Serbia didn’t capitulate, minister says

Human and Minority Rights Minister Milan Markovic told B92 the state would have capitulated if it had allowed Pride Parade to be held out of fear of criticism. He added that the price could have been loss of human lives. Serbia didn’t capitulate, minister says “It’s far from the truth that the state has capitulated and that hooligans are more powerful than the state, that’s complete nonsense,” the minister stressed. According to him, the state has reacted the only way it could in order to save human lives and property. Markovic said that the state was able to stop all those who would try to demolish the city because it had monopoly to use force, but explained that the authorities’ job was to assess what certain events could cause. “The state will suppress any such action in a day, two three or five, the British of the Serbian state. The state has a monopoly to use physical force and there’s no dilemma there. Does anyone honestly think that the state cannot secure the Pride Parade? Well, the state can roll out tanks if someone thinks that’s smart,” he pointed out. The minister noted that the government’s decision to ban all public gatherings was exactly what any government would do. He added that it was a separate issue whether we had problems with differences, mutual understanding and respect. According to Markovic, human rights in Serbia are on a good level, which does not mean that they should not be improved. He added that minority rights were also at a high level. “We have independent organs, like the ombudsman, equality protection commissioner, public information commissioner and Serbia in that sense really does not have anything to be ashamed of when it comes to the level of human rights protection,” he concluded. Milan Markovic (Tanjug, file)

Serbia didn’t capitulate, minister says

“It’s far from the truth that the state has capitulated and that hooligans are more powerful than the state, that’s complete nonsense,” the minister stressed.

According to him, the state has reacted the only way it could in order to save human lives and property.

Marković said that the state was able to stop all those who would try to demolish the city because it had monopoly to use force, but explained that the authorities’ job was to assess what certain events could cause.

“The state will suppress any such action in a day, two three or five, the British of the Serbian state. The state has a monopoly to use physical force and there’s no dilemma there. Does anyone honestly think that the state cannot secure the Pride Parade? Well, the state can roll out tanks if someone thinks that’s smart,” he pointed out.

The minister noted that the government’s decision to ban all public gatherings was exactly what any government would do. He added that it was a separate issue whether we had problems with differences, mutual understanding and respect.

According to Marković, human rights in Serbia are on a good level, which does not mean that they should not be improved. He added that minority rights were also at a high level.

“We have independent organs, like the ombudsman, equality protection commissioner, public information commissioner and Serbia in that sense really does not have anything to be ashamed of when it comes to the level of human rights protection,” he concluded.