AP News, May 14th, 2007
Marija Serifovic was given a hero's welcome by some 30,000 fans when she returned to Serbia after winning the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest in Finland.
"Ave, Marija," read one of the banners in the crowd around city hall in the Serbian capital Sunday, where authorities organized the homecoming event.
"I won for Serbia, I won for all of you!" the 22-year-old singer said after landing at Belgrade airport, delighting much of the Balkan country, which has been craving recognition after years of pariah status brought about by Serbia's role in the 1990s Balkan wars.
Serifovic won the annual extravaganza with a heart-wrenching ballad "Molitva (The Prayer)."
She sang the tune Sunday evening from the balcony of the mayor's office while the crowd chanted "Serbia! Serbia!"
Congratulations also poured in from government officials, political parties and President Boris Tadic, who said Serifovic's success "brought a great joy to all of Serbia."
The competition in the Finnish capital of Helsinki was broadcast live to an estimated audience of 100 million, with viewers picking the winner by phone and text messages.
Minutes after the vote count, lawmakers in the Serbian parliament took a break from a political debate at an overnight session to congratulate Serifovic.
"At long last!" screamed 33-year-old Ana Timotijevic. After "following every Eurovision Song Contest for over 16 years ... I can finally celebrate my country's victory."
It was Serbia's first participation in the contest as an independent country. Previously, it was a federal state of Yugoslavia and, in more recent years, part of the Serbia-Montenegro union.
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On the Net:
Eurovision Song Contest:
http://www.eurovision.tv/
