BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA – Due to the BHRT debt to the EBU, the Bosnian national broadcaster cannot participate in any EEBU events or broadcast majors events like World Cup, Eurovision etc. The situation remains the same, the problem remains unsolved according to local media.
Speaking to local press the Bosnian Head of Delegation revealed that last year there was intention for the country to participate as the Ralph Siegel was willing to pay the cost for the country’s participation in the contest by producing a song for folk singer, Hanka Paldum. This collaboration with Bosnian friend Davor Pejic submitted the offer to BHRT.
“Last year we could not accept this offer because we did not participate in the Eurovision Song Contest. We left this opportunity open and this year we contacted EBU regarding the possibility of BHRT participation at the Eurosong in 2019. Unfortunately, the BHRT remains under the sanctions of the EBU- who told us that BHRT can not participate in the Eurovision Song Contest until it resolves the trial and does not see how it will begin to repay debts that are higher than 6 million Swiss francs, “said the head of the BH delegation Lejla A. Babovic.
It is clear now that until the broadcaster resolves the dispute and the debt with the EBU, the country is not eligible to participate in the contest. The financial problems though for BHRT started in 2013 but in 2016 various sponsors managed to allow a Bosnian participation in the contest which ultimately failed to score.
Bosnia and Herzegovina has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 19 times since making its debut in 1993, after coming second in the qualification round “Kvalifikacija za Millstreet”. Prior to 1993, Bosnia and Herzegovina participated in the Eurovision Song Contest as part of Yugoslavia.
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s best result was in 2006, when Hari Mata Hari finished third with the song “Lejla”. This remains the country’s only top five result in the contest. Bosnia and Herzegovina returned to the contest for the first time since 2012 at the 2016 contest, where they failed to advance from the semi-finals for the first time. They then withdrew once again from the contest.
