EBU refuses to probe 2002 'cheating' claims

The European Broadcasting Union will not be investigating reports that Malta, along with five other countries, had cheated by swapping votes at last year's Eurovision Song Contest, EBU coordinator Sara Yuen said.

"The EBU has received no formal report about any alleged cheating so we are not investigating," she said.

A Norwegian newspaper this week reported that Malta, together with Cyprus, Greece, Russia, Macedonia and Romania, had swapped votes.

Malta had placed second - its highest ever in the festival - and Cyprus sixth, Russia 10th, and Greece 17th last year.

The paper also quoted sources saying the "Maltese delegation were seen and heard making last minute phone calls to Malta to instruct on how the votes should be allocated" at last year's festival.

Ms Yuen was yesterday giving a televised interview to Norman Hamilton, vice-president of the International Federation of Festival Organisers (Fidof).

Maltasong chairman Charlò Bonnici welcomed the news and said Malta had a clean slate and had nothing to hide when it came to its voting procedures.

Speaking about this year's contest, Ms Yuen said the fact that the majority of the 26 competing countries, except Russia, were using televoting, meant a fairer result.

"As EBU we feel televoting is less open to manipulation than a jury. But then again with today's technology you never know who could be playing around," she said.

This year the EBU will be picking three competing countries and paying their broadcasters a surprise visit today to oversee the procedures and ensure that the specified voting system is in place.

"However, at the end of the day we have to be realistic, if there is a bit of lobbying for votes, then this would be no different than what happens in, say, institutions such as the UN or the EU," she said with a smile.

Speaking about the EBU's new regulations, which come into force next year, Ms Yuen said the introduction of the semi-final will give those countries which did not make it among the top 10 in this year's festival the chance to take part in next year's final.

Ms Yuen said more changes could be introduced over the year.

"I do hope these are not the final regulations. The contest has to evolve, otherwise we'll go back to the dark ages," she said.

Since Maltese composer Philip Vella is forming part of the Ukrainian delegation as an adviser, Ms Yuen was asked whether foreign composers, authors or singers could also come to Malta and represent the country. Would not this eradicate the national element of the contest?

"There is nothing in the present rules and regulations that stops this. The broadcasters do not wish to stifle talent so if your Maltese composer is good why shouldn't he compose a song for another competing country and vice versa," she asked.

"This year the Belgian singer is Spanish. Broadcasters don't wish to stop this creativity. Naturally, if it goes to the extreme then we will see about it," she said.