The Governing body of the Eurovision Song Contest, the European Broadcasting Union's Eurovision Song Contest reference group has asked the Irish delegation to alter slightly Dustin's performance lyrics for the upcoming event in Belgrade.
Dustin the Turkey will represent Ireland this year at the Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade with the song Irelande douze pointe.
The lyrics of the song contains a list of European countries, which includes a name check for Macedonia. However the EBU has declined to confirm that the request had come from Greek broadcaster ERT, whowhich other websitesreport;havetaken offence at the mentioning of Macedonia, rather than their preferred "Former Yugoslav Republic Of Macedonia" the name under which the country joined the United Nations and which is still used by the EBU, albeit in an abriviated form on Eurovision scoreboards – "FYR Macedonia."
The EBU reference group have requested that the official name of the country "FYR Macedonia" be usedrather thanjust "Macedonia" in the lyrics of the song Irelande douze pointe for all Eurovision Song Contest related performances.
The Irish delegation have agreed to this, however this does not involve changing the recorded version of the song.
The EBU reference group is a group representative of EBU member countriesparticipating in the Eurovision Song contestwhich liaises directly with the EBU to guide and approve the major elements of the concept, development and preparation of the Eurovision Song Contest.
