Kosovo Albanians react to Serbia winning song contest

(13 May 2007)
AP Television
Pristina May 13 2007
++NIGHT SHOTS++
1. Wide shot of Pristina streets
2. Mid shot of people walking along streets
3. People in restaurant watching Eurovision song contest
4. Close up of screen showing the Germany reporting their results
5. Mid shot of people watching screen, concerned about Albania and Serbia leading contest
6. Close up of man watching screen
7. Close up of screen results showing Serbia in lead
8. Wide shot of screen showing Serbia supporters cheering
9. People watching screen
10. Wideshot of people watching the large screen showing the contest
11. Close up of scoreboard
12. Midshot of man watching screen
13. Two men watching the contest
14. SOUNDBITE: (English) Agron Berisha, ethnic Albanian local:
"I think the best people win. Everything is possible. This is a Eurovision song contest. I think probably Macedonia would be better , but these things happen. That is the vote of Europe but that's ok, why not? Things happen."
15. Close up of screen showing Serbia leading contest
16. SOUNDBITE: (Albanian) Besnik Gjemaili, ethnic Albanian local:
Of all the countries, this is a very bad taste song. I don't think Serbia deserved to win."
17. Screen showing winners of the Eurovision song contest Serbia's Marija Serifovic and her band celebrating.
ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO REACT TO SERBIAN WIN AT SONG CONTEST
Ethnic Albanians in Kosovo watched Serbia win the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest early on Sunday.
Representing Serbia Marija Serifovic performed a heart-wrenching power ballad that beat 23 other entries in a competition dominated by Eastern European countries.
Kosovo is a province of Serbia, but it has been under U.N. and NATO administration since a 78-day NATO-led air war that halted a Serb crackdown on ethnic Albanian separatists in 1999.
"I think the best people win. Everything is possible. This is a Eurovision song contest," said one ethnic Albanian, Agron Berisha after watching the contest in a cafe in Pristina in Kosovo.
"I think probably Macedonia would be better , but these things happen. That is the vote of Europe but that's ok, why not? he added.
"Of all the countries, this is a very bad taste song. I don't think Serbia deserved to win," another ethnic Albanian, Besnik Gjemaili, said.
Serifovic's ballad "Molitva," or "A prayer," received the highest score in a 42-nation vote count, followed by a glitzy drag show act from Ukraine and Russian girl band.
Hosted by the 2006 winner Finland, the annual extravaganza of clashing musical tastes was broadcast live to an estimated audience of 100 (m) million, with viewers picking the winner by phone and text messages.
It was Serbia's first appearance in the competition as an independent nation after Serbia-Montenegro split last year.
Maligned by some as an exhibition in bad taste, the show is hugely popular among aficionados of kitsch and bubble-gum pop who travel across the continent to watch their idols in an event known for its camp acts and over-the-top performances.
Eastern European countries took 14 of the top 16 spots in the final, which ended in the early hours of Sunday in Helsinki's main hockey stadium where 9,000 people packed the arena.
Outside, police closed off the main city square where 25,000 people jammed to watch the show on large screens.
The competition put Finns into a carnival mood with 350 events organised during what was dubbed "Eurovision Week."
Serbia won with 268 points over Ukraine's 235 and Russia with 207 in third place. Turkey came fourth with 163 points.

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