Volodymyr Groysman held a meeting on organization of Eurovision Song Contest 2017 in Ukraine

On Wednesday, May 25, Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman held a meeting on the preparations for the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 in Ukraine.

Participants of the meeting discussed priority measures for the organization of the song contest, including the creation of organizational committees, sources of funding, requirements for its implementation, as well as the selection of a city, which will host the song contest.

"The position of the Government of Ukraine lies in the fact that Eurovision will be held in Ukraine. There are no discussions about this matter. Our task is to hold the Eurovision 2017 at a high organizational level. We will provide everything necessary to obtain this aim," said Volodymyr Groysman.

The Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine to submit proposals on the establishment of an organizing committee. "Our goal is to quickly identify an action plan and a place of the contest," he pointed out.

Volodymyr Groysman also expressed willingness to head the organizing committee. "I'm ready as Prime Minister to become a chairman, co-chairman of the committee in order to very clearly define that everything will be as fast, as high-quality, as balanced as possible and at a high level," he said.

The Prime Minister stressed that the Government will focus its efforts on attracting extrabudgetary resources for the contest as well as their efficient and public use. Volodymyr Groysman stressed the feasibility of co-funding of the contest along with the city that will host it, and noted that local budgets possess additional resources.

The Prime Minister also emphasized the need to ensure public and competitive environment for the selection of cities that have expressed an interest in hosting the contest.

"This event is possible thanks to peerless Jamala, her talent. And today we have the opportunity to say that the time has come when Ukraine can host the Eurovision Song Contest. We already possess the relevant experience thanks to Ruslana and we will be able to conduct a good event," emphasized Volodymyr Groysman.

The meeting was attended by First Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine Stepan Kubiv, Vice Prime Minister Vyacheslav Kyrylenko, Vice Prime Minister Pavlo Rozenko, Minister of Culture Evheniy Nyschuk, Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin, Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine Ihor Zhdanov, Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelian, Finance Minister Olexander Danyliuk, Minister of Information Policy Yurii Stets, Director General of the National Television Company of Ukraine Zurab Alasaniia, NTU’s Deputy Director General Victoria Romanova, Head of the State Committee for Television and Radio Broadcasting Oleh Nalyvayko, winner of the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest Ruslana Lyzhychko, producer Oleksandr Ksenofontov, producer Ihor Tarnapolskii.