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"Exit Festival is publicly apolitical and designed to promote reconciliation and togetherness. To create a place to talk things through peacefully." Paxton Talbot.

Over the past few years Exit Festival has grown into one of Europe's biggest and best parties. Fans call it "magical". This year though, instead of chirpy PR releases, people are hearing government warnings to avoid Serbia; and announcements about the line up have been overshadowed by a very public row with potential headliner Bjork.

To get to the bottom of the competing stories and conflicting commentary Ibiza Voice spoke exclusively with Exit's UK/EU promoter Paxton Talbot, who gave us his views on the politics, power plays and potential pitfalls facing this year's festival. 

Serbia: what's all the fuss about?
In a word: Kosovo. The largely ethnic Albanian area, backed by the US and most of Europe, unilaterally declared independence from Serbia on 18 February, infuriating nationalist Serbs who consider it a culturally integral part of their territory. Since the declaration of independence the Serbian prime minister, Vojislav Kostunica, has resigned and the Parliament dissolved as competing factions fail to agree on how to proceed over Kosovo - which one Serbian nationalist leader has referred to as a "an illegal, self-proclaimed, mafia quasi-state." 

What, if anything, does this have to do with Exit Festival?
The Exit Festival is publicly apolitical and, according Talbot, designed to "promote reconciliation and togetherness. To [create a place] to talk things through peacefully." Is that realistic, given the tensions?

Talbot thinks so: "There's something [like this] every year. Kosovo hasn't just blown up now… it's been going on for hundreds of years. Borders swing back and forth, but the festival is a little oasis. One of the main goals [of the festival] is to apply political pressure for change by raising outside awareness of the good things about Serbia." 

What are the good things about Serbia?
Talbot says, "Historically they're very creative, they do well in the arts and science. Contrary to what one sees in the media they're very multi-cultured. They have a very dry, very witty sense of humour."  

"It's nonsense. This particular American administration is bullying people. One-hundred football fans trashed their embassy [in Belgrade] and now they have this warning on their website."

And the bad?
A sense of humour has been notably absent from their dealings with Kosovo, whom they waged a bloody war against in the late 90s, but perhaps, as Talbot insists, things have changed. "Everybody wants to move towards greater union, [towards] connecting with the world. On the day of the [independence] announcement people were riled but they got over it," he told us.

Since he made that comment Serbian nationalist protesters in the Kosovan city of Mitrovica have run riot, firing on UN and NATO troops stationed there, seizing a courthouse, throwing petrol bombs and torching vehicles. One UN policeman has died in the violence and over a 120 police and protesters have been wounded.  

Does this affect the safety of Exit Festival?
According to Talbot, no. As he points out, Kosovo lies to the south of Serbia. Exit's hometown, Novi Sad, is in the North, roughly 90km from the capital, Belgrade. "It is business as usual," he assures us. What of the US State Department warning that travellers should avoid Serbia? "It's nonsense. This particular American administration is bullying people. One-hundred football fans trashed their embassy [in Belgrade] and now they have this warning on their website. It's like they're saying, 'we told you these are the sort of people we're dealing with'. They're trying to justify their actions by generating propaganda." Whatever happens our goal is to promote reconciliation  togetherness and freedom. 

But the UK has also issued a caution to travellers...
"The British embassy is a lot more sensible. They aren't suggesting people don't travel to Serbia, they're just suggesting people be careful about what they say because [Kosovo] is a very emotive issue."  

What about your comment that people going to Exit should only speak about the situation if they were "educated" - who wants to take a history textbook to a party?
"A lot of intelligent punters come to Exit - and they're still going to come. They're going to come because they understand it. Some people won't come regardless of any advice, because they'll want to listen to the US Embassy website." 

How might this affect the festival?
"Exit has always been at its best when it has to cope with difficulties. This is the biggest one we've had to deal with but we always come out on top. We have an audience who wants to make it happen." 

Does Exit have a role to play politically?
"Whatever happens our goal [is] to promote reconciliation, togetherness and freedom." 

What's the deal with Bjork?
The first thing many people read about this year's festival was the news Bjork had been dropped by the organisers for dedicating her song Declare Independence to Kosovo during a gig in Tokyo. The story whipped around the internet, quickly followed by an embarrassing tit for tat exchange that saw Exit general manager Bojan Boscovic claim: "These stories are quite bizarre and untrue. Exit Festival has never cancelled any artist's performance because of their political point-of-view or statements."

Prompting team Bjork to release an email he'd sent them saying, "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."

Boscovic then admitted he'd sent the email but said it was "not an official Exit statement." Subsequently both sides decided to keep further discussions out of the press until they reach an agreement regarding Bjork's involvement with Exit.  

Should I stay or should I go?
Tens of thousands of music lovers from across Europe have fantastic memories of previous Exit Festivals, and artists are equally fulsome in their praise of the event, its setting and organisation. "The gig at EXIT it was AMAAAAAAAAAZING probably my favourite gig ever ever, ever!" gushed Paul Woolford while New Order's Peter Hook crowed, "I've never seen a better way to ruin an 18th century fortress, fuck the past here's to the future !"

That's a sentiment Serbia would do well to embrace. Hopefully, in this difficult year, Exit Festival will continue to stand for free thought, free speech and great music. It will be a historic year - do you want to miss it? 

Exit Festival: www.exitfest.org

In-depth news and info on the region: www.guardian.co.uk/world/kosovo