Mihajlovic: Pristina is making a festival for an internal political show, they will not participate in Eurovision

Milivoje Mihajlovic, an advisor to the director of Radio Television of Serbia (RTS), says that Kosovo, even though it chose its candidate for the Eurovision Song Contest three days ago, cannot and does not have the right to participate in this international competition because Radio Television of Kosovo is not a member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

He explained that Pristina was putting on a "show" for its internal political purposes by organizing a festival to select a song for Eurovision.

"Radio Television of Kosovo is not a member of the European Broadcasting Union, and Kosovo cannot participate in Eurovision, not even in the Eurosong. There have been several attempts for Radio Television of Kosovo to become an equal member of the European Federation of Public Service Media, but they failed. A few years ago, they even tried to change the statute, but that also failed. So, this show in Pristina is a festival for internal political use, and there will be no Eurovision participation on their part," Mihajlovic said for Kosovo Online.

Commenting on the announcement by the director of Radio Television of Kosovo, Shkumbin Ahmetxhekaj, that they will seek admission to the European Broadcasting Union, which is a prerequisite for Eurovision participation, the advisor to the director of RTS emphasized that it was currently impossible for such a request to be approved.

"The EBU General Assembly makes the decision on this, and a public broadcaster from a country or region that is a member of the International Telecommunication Union can become an equal member of the EBU. Kosovo is not part of this, and it is currently impossible," he stated.

As he added, the last time there was a vote regarding an amendment to the statute so that Radio Television of Kosovo could enter the EBU, with 645 votes against, Kosovo failed to gain entry.

The performer La Fazani, with the song "Oj Kosove," won the first edition of the "Festivali i Kenges," organized by Radio Television of Kosovo, which serves as a festival to select a representative for Eurovision.

The song is about the singer's love for Kosovo and its people, and at the end of the competition, Kosovo's Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, personally presented the trophy to the performer.