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Breaking news: Serbia postpones national final

18 February 2008 at 20:34 CET

The semi-final and final of the Serbian national final were scheduled for this Tuesday and Wednesday. A new date for Beovizija 2008 will be announced in due time, says Executive Producer Sandra Suša, adding that the decision was taken "in consultation with the board of RTS". Participating broadcasters have until the 17th of March to deliver their song for the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest to the European Broadcasting Union.

Svante Stockselius, Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest, said to Eurovision.tv: "The decision to postpone a national final is entirely up to to respective broadcaster - this also counts for RTS. All 43 participating countries should deliver their song no later than the 17th of March and there are no reasons to believe the Serbian entry won't be among them."

Fans and press already raised the question if the political situation between Serbia and Kosovo could affect the planning of the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade. "There are no reasons to believe the preparations of the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest are in danger," assured Stockselius, who is - as every year - closely working together with the Host Broadcaster for the upcoming contest. The two Semi-Finals of the 53rd Eurovision Song Contest take place on the 20th and 22nd of May, the Final on Saturday the 24th of May.

This also means the live broadcast of the Serbian national final through Eurovision.tv's esctv will be postponed. Regardless the date of the event and possible scheduling conflicts with other live events on esctv, the EBU aims to broadcast the final of Beovizija 2008 live online.