EBU fines Armenia for withdrawing from 'Eurovision-2012'

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) fined Armenia for withdrawing from "Eurovision-2012" song contest to be held later this month in Baku, the Director of Media Relations of Geneva-based EBU Annika Nyberg-Frankenhauzer told ITAR-TASS today.

According to her, the decision was taken by Television Committee and the EBU reference group after studying the case. As a result, Armenia will make a contribution for participation in the contest, as well as to pay 50 percent of the contribution as a penalty. Nyberg-Frankenhauzer did not report the amount of contribution for Armenia. In addition, the Armenian Public Television must show the final of the contest "live and without interruptions," and in case of refusing country "may lose the right to participate in the contest in 2013", added the representative of the Union.

Nyberg-Frankenhauzer explained that the verdict does not take into account the motives because of which Yerevan have decided not to send their singers to Baku. "There are regulations, and after a certain period of time a country wishing to take part in the competition, can not change its decision" - she said, explaining that this is what happened in the case of Armenia - the refusal was reported, "when all the terms of this out. "

On February 24 a group of Armenian pop singer issued a statement refusing to take part in "Eurovision". As noted at the press conference, Director General of the EBU Deltonre Ingrid, a step of Yerevan "does not comply with the rules of the Union."


/Trend/