EUROVISION IN CRISIS

One big question that Kosovan* independence raises the worrying prospect of the Eurovision Song Contest being dragged into Serbia's conflict with the rest of the world. As you know, this year's contest is being held in Belgrade, providing a handy opportunity for Serbia to show its non-recognition of Kosovan independence. I do not know what the criteria are for accepting new member states of the Eurovision Song Contest Organisation, but at this short notice it is unlikely that Kosova would be able to join up in time to compete (even allowing for the likely hostility to it from Russia and certain other countries). So we will be spared the possibility of the Serbian presenters refusing to hear the votes of juries for the Kosovan song. But there are other ways in which the contest could be marred by Balkan politics. The introductory bit where the host nation paints a picture of how great and interesting it is could be turned into a whiny nationalist whinge-fest, with a re-enactment of the first battle of Kosovo and loads of maps of Serbia pointedly showing Kosova as still an integral part of the country. Or perhaps the Serbian hosts could refuse to let the songs of Kosova-recognising countries compete. This last option could be disastrous for the Eurovision, as the rejected countries might then decide to set up their own rival Eurovision. Perhaps the partitioning of Serbia might also result in the permanent sundering of the world's greatest song contest.

*Kosovars are people from Kosova, while Kosovan is the adjective for things pertaining to Kosova, right? Or wrong?