Georgian television spokesperson Nino Kandelak revealed that the broadcaster is currently negotiating with the Ministery of Culture about participating in the 2005 Junior Eurovision Song Contest. Georgia would be the 20th and last country on this year's participants list and, after Belarus, the first country to join the junior contest before the adult show. The EBU did not confirm the negotiations yet.
Decision on Athens 2006
Kandelak also confirmed what we already knew; Georgia wants to participate in Athens, next year. Although there is no formal list of participants for next year's Eurovision Song Contest yet, it's likely that the limit of 40 countries will be reached in 2006. Armenia is also interested to participate in next year's Eurovision Song Contest.
A few weeks ago, Georgia, along with Armenia, became Active Members of the European Broadcasting Union, which gives both countries the right to participate in the song contest events organized by the EBU.
Earlier, Eurovision Song Contest supervisor Svante Stockselius said that “Georgia indeed showed interest”. “However, one can never say if they will really sign up for participation in the end”, he added, referring to the possibility that negotations can either be succesful or fail.
Georgian national selection
Georgian record company Step Records earlier announced that, in case Georgia will be allowed to take part in the Eurovision Song Contest, the first phase of the national selection can already take place this summer. The first Georgian Eurovision Song Contest participant should be chosen by a jury, of which the names will stay confidential, and should be presented somewhere in December or January.
