.
And even if EU recognized Kosovo, again it is no way for the latter to participate in Eurovision. Congratulations with your level of thinking!
One headache less!!!!!!!!
In response to some previous comments:
It's silly to assume that disputed territories all over Europe are part of the same melting pot as if there are no unique circumstances in each individual case:
However, that doesn't mean that there are no similarities in the dynamics that brings about an invasion of a strong regional power into a conflict zone where it has an ethnic minority. The North Cyprus case was meant to show that Greece took offense from this in ESC 1975 especially since Turkey was invited to join in that year.
Civilians suffer on both sides of a conflict zone, but some countries use civilian targets deliberately as a 'weapon' of choice or as human shields in breach of all international conventions. Georgia had every right to strike in South Ossetia against subversive factors and paramilitaries. Wars are not sterile and it's always unfortunate that innocent civilians are caught in the fire or displaced, but as far as I'm concerned, Russia's so-called payback, or shall I say, premeditated strike, applied INDISCRIMINATE use of force against civilian populations in mainland Georgia that is consistent with its practices against civilians in Chechnya.
Russia will have to be accountable for its actions one way or another even if takes years from now. That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it. I don't expect Georgia to appear in Russia: they have every reason not to and it's naive to think that they can hold their head proud on stage as if nothing had just happened. It will take years for Georgian-Russian relations to even begin to heal, just as the disintegration of the former Yugoslavia into ethnic states took (and will take) years to heal relations between nations and peoples.
I didn't call for the contest not to be held in Moscow, just as it was held in Franco's Spain in 1969 or in other less 'convenient' venues. The difference in Russia's case stems from the fact that it is currently threatening other EBU members with retaliatory measures and no one in his/her right mind can separate this from the prospects of a partial boycott of the contest being held there. That's why the burden of proof lies entirely in Russia's hands. All this is being said in the context of the 2009 ESC and has nothing to do with whether Georgia attacked first or miscalculated its steps. If Sakashvili has to go, that's up to the Georgian people. At least they have democratic institutions and political pluralism (even if they are somewhat muted now), what can't be said at all about Russia of 2008.
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