The Flemish minister of culture, Bert Anciaux, has conferred a state support of �25,000 to Ishtar, the Belgian representatives in Belgrade. The financial support should serve to pay off all additional costs made in Belgrade, besides the normal costs which will be paid by the Flemish broadcaster VRT.

Ishtar applied for the donation themselves. They presented a list of expected extra costs to be made in preparation for Belgrade and during their stay in Belgrade to Bert Anciaux. The Flemish minister approved to give the Belgian band €25,000, considerably less than the €60,000 he allocated to Kate Ryan for her promo tour in 2006.

The main difference is that Ishtar didn’t plan any promo activities abroad, except for the one in The Netherlands planned on May 4th. Ishtar will perform O Julissi in Dutch tv show ‘Life and Cooking’ and will meet the Dutch and Swedish representatives, Hind and Charlotte Perelli.

Ishtar will release their second album next week, which carries the name of their Eurovision entry 'O Julissi'. This week, the Belgian band rehearsed their new choreography for Belgrade for the first time, created by choreographer Ricardo Overman.