[kweks]

This is very likely a "lost in translation" or "false friend" moment. The French "exceptionnel" means: one of a kind, typically due to extenuating cricrumstances. (When your local bakery is closed because the baker broke his leg, the note on the window will say "fermeture exceptionnel"..

The Culture Ministery's comments are therefore quite accurate for this case, and not so much pomp.

[bogomipz]

It means the same thing in English:

http://www.dictionary.com/browse/exceptional