Posted on 05/25/2003 2:07:57 AM PDT by Turk2
Turkey first time winner of Eurovision song contest Sat May 24, 9:37 PM ET - AFP
RIGA (AFP) - Turkey narrowly won the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time, as star Sertab Erener gave a boost to its European integration ambitions with her mix of rhythm and belly dance.
Erener, 39, took the top prize in the 48th version of the pop-song fest with her song "Every way that I can," after competing among 26 contestants in the Latvian capital watched by an estimated 100 million worldwide.
Her victory came only after a neck and neck race with Belgium's Urban Trad and the controversial Russian lesbian duo t.A.T.u., which had been heavily favoured going into the contest.
Visibly delighted by her victory, she immediately invited people to come to Turkey next year, when, as victor, it will stage the 49th edition of the kitsch song bonanza.
"It will be in Istanbul and it will be beautiful there," she told a news conference after collecting her golden disc.
"It was very exciting. My old friends called me to congratulate me and asked me to come as soon as possible to party.
She declined to answer a question on what effect the victory would have on her country's ambitions to join the European Union (news - web sites), saying only: "I don't deal in politics."
But by staging the contest over the past two years the former Soviet republics of Estonia and Latvia considerably increased their profile in the rest of Europe, basking in the media spotlight.
Erener's victory was decided literally at the last minute when Slovenia, the last country to announce its votes, gave her the edge.
She got 167 points, the Belgian group getting 165 with its ethnic air, and the Russian lesbian duo t.A.T.u 164.
One of the Russian group's singers Julia Volkova almost did not make it to the stage to sing because of a problem with her vocal cords, but Erener praised the duo's performance nonetheless.
"I do not know what happened before the competition, but this evening they were very good," she said.
The 26 participating artists performed on an ultra-modern stage, decorated with curves, astronomic spheres and mobile projectors at Riga's Olympic Skonto Hall.
Erener is one of the most popular singers in her country, with her albums million sellers at home and also doing well abroad. She has sung with the biggest and best like opera singer Jose Carreras and Latino heartthrob Ricky Martin (news).
Ironically, she failed on two previous occasions to be chosen to represent her country in the contest, in 1989 and 1990.
Last year in Tallinn, Latvia's Marija Naumova won the contest with her song "I wanna", giving the ex-Soviet republic responsibility for organising the contest this year.
The host country came third to last this time round, getting only five points, just ahead of Malta and Britain, which garnered the dubious honour of receiving zero points.
More than 6,OOO spectators, including top Latvian government politicians, were on hand for the annual song-fest, derided by critics as much as it was hailed by lovers of sentimental and highly-produced pop music.
Turkey has been distressed by being left out of the European Union's current plans to enlarge to new eastern and Mediterranean countries.
The EU will assess Turkey's democratization progress in December 2004 before deciding whether to open accession talks with the country, the laggard among the 13 candidates.
"Every way that I can" could soon become the new Turkish theme song in respect to EU membership.
Sertab Erener of Turkey performs with her group in the final concert of the 48th Eurovision Song Contest in Riga.(AFP/Janek Skarzynski)
Sertab Erener of Turkey holds the trophy as she celebrates her victory with her 'Everyway That I Can' song in the 2003 Eurovision Song Contest in Riga, Latvia, May 24, 2003. Turkey will host the next Eurovision contest in 2004. REUTERS/Alexander Demianchuk
Turkey's Setab Erener, centre, the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest celebrates on stage in the Skonto halle in Riga, Latvia late Saturday May 24, 2003. They won with a song entitled 'Every Way That I Can' (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Turkey's Setab Erener the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest celebrates on stage in the Skonto halle in Riga, Latvia late Saturday May 24, 2003. They won with a song entitled 'Every Way That I Can' (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Turkey's Setab Erener, centre blows a kiss to her fans after the winning the Eurovision Song Contest s on stage in the Skonto halle in Riga, Latvia late Saturday May 24, 2003. She won with a song entitled 'Every Way That I Can'. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Sertab Erener from Turkey performs during a dress rehearsal.(AFP/File/Janek Skarzynski)
Breakdown of points received by Turkey:
Iceland 3
Austria 12
Ireland 0
Malta 4
Bosnia-Herzegovina 12
Portugal 8
Croatia 10
Cyprus 8
Germany 10
Russia 0
Spain 3
Israel 7
Netherlands 12
United Kingdom 7
Ukraine 2
Greece 7
Norway 10
France 10
Poland 2
Latvia 0
Belgium 12
Estonia 0
Romania 10
Sweden 8
Slovenia 10
Total: 167
Points available from each country: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,10,12
Only Russia and Bosnia did not organize a televote due to poor telecommunications infrastructure.
Oh. I thought: 
Refreshing.
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