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Exit Festival Dismiss US Travel Alerts Exit Festival organisers brushed off State Department warnings for travellers to avoid Serbia, this week, pointing out that ‘holiday destinations’ including Indonesia, Cuba, Philippines and Israel are also on America’s list. The State Department issued a warning to Americans to “strongly consider the risks of traveling to or remaining in Serbia at this time’ after demonstrators trashed the embassy in Belgrade in response to the Kosovo crisis. However, Exit chief Paxton Talbot downplayed its wider significance. “With all due respect to US officials they are not particularly famous for producing accurate security risk assessments; from a political point of view: the statement is nonsense and just an extension of the US policy to control using fear,” the Festival UK and European promoter claimed. “I would suggest to anyone who has any doubts about being safe in Serbia to try to discuss the issue on some of the travel forums on the web,” the London based Brit recommended, “I’m sure what they will hear both from Serbian people and from foreigners travelling recently to Serbia or living there will be that it is perfectly safe to travel and stay there. And that’s the most objective opinion one can get at the moment.” “12,000 Brits had a great time at EXIT last year, I would suggest to anyone: try to find some of them and ask them did they ever hear anything about it. Don't believe the hype – ask those with a first hand experience, someone who isn’t a government minister,” he added. The British Embassy meanwhile also upgraded their official travel warning urging travellers to beware of discussing the ‘emotive’ issue of Kosovo. “For a lot people it is a very emotive issue, yes,” Paxton agreed. “Imagine Scotland or Ireland breaking away from the UK, but all the English people then having to move out of Scotland and Ireland, having to change jobs, relocate and having family disagreements over what is best for the family,” he continued. “Imagine the stress of having to deal with a potential break-up such as this at a grass roots, real-time level. This is a seriously compromising situation for ordinary people to have to deal with and debate in REAL terms.
“I think the best advice would be this; if you understand all the sides of the situation and are able to talk intellectually and empathically about it then why not discuss it. If you don't understand the details and background then it would be better to say ‘I don't really understand the situation enough to have an opinion on it’, he advised.
The US/UK travel warnings were published days before media reports claimed Bjork pulled out of Exit following a dispute regarding comments she made over Kosovo though Paxton downplayed the row and the significance of Kosovo for the festival in general. “Kosovo doesn't effect our planning in the slightest; we don't have to have any new contingency or strategy at all,” he said. “Of course, the Kosovo issue is a big issue, but Serbia is a big country geographically, and people should be aware that Kosovo is a long way from the festival. If you watch CNN it may look like the only thing is Serbia, but it’s not. News channels are not interested in good news.” “I don’t think its more dangerous for visitors in Novi Sad than it is for Serbian people to travel to London,” Paxton concluded, “Though if people are still concerned I’d advise stitching a New Zealand flag onto your backpack,” he chuckled. Bjork, meanwhile, found herself engulfed in far greater controversy this week after she dedicating her Declare Independence to Tibet, in a concert in Shanghai. Chinese authorities and fans were reportedly outraged, prompting the singer to hastily backtrack and admit she’s ‘not a politician’. http://www.exitfest.org Article by Jonty Skrufff Subscribe to Skrufff music newsletter at www.Skrufff.com
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