Minsk 2018

Azerbaijan to make a Junior Eurovision comeback?

It would be the country's third appearance at the contest

Azerbaijan last appeared at Junior Eurovision in Kyiv in 2013, after having debuted the year before. However, according to the General Director of BTRC, Ivan Eismont, participation in the near future isn’t out of the question. 

“They really want to come”

Speaking to sb.by about the national final to select Belarus’s entrant for the show, Mr Eismont revealed that Azerbaijan may be interested in making a Junior Eurovision return soon saying:

“Azerbaijan has not been there for  a long time, they really want to come”

Broadcasters had until June 29 to submit an application to participate in this year’s edition of the show. Should Azerbaijan confirm, this would be the third time they send a representative at Junior Eurovision.

Azerbaijan in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest

So far, Azerbaijan only appeared at Junior Eurovision in 2012 in Amsterdam and 2013 in Kyiv. Their best result was in 2013 with then 10-year-old Rustam Karimov placed 7th with his entry “Me and My Guitar“. The country was supposed to make a debut in 2008 (same year as their Eurovision debut) but later withdrew due to an insufficient number of candidates for the national final.

Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2018

Belarus’s capital Minsk will be the host of the 2018 edition of Junior Eurovision. This is the second time the event takes place in the city, who previously hosted it in 2010. The city was selected as host last year, before the 2017 edition of the show. So far, 14 countries have confirmed their intent of participating in Minsk, and they are:

  • Armenia
  • Belarus
  • France
  • FYR Macedonia
  • Georgia
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Netherlands
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Russia
  • Serbia
  • Wales

France will return to the contest, having only participated once back in 2004, and Wales will instead make a debut.
At the moment two countries that participated to the contest last year (Albania and Australia) have yet to make a statement regarding their intentions for Minsk. On the other hand, two countries that participated last year, Cyprus and Ukraine, both confirmed their withdrawal from the competition.
Do you hope to see Azerbaijan back at Junior Eurovision in Minsk? What is your favorite Azeri entry at Junior Eurovision so far? 

Let us know in the comments section below and on all social media platforms at @ESCXTRA!

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