Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan.17 / Trend I.Isabalayeva /
Some 43 countries have applied to take part in the 57th Eurovision Song Contest to be held in Baku in May, 2012.
Among them Italy, Hungary and Austria who returned to the contest last year, the Public Television told Trend on Tuesday.
Joining them is Montenegro, which has been absent from the past 3 editions of this contest. This brings the number of participating broadcasters on par with the record of 43 from 2008 and 2011.
The 43 represented countries are: Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, FYR Macedonia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom.
The Polish national broadcaster TVP has decided not to join Europe's TV show this year, the Public Television said.