The Turkish broadcaster, TRT have this morning confirmed that Turkey will not return to the Eurovision Song Contest next year, missing out on the 60th anniversary.
The statement was released online by Director General of TRT, İbrahim Şahin and states that TRT currently has no plans to return to the competition in the foreseeable future, looking even more likely that the country has indeed turned its back on the contest for good.
Turkey have been absent from the contest for the previous 2 years, with TRT publicly expressing their unhappiness with the EBU’s rules and in particular the direct qualification of the ‘big five’. It was previously reported that negotiations with the broadcaster and the EBU were underway in a hope to bring the country back to the Eurovision stage however these turned out to be false.
Just a few days ago, it was announced that Turkey would make their debut in the ABU TV Song Festival 2014, the asia pacific song contest which launched in 2012. Ironically, Turkey will be represented by MaNga, who finished 2nd place at the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest for Turkey with ‘We Could Be The Same’
Turkey’s last participation in the contest was in 2012 when Can Bonomo finished 7th place with ‘Love Me Back’.
