„Eurovision-2006” finalists selected

Other ten participant countries at the International Song Contest „Eurovision-2006” in Athens were selected on Thursday night, after a semifinal at which 23 countries took part. They will perform on Saturday, 20 May, to compete for the festival’s trophy, together with the representatives of the first ten countries of the 2005 edition and those four founding states. After a show presented on the Olympic Basketball Stadium of Greece by the televisions of those 37 EBU member states, the public’s votes were given to the singers Dima Bilan (Russia), Elena Risteska (Macedonia), Hari Mata Hari (Bosnia-Herzegovina), LT United (Lithuania), Lordi (Finland), Tina Karol (Ukraine), Brian Kennedy (Ireland), Carola (Sweden), Sibel Tuzun (Turkey) and Andre (Armenia). Among those who have a guaranteed direct place in the contest’s final, due to the 6-th place gained last year by the band „Zdob si Zdub”, are the representatives of Moldova - Arsenium, Natalia Gordienco and Connect-R. They will perform the song „Loca”, right after Switzerland - the first one to start. According to sites monitoring the contest, the script of their performance had some changes: the singer renounced to some pieces of clothing, and the rapper will show up on the stage riding a scooter. The final of the International Song Contests „Eurovision-2006” will be shown live on 20 May, starting 21:50 (GMT +2 Time Zone)