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Slovakia: No participation in Belgrade!
Oikotimes reports that Slovakia won’t take part at the Eurovision Song Contest next year in Belgrade, Serbia. They received an email from the Slovakian broadcaster STV in which Denisa Dzunkova stated that unfortunately the country won’t participate cause of the limited budget of the broadcaster. Nevertheless, Dzunkova promised that the broadcaster will once again look into the possiblility of returning to the competition in the future.
Slovakia debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994 and participated two more times, in 1996 and 1998. They achieved their best position (18th) in 1996 with Marcel Palonder and the song Kým Nás Máš.
As reported over the weekend by esctoday.com, we may still see the debut of San Marino at the Eurovision Song Contest, and Azerbaijan will also be making their debut in 2008. We still have no confirmation about whether Monaco or Montenegro will participate in Belgrade.
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I completely agree with Robert and Finn on this matter
lack of money ......a ridiculous excuse......
Ireland managed to hold the show four times in a six year period in the 90's..... ok admittedly costs ahve increased but it was still a masive achievement for a country of just under 4 million people. Companies, governemnt etc all donated large amounts and the shows were of excellent quality. Also Ireland was a relatively poor country back then ..not like today!!
The TV company should not pay for their representant's PR. But I have an idea: let all the money from televoting in the national final go to promotion for the winner! That will encourage more wiewers to vote (even if it's better with a number where the money go to charity).
Strange that so many people think lack of money is a weak excuse. I think it's very good of them that they want to spend their money on developing their country instead of taking part in a tv show.
And if Albania, Moldova or Serbia want to spend tons (millions?) on a tv show, well okay, let them, but I think that if your country is really poor you should not spend so much money on one tv show... Slovakia simply has got its priorities right.
by the way, this does not mean at all that I dont like the entries. Albania is one of my favorites every year in ESC, and I really liked the moldovan and serbian/serbomontenegrin whatever songs up to now.
@Melina
I don't feel that their entries were much underrated. However, I agree that 1994 was way better than 1998. Anyway, It would have been nice to have them back in the contest. The Czech Republic was a refreshment last year - regardless of the disastrous placement.
Oh, a pity; Slovakia had such a great entry in 1994 (yes, that's [b]1994[/b], not 1998 
- that's one of my personal favourites and one of the most underrated entries ever, too)!
But it's fully understandable if they don't feel like participating again (especially when you think how underrated their entries were...)
Such a pity :-(
Ok you guys maybe it's not low budget and maybe they do have money, but for them the Eurovision is not a priority and they will maybe use this money in a more important matter than Eurovision, not everyone sees Eurovision as the new coming of Jesus Christ as some others do...
I totally agree with Jan 1964's comment.
oh that bites. i was looking forward to hearing Slovakia next year. hoping they will make it for 09.
98 they had a great song that desereved so much better.
The " limited budget " excuse sounds kinda weak if Albania and Moldova are able to take part. Slovakia is even a EU country and plans to introduce the EURO in 2009 - so there has to be some money IMO if there`s really some good will.
Ok, we`ll have all particpants from 2007 plus Azerbaijan and maybe San Marino & Monaco.
I agree, the 1998 song were good.
Hope to see you in 2009!
Every country has the right to participate but also the right how to spend their money. Maybe Slovak TV likes to spend their money on current affairs and sports (EC football and Olympics coming up) instead of a questionable competition with bad songs in English.
Bjorn Lin
If limit is 45 I don't see a reason why another 3 countries (with 42 from 2007) could not be in Belgrade.
Pozdrav 
I'm sorry for Slovakia. In 1998 it was a great entry.
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VERY ANGRY !
SCANDALOUS AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
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VERY ANGRY !
Whay? 
I want him
cool 
@Night Elf
All of them won't be able to enter, as EBU has set a maximum of 45 competors.
Nooo it can't be true... Couldn't they rise a fund or something, it's not natural that a country in the heart of Europe doesn't compete... And for San Marino, don't get your hopes started.
That's sad, still I hope to see San Marino, Azerbaijan, Luxembourg and Monaco in Belgrade.
Pozdrav
just to remaide Slovakia is not Balcan country Ruslan Azeri.
I would love see them in Serbia ...
see u next time
I thought that they will take part in 2008 because of the good Eastern-countries' good result.....
Especially Hungary's result (not so Eastern ) should inspirate Slovakia....
Anyway I hope Monaco & San Marino will take part in 2008. Good Luck to Monaco!!!
And Slovakia may take part in 2009.
Can't understand that STV has a such a limited budget, sad, but good luck in the future!
I really hope that San Marino enters, and Monaco to return, I miss them.
There should be some kind of financial aid....lol....maybe a loan or they should follow what moldova did this year, and have the participant pay for it, and re-emburse them if they reach a certain placing.
Bad news. I love Balkan songs and want them to be more. C U in 2009
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