**Fourlas Urges Serbia to Halt Music Festival at Kyrenia Castle**
Disy MEP Loukas Fourlas has formally requested Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to intervene in the planned Nexus electronic music festival at Kyrenia Castle, scheduled for September 18. Fourlas expressed concerns that the festival, organized by the Serbian EXIT Festival company, could lend legitimacy to the administration in the Turkish-occupied northern part of Cyprus.
In his correspondence with Vucic, Fourlas emphasized that Kyrenia is an integral part of the Republic of Cyprus and highlighted the castle's historical and cultural significance. He argued that hosting a significant cultural event at this location, particularly with the involvement of what he termed "illegal entities in the occupied areas," risks normalizing the current political situation in the north.
Fourlas stated, "The Republic of Cyprus has never stood against cultural and artistic exchanges between peoples. Culture is a bridge of friendship and cooperation." However, he cautioned that such exchanges should not be misused to recognize or reinforce illegal separatist structures.
As the chair of the European Parliament committee overseeing relations between the EU and Serbia, Fourlas is actively engaging with the Cypriot embassy in Serbia to address the matter with Serbian authorities. He underscored that the issue extends beyond the music festival, touching upon the broader themes of sovereignty and territorial integrity for the Republic of Cyprus.
He remarked, "We expect Serbia, a country that has consistently supported the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus, to ensure that no Serbian company or organization will contribute, directly or indirectly, to the legitimization of the illegal structures of the occupation."
Preparations for the Nexus festival are currently underway, and Fourlas has committed to monitoring the situation closely while maintaining dialogue with both Cypriot and Serbian officials in an effort to prevent the event from proceeding.
This development has sparked political backlash, with concerns about the implications of such an event on the ongoing division of Cyprus and the recognition of the northern administration. The situation remains dynamic as stakeholders from both sides continue to navigate the complexities surrounding cultural events in contested areas.