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A:
Pride Parade postponed to avoid bloodshed on Belgrade streets
Belgrade,
21 September 2009
First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Ivica Dacic stated that by delaying the Pride Parade Serbia avoided bloodshed on the streets of Belgrade, explaining that the police had learned that certain organisations opposed to the parade were preparing for attacks on participants and the police.
In an interview for today’s edition of the Press daily Dacic said that in that case innocent bystanders and property in downtown Belgrade would certainly have suffered.
He noted that the police did not ban the Pride Parade, but based on careful consideration simply thought it would be better to hold it in front of the Serbian Government Palace.
However, the organisers did not agree to that. The Ministry had prepared over 4,500 police officers to secure the event, which would have cost €300,000. Next time they decide to hold the parade, we will draft a security estimate and make sure we properly secure the event, Dacic said.
He said that the Pride Parade is not like similar events in Europe and the world in which up to 100,000 people take part and are attacked by a handful of demonstrators, but that the proportions are reversed here with at least ten potential attackers for every participant.
Dacic said that the police learned that the people who were preparing to attack the Parade had obtained pyrotechnics and invited hooligans from abroad to join them.
He noted that securing the actual parade was not the problem for the police, but the fact that every participant was in danger both before and after the event.
Dacic stressed that human lives are more important than human rights, reiterating that the Pride Parade was not called off or forbidden, but simply postponed.
He noted that the fact that Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic received the organisers of the parade and talked to them shows that Serbia acknowledges human rights.
He noted that the police did not ban the Pride Parade, but based on careful consideration simply thought it would be better to hold it in front of the Serbian Government Palace.
However, the organisers did not agree to that. The Ministry had prepared over 4,500 police officers to secure the event, which would have cost €300,000. Next time they decide to hold the parade, we will draft a security estimate and make sure we properly secure the event, Dacic said.
He said that the Pride Parade is not like similar events in Europe and the world in which up to 100,000 people take part and are attacked by a handful of demonstrators, but that the proportions are reversed here with at least ten potential attackers for every participant.
Dacic said that the police learned that the people who were preparing to attack the Parade had obtained pyrotechnics and invited hooligans from abroad to join them.
He noted that securing the actual parade was not the problem for the police, but the fact that every participant was in danger both before and after the event.
Dacic stressed that human lives are more important than human rights, reiterating that the Pride Parade was not called off or forbidden, but simply postponed.
He noted that the fact that Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic received the organisers of the parade and talked to them shows that Serbia acknowledges human rights.
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