Fikri Ataoğlu condemns EXIT festival cancellation in Kyrenia

Fikri Ataoğlu, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth, and Environment, has expressed strong opposition to the cancellation of the EXIT festival, which was scheduled to take place in Kyrenia on September 18.

Ataoğlu claimed the cancellation resulted from political pressure and initiatives exerted by the Greek Cypriot administration in Serbia. He stated that the event's cancellation is not merely about a music festival, but represents an attempt to isolate the Turkish Cypriot community from international cultural, artistic, and sporting engagements.

The Minister emphasized that such political barriers hinder the creation of a climate of trust on the island. He reassured the youth that their right to participate in international cultural environments is being defended and asserted that the will of Kyrenia and the country to engage with the world cannot be extinguished by these actions.