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Kateryna Yushchenko Meets with European Broadcasting Union Management

December 8, 2007, Head of the Supervisory Board of the Ukraine 3000 International Charitable Fund Kateryna Yushchenko had a meeting with the European Broadcasting Union top management in Rotterdam. Among its participants were EBU Director General Jean Réveillon, Director of EBU TV Department Bjorn Erichsen, Head of the Junior Eurovision Steering Group Steve De Coninck-De Boek, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Netherlands Oleksandr Kupchyshyn, Advisor to the  Head of the Supervisory Board of the Ukraine 3000 Fund Andriy Myroshnichenko, Head of the Fund’s Board of Directors Oleksandr Maksymchuk, President of the Television and Radio Company of Ukraine Vitaly Dokalenko, Director General of the Artek International Children’s Center Borys Novozhylov.

The major theme for discussion was the possibility of holding the Junior Eurovision 2009 in Ukraine, at the Artek ICC. Recall that the NTCU, Ukraine 3000 Fund, and Artek have prepared a joint address to the EBU, proposing to make Artek the site for the Junior Eurovision finals, starting from 2009. The idea was seconded by the National UNESCO Committee of Ukraine.

Mrs. Yushchenko spoke about the importance and popularity of the Junior Eurovision in Ukraine. She noted that the contest is an effective tool for selecting the brightest singers and groups, giving young musicians a chance to become true stars. Mrs. Kateryna also described to the EBU leaders the Artek ICC, its history, placing an emphasis on its attainments in developing international friendship and on its potential for instilling in children the European unity idea, tolerance, and leadership.

“Ukraine would be honored to hold such event,” Mrs. Kateryna said. “We can assure the European Language Union that the event would enjoy highest support of the Ukrainian state and community.”

The EBU leaders showed their interest in the Ukrainian proposal. Mr. De Coninck-De Boek said that the decision about the site for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2009 will be made at an administrative group meeting in spring 2008.

The Junior Eurovision Song Contest is being held on an annual basis in different countries and is similar to the “adult” Eurovision in its procedure: all participating countries hold national selections, whose winners meet at the international finals. Unlike the  “adult” version, which is held in the previous year’s winner’s home country, the decision on the site for the children’s contest is made by the EBU Board of Directors, having considered the applications from various countries. This year’s finals are held in Rotterdam, supported by UNICEF. All funds, raised during the SMS voting in all countries, will be transferred to the UNICEF account for charitable programs.

Mrs. Kateryna Yushchenko and Ukraine 3000 International Charitable Fund members are staying in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, for a two-days working visit. Its major goal is attending the final part of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2007 on December 8, 2007.

Earlier Mrs. Kateryna met with renowned Ukrainians living in the Netherlands.