New Kosova Report

Kosovo was behind Exit festival row

Wednesday, 05 March 2008

Björk

Representatives of Bjork have insisted that the singer was forced out of Serbian festival EXIT due to her views on Kosovo.

The singer claimed she was dropped from the July event because of what she said onstage recently in Tokyo in support of the region gaining its independence.
EXIT’s organiser Bojan Boscovic then issued a statement denying that the singer had been dropped for her views, or that Bjork had even been cancelled.

However Bjork’s management have issued to following statement to NME.COM claiming that they were told politics was the reason she would not be allowed to play, and said that the festival had cancelled her performance.

“Bojan Boscovic, General Manager of the Exit Festival in Serbia, said in an email to Bjork's representatives, that, quote: ‘We hope Bjork does not relate to Kosovo on other concerts here in Europe, nor in her interviews, because if she does we need to cancel the concert; if this happens, we may as well look for some other artist, or see what is available’.”

Her management added: “The coverage of dedicating her song ’Declare Independence’ to Kosovo at two recent shows in Japan was so widely covered in print and online media that the festival had no option but to cancel her performance. We will replace this event with another show in due course.”

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Mark said:

Lois,
I will not deny that the burning of churches is horrible and the vast majority of Albanians did condemn it. Can you honestly say that that was the case when Serbs ignited Albanian mosques? The irony here is that Albanian Muslims are about as religious about Islam as Serbs are about the Orthodox Church. There are many mosques & churches in both Kosova and Serbia but very few of them are packed with actual worshipers.
It’s almost silly to actually attempt to compare atrocities committed by Serbs against Albanians to that of Albanian on Serb crime. I acknowledge that some Albanians did some things but they are in no way even close in comparison and the very idea of the never-ending attempt by many in Serbia to play the role of the victim is truly comical.
About the only thing I can say for the Serbian propaganda machine is that you are consistent with your outlandish rhetoric.

Mark

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April 10, 2008
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Luna said:

	Re Lois: Shame in you and everyone like you! Wake up serbs Kosova is FREE! And as far as people that destroy churches how dare you talk when your people masacred inocent children, women and elderly.
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April 05, 2008
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Lois said:

	I guess the EU accepts only people who destroy churches. Shame on you all. The West only wants to steal your resources. That is why you have been recognized. Bow to your masters and kiss their feet as they poison the beautiful countryside there. Smrt fasizmu-sloboda narodu!
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March 19, 2008
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roberto said:

	it is so sad to me to see "progressive" institutions such as the exit festival, b-92, etc, move in nationalist, reactionary directions, rather than standing firm to their independent and democratic roots. this is not a promising sign for democratic values inside serbia, which at best of times are so under the gun... robert-0 from san francisco
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March 18, 2008
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Kastriot said:

	God bless freedom of speech, and THEY want to be invited into the EU. Hey Serbia, welcome to the 21st century!
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March 07, 2008
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Luna said:

	I guess serbians have not been acquinted with the freedom of speech yet. Their barbarian acts have really proven their bulli attitude towards others. Thanks again to Bjork for her support!
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