Qualifying Round Of 49th Eurovision Song Contest Completed In Istanbul

ISTANBUL - The half final of the 49th Eurovision Song Contest was completed lately on Wednesday at Abdi Ipekci Sports Hall in Istanbul on Wednesday.
Ten countries which are qualified to participate in Grand Final are as follows:
Ukraine, Greece, Serbia-Montenegro, Greek Cypriot side, Malta, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Holland, Albania, Croatia and Macedonia.
Fourteen countries already have a secured place in the Grand Final: The winner and the highest scoring countries from the 2003 Eurovision Song Contest, along with the four largest countries in the competition; that are, Turkey, Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain, Sweden, Iceland, Norway, Poland, Romania and Russia.
The great final of the 49th Eurovision Song Contest 2004 will be held on Saturday, May 15 at the Abdi Ipekci Sports Hall.
Sertab Erener, representing Turkey with the song ''Every Way That I Can'', won the 48th Contest. The event was transmitted live by 42 broadcasters over the Eurovision network reaching over 100 million viewers across Europe and beyond in territories as far afield as Australia.
(GC-AÖ) 13.05.2004