RIGA - Famous Turkish singer Sertab Erener won the 48th Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday night held in Riga, Latvia with her song ''Every Way That I Can'' by getting 167 points.
Turkey won the contest for the first time.
Turkey got 12 points each from Bosnia, Austria, Belgium, Netherlands; 10 points from Norway, France, Romania, Slovenia, Germany, Croatia; 8 points from Sweden, Portugal, Greek Cypriot side; 7 points from Greece, Britain, Israel; 4 points from Malta; 3 points from Spain, Iceland; 2 points from Ukraine and Poland.
Greek Cypriot side voted for Turkey's song for the first time. They gave 8 points for Turkey and while announcing their vote, the Greek Cypriot side said ''for peace in Cyprus.''
Belgium was ranked the second with 165 points and Russia was the third with 164 points.
Turkey gave 12 points to Bosnia, 10 points to Russia, 8 points to Iceland, 7 points to Belgium, 6 points to Austria, 5 points to Ireland, 4 points to Greece, 3 points to Croatia, 2 points to Spain and 1 point to Romania. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan both issued messages for Turkey's winning the contest.
Sertab Erener said after getting her award that ''I would like to thank Turkey and everybody that lived abroad. It was time to sing in English in the contest.''
Meanwhile people in Kosovo celebrated Turkey's winning the contest.
(ÖS) 25.05.2003