World Tobacco Turkey 2013 was cancelled after the hosting exhibition centre rescinded permission to hold the trade fair less than one month before the 29 May start, organisers said.

Notice from Istanbul's Lütfi Kirdar Convention Centre that exhibition management was terminating WT's contract and cancelling the event was received on 2 May, said event organiser World Tobacco.
"They have expressed concerns for the possibility of a government penalty should they continue," with plans to host the tobacco event, WT said in an e-mailed statement.
"We were astounded by this arbitrary and completely unjustified decision. No advance notice whatsoever had been given in spite of our staff being in daily contact with the convention centre. The event has been scheduled for two years," WT said.
Attempts to find a last-minute substitute location in Istanbul were unsuccessful, WT said. World Tobacco International was the media sponsor for WT Turkey. The next scheduled WT trade fair is to take place in Hamburg in November. (ci)