You're reading: Azarov: Issue of holding Junior Eurovision 2013 should be resolved by end of January

Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has said that it is necessary to create a public council in Ukraine that would deal with preparations for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2013 and added that an application for the contest should be considered by the end of January, reads a statement posted on the Web site of the Cabinet of Ministers.

He said this at a meeting with Junior Eurovision 2012 winner Nastia Petryk.

Azarov said that after Petryk’s victory at Junior Eurovision 2012 the next contest should be held in Ukraine. The country has already submitted a respective application, and the result of its consideration will be announced in late January.

Azarov also proposed creating a public council that would deal with preparations for the contest, with the support of the state. He also asked well-known Ukrainian designer Diana Dorozhkina, who also attended the meeting, to submit proposals on the composition of the council, as well as to consider the involvement of sponsors in the organization of the contest.

“Of course, the state will support the holding of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in Ukraine, but at the same time, it would be great to involve in this process sponsors, intellectuals and people who can financially help organize the competition at a high level,” he said.

Azarov noted that the government was ready to consider in a few weeks the proposals on the holding of the international children’s competition in Kyiv and take a respective decision.

“We will consider these proposals at a government meeting and make a respective decision. We will decide on what is required from the state and will hold [the contest]. If we managed to hold the European Football Championship in 2012, we will also manage to hold the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2013,” Azarov said.

Petryk, with her song “Nebo” (“Sky”), won the 2012 Junior Eurovision Song Contest, which ended in Amsterdam on December 1.