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Lukshenko disappointed with Belarus’ Eurovision result

The Belarusian leader believes that one television channel cannot be given full control over selection of Eurovision candidates

MINSK, May 28 (Itar-Tass) — Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Monday he was deeply disappointed with Belarus’s results at the Eurovision-2012 song contest in Baku.

“We need to create a good act, find a unique artist who will sing and make experts gasp,” Lukashenko said.

The president said Belarus should change its approach to the Eurovision song contest. “If we lose, then we need to lose with dignity. We have spent enormous money but the result is nil,” Lkasehnko emphasized.

The Belarusian leader believes that one television channel cannot be given full control over selection of Eurovision candidates.

Belarusian group Litesound failed to qualify for the final round and was 16th out of 18 in the semi-final.

In the meantime, the Buranovo Grannies folk group who sang for Russia at Eurovision-2012 performed their task with flying colors. They were second losing only to Loreen of Sweden.

Russian Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky has congratulated the Buranovo Grannies folk group on their Eurovision success.

“Our dear Grannies from Buranovo, thank you very much! The whole country was happy and pleased with your Eurovision performance and international success! You are the innermost part of Russia which has never run short of talents!

Worldly wisdom is your advantage. You are doing everything right! It’s better to develop you own native culture rather than copy somebody else,” the Russian culture minister wrote in his message of greeting.

Medinsky also wished the Buranovo artists good health and long years of creative work.

The Eurovision-2012 song contest ended in Azerbaijan’s capital Baku early on May 27.

Swedish singer Loreen with song Euphoria was the winner. The Buranovo Grannies folk group from Russia’s Udmurt Republic was second. Zeljko Joksimovic of Serbia was third.

Singers from 26 countries took part in the contest. Twenty-three thousand people watched the Eurovision-2012 final at the Baku Crystal Hall. Another 16,000 could see it on big monitors installed in various parts of the Azeri capital.

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Verkhovna Rada legislator Alexey Goncharenko said on Monday that the UK had granted its agrement to the Ukrainian former Commander-in-Chief

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