As the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia ( FYR Macedonia ) , the country submitted its first entry , " Samo ti " ( Само ти ) sung by Kaliopi , for the 1996 edition . However , the country failed to qualify through the non-broadcast pre-selection round . Its efforts to enter the contest were again hindered in 1997 , when another new system was introduced where countries with the lowest average scores over the previous four years were excluded from participating . The country made its debut in 1998 , with Vlado Janevski 's " Ne zori , zoro "
1996 edition
Eurovision Song Contest 1996
North Macedonia in the Eurovision Song Contest