President supports decision to ban high-risk gatherings

Robert and Anders from Stockholm Sweden Tourist and Pride 2011 visitors in Belgrade!, If you just judge and insult Serbia and its people because your little luxury vacation turned out differently then please take a cab to the airport now and go back to Sweden. Then Serbia and Belgrade do not need your money and you do not deserve their hospitality. How many parades do you need to attend each year? They are all pretty much the same: some are more extravagant and some are more risky. Next year force a parade in Pristina or Tirana or Tripoli and Tehran and see what will happen and then come back here and tell us about your experiences there: Belgrade and Serbia will suddenly look like paradise. Bon voyage

SPCUK

Hate, intolerance and oppression aren't "human rights"

I agree with President Tadic. Security much prevails in gatherings. Every time there has been a Gay Parade, there were violence against it and members of this group were injured.

Robert, what about the human rights of all those who are opposed to the parade, should they be ignored? This isnt a victory only for "extremists" and so on as many people have claimed, but rather the vast majority of the Serbian people, if that isnt right then I dont know what is. Gays are not prohibited from attending other shameful parades across Europe, why dont they go and parade where it is allowed. The new liberal idea that simply because of the progression of time being gay is now suddenly a normality, and that centuries of the understanding that it wasnt is somehow now false, it is ridiculous. The progression of time doesnt mean truths change, whether one has faith in God or even looks at biological science one can know with certainty that homosexuality isnt normal and is nothing to celebrate.

Suddenly a perfect example of the foreign professionals and "gay"-tourists,"Robert" appears. Thank you very much for that. Please feel free to step forward and share your disappointment with us.

In Sweden where i also happen to be from,now studying here, these parades has gone on for years. Even in such an atheistic and god-less society, people are fed up with it. At first they attracted many politicians, declaring their love for "the gay culture" in order to get votes but since not many but the sexuals themselves attends them any more, they have been growing more and more disgusting and obscene. Flashing genitals (an unspeakable obscenity in itself) is simply not enough, they also simulates sex and some even have sex right out on the streets, sheered by each other. That´s why they are seeking your attention and seeking to provoke and humiliate your culture. These people are in a desperate need and feeds from your attention, dont give them that. You have done the right thing.

It is with sadness we read this news that the 2011 Pride Parade in Belgrade is canceled. We cant understand what kind of people is out there that can stop human rights year 2011. The only things we can say to them i "Shame on you"! the Serbian people who have been through so much violence, why do you keep going with it? We from the rest of Europe cant unerstand this and hope you someday find peace!
Hope to see Serbia some day in EU, but it seems to be a long way for that sadly!

Robert and Anders from Stockholm Sweden
Tourist and Pride 2011 visitors in Belgrade!

"President supports decision to ban high-risk gatherings"

Does this mean that he is going to dissolve the barricades in Kosovo? Oh wait, those are not security issues.

KFOR and Pristina should start dissolving all high-risk gatherings in North Kosovo.

Robert and Anders from Stockholm Sweden Tourist and Pride 2011 visitors in Belgrade!, If you just judge and insult Serbia and its people because your little luxury vacation turned out differently then please take a cab to the airport now and go back to Sweden. Then Serbia and Belgrade do not need your money and you do not deserve their hospitality. How many parades do you need to attend each year? They are all pretty much the same: some are more extravagant and some are more risky. Next year force a parade in Pristina or Tirana or Tripoli and Tehran and see what will happen and then come back here and tell us about your experiences there: Belgrade and Serbia will suddenly look like paradise. Bon voyage
(Milan, 1 October 2011 13:57) Serbia and Serbs need to lighten up you are chasing tourist away like this example http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUQXvfwrZig&feature=related not very welcoming.

This is a good argument for Serbia joining NATO.

When national security forces can't handle a particular security situation, a defence alliance like NATO can be leaned on in a circumstance like this

:P

--It is with sadness we read this news that the 2011 Pride Parade in Belgrade is canceled. We can't understand what kind of people is out there that can stop human rights year 2011. The only things we can say to them is "Shame on you"! the Serbian people who have been through so much violence, why do you keep going with it? We from the rest of Europe cant understand this and hope you someday find peace! Hope to see Serbia some day in EU, but it seems to be a long way for that sadly! Robert and Anders from Stockholm Sweden Tourist and Pride 2011 visitors in Belgrade(Robert Johansson, 1 October 2011 11:55)--

Dear Robert and Anders: Of course it is a very sad and frustrating situation. But if you've been following the situation in the Balkans, esp.ly in Serbia, then you know it is nothing new. It is absolutely business as usual.

The history of these Pride events is particularly painful. In other words, one cannot be held inside Serbia without riots -- without a major escalation of right-wing violence. last year, the blgd regime was more or less (more) forced to defend the participants, thru their police. they did the "right" thing, even for the wrong reasons. the result: major rioting throughout belgrade. dozens hospitalized. it was a miracle that no one was killed.

Now here's the deal -- here's what you have to understand. of course there is widespread homophobia there, much more so than Sweden or throughout the (present-day) west. But the crucial difference is NOT the common people but the elites of the society. most of them are quite homophobic (not to mention xenophobic...) and very open about it.

Their interior minister (so called) who was part of the milosevic machine, went on a very public (and of course inappropriate, to say the least) campaign to stop the parade, basically thru fear-mongering. day after day after day, of course carried dutifully by their media. So in this situation, he was the attack dog of the regime, so that tadic, jeremic and the rest of those nice men could stay behind the scenes, watching benignly.

Then you had their Police Union, in a public press conference(!) with Dveri, a far-right, "family-values" org basically threatening that if the parade continued, there'd be a major reaction -- violence and rioting. and publicly stating that they had no desire to protect the participants. that's called public policy by police and the right wing.

of course the basic premise of blaming the participants, and covertly supporting the would-be rioters and violent homophobes was never publicly questioned.

and as for the lgbt organizers, their message was put out poorly and minimally by the media, to say the least. that's not just our observation, but their's as well. we contacted one of the organizers, from the US, did some informal interviewing and shared some of their info. as i've said, it was an incredibly arduous task (3 seconds.) Apparently that was just too much for their local media.

There are a few insightful articles on "Pescanik," which is more or less alternative.

Hopefully you met some of the locals, and had a good time. generally people in the Balkans are quite warm and friendly, in person, especially if you avoid all politics, which we do not.

Since I am from the US, the issues around the eu do not directly affect me. (In as much as we're all affected by one another's actons, esp.ly today.) If you decide to start the ascension process with today's serbia, then technically that's your business. and it might, in theory, eventually help out the common people living there, we hope, including lgbt people. including friends of ours.

But just beware: you will be importing some very dangerous and volatile politics -- a situation that has changed very little since milosevic. you would be importing, potentially, the balkan wars.

I really believe that a LOT more work needs to be done before serbia's candidacy can be seriously considered, and I hope by now that is quite obvious. europe needs to pressure the belgrade regime to make peace with its neighbors, and help bring the human rights situation into the 21st century.

Hope you had a fun vacation, otherwise. and learned a lot.

ciao! roberto frisco

I agree with President Tadic. Security much prevails in gatherings. Every time there has been a Gay Parade, there were violence against it and members of this group were injured.
(LOGIC, 1 October 2011 12:43)

If Serbia is not able to even protect Serb minorities, how can it protect Albanian minority ?! That's why it's no suprise Kosovo Albanians did not want to go back under Serbia's "protection".

Serbia and Serbs need to lighten up you are chasing tourist away like this example [link] not very welcoming.
(Lenard, 1 October 2011 22:22)

Serbs are not as good at chasing the tourists away - the absolute champions were K-Albanians begin of 1980-s, at least with us. Bulgarians and Macedonians are also excellent at how to make sure, the tourist does not come back ever.

In Macedonia no problem with the people - but their authorities (border guards) are first-class crooks, asking for bribe - first in 2006 and also this summer. I just plainly refused to pay this year, he got angry and told me, he won't let me back to FYROM. Not a big deal, Ohrid lake has a round shape with two crossings.

Pretty funny link, Lenard.

Serbian supposed hospitality is vastly overstated. I've experience a lot of those kind of encounters and I have Serbian decendancy.

Robert and Anders from Stockholm Sweden Tourist and Pride 2011 visitors in Belgrade!, If you just judge and insult Serbia and its people because your little luxury vacation turned out differently then please take a cab to the airport now and go back to Sweden. Then Serbia and Belgrade do not need your money and you do not deserve their hospitality.
(Milan, 1 October 2011 13:57)

This is the worst thing anyone can tell to a tourist, be he gay, wooden elf or a Martian.
Precisely that kind of Albanian attitude during our first visit in 1981 made me such a big "supporter" of their agenda.

Milan,

You certainly knew to place Belgrade in right context: among capitals like Pristina, Tirana, Tripoli and Tehran.

SCP UK,

Reading your idea of human rights suggests you have landed in Europe rather recently, from some of dimmest corners of the world.

"Serbian supposed hospitality is vastly overstated. I've experience a lot of those kind of encounters and I have Serbian decendancy."

Danilo,

Maybe Serbian hospitality is not what it used to be at times and in certain locations. However, it does exist unlike Croatian hospitality. You might have Serbian blood, but you certainly do not seem Serbian and so if the Serbian descendancy is such a burden on your shoulders then accept a new identity and stop calling yourself Serb when it suits you.

Milan,

I accept your criticism toward my comment that was a cheap shot. But even as such, it had its goal, or target.

Totally another matter is the fact that an average Serbian citizen has no knowledge of what it means to be a homosexual. (I myself belong to heterosexual majority.) Neither does he/she know personally a single homosexual, and therefore there's no understanding of the problematic, handicapped daily life of homosexuals. Instead there is a heavy load of prejudices, ignorant attitudes, thoughtlessness, fear, hardened opinions, arrogance, hatred and underlying acceptance of violence against homosexuals. Plus the very very strange message from the Serbian Orthodox Church that has completely, perhaps on purpose, missed or "forgot" the substance of teachings of Jesus.

Jesus calls for the one without sin to cast the first stone when people are getting ready to stone a woman for adultery. In the end he doesn't do it even himself.

The Serbian church must be asked: Where is mercy, righteousness and forgiveness? The very basics of Christian religion are God's words that He sent Jesus to people not to condemn but to save them. The Serbian church either ignores this or then it has smelled that judge's vacancy is open.

And what about Serbian hospitality?

There are very people showing sincere hospitality and people of rough unfriendliness. Majority of Serbian citizen lay between these points. Like people anywhere.

Oh right Danilo but human rights is forcing the majority of society to respect something that they think is rather disgusting. You need to sort out your understanding on human rights. I dont advocate violence against gay people, I just think parading homosexuality is utterly inappropriate and insulting to many people. The fact that you want to ban all nationalist organizations really says something about your understanding of human rights, and just goes to show that how hypocritical you are calling me intolerant, where you have clearly shown your intolerance to the majority nationalists, but somehow in your view thats ok and perfectly justified, give me a break.

Robert and Anders from Stockholm Sweden Tourist and Pride 2011 visitors in Belgrade!, If you just judge and insult Serbia and its people because your little luxury vacation turned out differently then please take a cab to the airport now and go back to Sweden. Then Serbia and Belgrade do not need your money and you do not deserve their hospitality. How many parades do you need to attend each year? They are all pretty much the same: some are more extravagant and some are more risky. Next year force a parade in Pristina or Tirana or Tripoli and Tehran and see what will happen and then come back here and tell us about your experiences there: Belgrade and Serbia will suddenly look like paradise. Bon voyage
(Milan, 1 October 2011 13:57)

Robert and Andres. You should stay in Belgrade long enough to sue the Serbian Government for all of your expenses for travel to Belgrade. You should also sue for damages. You should also sue Dveri and the anti-Gay groups as well for monetary damages (in excess of your actual expenses). You should also file a lawsuit against Serbia in Strasbourg. You should also sue the police Union of Serbia and the Interior Minister personally. And every single attendee should do the same. Use Serbia as a Geldautomat (ATM). If Serbia allows ANY public event in Belgrade, you should file additional lawsuits claiming discrimination.


Exactly HOW is Obradovic still out of prison? And he is somehow able to get a protest permit and claim the support of the Serbian Orthodox Church (no surprise here that Irinij has taken no action to publically sanction Serbian Orthodox Priests working with Obradovic).

Olli,

An expected cheap shot, but I give you credit for it. However, if you would think a little bit deeper than you would see my point: in those cities (and many others) even the thought of a gay parade would be impossible. So please go ahead and go there next year, organize a parade and live with the consequences (not that agree with that, but at least I have to accept that other societies have different standards and that it is not up to me to judge them right or wrong).

Tom in Lazybrook,

Do you really think that your heroes from Sweden can and will sue the Serbian government to get reimbursed for their expenses? Maybe next year you should travel to Belgrade and if it gets cancelled again you can turn your big and scary threats into action. Europe is not the US where you can sue anybody for anything because people do not want to think and take responsibility for their own actions and mistakes.

The two Swedish dudes could have started their posting with stating that they had had a nice time in Belgrade, saw beautiful architecture, met friendly people from Serbia and other countries, and enjoyed good food and drinks, and so on. Then they could have stated how disappointed they were that the even was cancelled and maybe looked at the perspectives of both sides. But no, they went on a stereotypical rampage against a whole people and country. If you curse the place you visited then obviously you do not want to be there so then you better leave. There are so many people, straight and gay, who love to visit Belgrade and Serbia and they are more than welcome. I agree with Anders. I have seen shots of gay parades on television and they seem quite boring. Take alcohol, drugs, and sex out of the equation and you have nothing. I would not go to a straight parade either. People just want attention and I can chose not to look at it and if they are happy than that is fine with me. Maybe the old days “in the closet” lifestyle was more mysterious and now most gays have turned into boring straight-like people.

1) Did ever anyone ask the organizers to provide a clear agenda and the choreography of the event?

2) To Robert from Sweden: be aware, that many gay parades in the form they are are tolerated solely for business purpose. I did see a little bit of Toronto even organizers blog and similar things - it's not pretty.
And if you look into a fact, that 'pills', condoms and similar things can't be sold in USA publicly and that even walking topless on the beach is a no-no in most places in America.

3) Recently it was not one, but two scandals involving foreigners (one Swiss, one Serb family) who got into major trouble from American morale watchers

4) Depending the nature of the event, joining it for foreign visitors could be a morally wrong idea. For instance I did not feel right about EULEX and anti-EULEX demonstrations walked on a daily basis under the windows of the office I was working in. I did not join because I am not a Serbian citizen.

In regards of all this I can understand the disappointment but the worst things Serbs can do is to tell a visitor to go home. This is 100% Albanian style and that kind of behavior did make us vary of their dealings. 1981 we arrived to the area with a lot of curiosity and openness towards Albanians. Albanians made it damn sure, our attitude changed. Serbs should not follow that style.

Even if the even is canceled there is a lot of activity in Serbia to enjoy. Much requires a rental car - if you can afford it, you will be rewarded.

@LOGIC
Although I happen to agree with your opinion this time, I would respectfully ask you to change your pseudonym in order to avoid possible confusion in the future. Namely,I am using same pseudonym for several years already and intend to continue so. I am aware that you are using caps which is perfectly legal for computer, however, I feel that another name be more suitable since we may disagree on some other topics. I appreciate your cooperation, and thanks for saving me writing the same comment

“This way the citizens and members of the LGBT population are protected,"

So now Serbia is a country of Serbs, other citizens and LGBT population?
Good job the constitution is so easy to amend.

"Tadić believes that the state has the right to ban rallies whose guiding principle is violence against those who are different and thus threaten public safety."

Of course, but you surely cannot say that about the pride parade! These guiding principles of violence are only present in the national and religious extremist groups in Serbia.

Lenard

If you watch the video with an open mind, it's pretty obvious the security guard is telling them not to be so dumb as to set their camera up on a tripod and then walk away from it, as they did on the shot of them entering the fortress. And if those two had been a bit better at non-verbal communication, or had fewer subconscious prejudices against Serbs, they would have got it.

@ Vlado

I'm not a Serb and I don't call myself such.

It is with sadness we read this news that the 2011 Pride Parade in Belgrade is canceled. We cant understand what kind of people is out there that can stop human rights year 2011. The only things we can say to them i "Shame on you"! the Serbian people who have been through so much violence, why do you keep going with it? We from the rest of Europe cant unerstand this and hope you someday find peace!
Hope to see Serbia some day in EU, but it seems to be a long way for that sadly!

Robert and Anders from Stockholm Sweden
Tourist and Pride 2011 visitors in Belgrade!

This is a good argument for Serbia joining NATO.

When national security forces can't handle a particular security situation, a defence alliance like NATO can be leaned on in a circumstance like this

:P

"President supports decision to ban high-risk gatherings"

Does this mean that he is going to dissolve the barricades in Kosovo? Oh wait, those are not security issues.

KFOR and Pristina should start dissolving all high-risk gatherings in North Kosovo.

I agree with President Tadic. Security much prevails in gatherings. Every time there has been a Gay Parade, there were violence against it and members of this group were injured.

Robert and Anders from Stockholm Sweden Tourist and Pride 2011 visitors in Belgrade!, If you just judge and insult Serbia and its people because your little luxury vacation turned out differently then please take a cab to the airport now and go back to Sweden. Then Serbia and Belgrade do not need your money and you do not deserve their hospitality. How many parades do you need to attend each year? They are all pretty much the same: some are more extravagant and some are more risky. Next year force a parade in Pristina or Tirana or Tripoli and Tehran and see what will happen and then come back here and tell us about your experiences there: Belgrade and Serbia will suddenly look like paradise. Bon voyage

1) Did ever anyone ask the organizers to provide a clear agenda and the choreography of the event?

2) To Robert from Sweden: be aware, that many gay parades in the form they are are tolerated solely for business purpose. I did see a little bit of Toronto even organizers blog and similar things - it's not pretty.
And if you look into a fact, that 'pills', condoms and similar things can't be sold in USA publicly and that even walking topless on the beach is a no-no in most places in America.

3) Recently it was not one, but two scandals involving foreigners (one Swiss, one Serb family) who got into major trouble from American morale watchers

4) Depending the nature of the event, joining it for foreign visitors could be a morally wrong idea. For instance I did not feel right about EULEX and anti-EULEX demonstrations walked on a daily basis under the windows of the office I was working in. I did not join because I am not a Serbian citizen.

In regards of all this I can understand the disappointment but the worst things Serbs can do is to tell a visitor to go home. This is 100% Albanian style and that kind of behavior did make us vary of their dealings. 1981 we arrived to the area with a lot of curiosity and openness towards Albanians. Albanians made it damn sure, our attitude changed. Serbs should not follow that style.

Even if the even is canceled there is a lot of activity in Serbia to enjoy. Much requires a rental car - if you can afford it, you will be rewarded.

Robert and Anders from Stockholm Sweden Tourist and Pride 2011 visitors in Belgrade!, If you just judge and insult Serbia and its people because your little luxury vacation turned out differently then please take a cab to the airport now and go back to Sweden. Then Serbia and Belgrade do not need your money and you do not deserve their hospitality.
(Milan, 1 October 2011 13:57)

This is the worst thing anyone can tell to a tourist, be he gay, wooden elf or a Martian.
Precisely that kind of Albanian attitude during our first visit in 1981 made me such a big "supporter" of their agenda.

Robert and Anders from Stockholm Sweden Tourist and Pride 2011 visitors in Belgrade!, If you just judge and insult Serbia and its people because your little luxury vacation turned out differently then please take a cab to the airport now and go back to Sweden. Then Serbia and Belgrade do not need your money and you do not deserve their hospitality. How many parades do you need to attend each year? They are all pretty much the same: some are more extravagant and some are more risky. Next year force a parade in Pristina or Tirana or Tripoli and Tehran and see what will happen and then come back here and tell us about your experiences there: Belgrade and Serbia will suddenly look like paradise. Bon voyage
(Milan, 1 October 2011 13:57)

Robert and Andres. You should stay in Belgrade long enough to sue the Serbian Government for all of your expenses for travel to Belgrade. You should also sue for damages. You should also sue Dveri and the anti-Gay groups as well for monetary damages (in excess of your actual expenses). You should also file a lawsuit against Serbia in Strasbourg. You should also sue the police Union of Serbia and the Interior Minister personally. And every single attendee should do the same. Use Serbia as a Geldautomat (ATM). If Serbia allows ANY public event in Belgrade, you should file additional lawsuits claiming discrimination.


Exactly HOW is Obradovic still out of prison? And he is somehow able to get a protest permit and claim the support of the Serbian Orthodox Church (no surprise here that Irinij has taken no action to publically sanction Serbian Orthodox Priests working with Obradovic).

--It is with sadness we read this news that the 2011 Pride Parade in Belgrade is canceled. We can't understand what kind of people is out there that can stop human rights year 2011. The only things we can say to them is "Shame on you"! the Serbian people who have been through so much violence, why do you keep going with it? We from the rest of Europe cant understand this and hope you someday find peace! Hope to see Serbia some day in EU, but it seems to be a long way for that sadly! Robert and Anders from Stockholm Sweden Tourist and Pride 2011 visitors in Belgrade(Robert Johansson, 1 October 2011 11:55)--

Dear Robert and Anders: Of course it is a very sad and frustrating situation. But if you've been following the situation in the Balkans, esp.ly in Serbia, then you know it is nothing new. It is absolutely business as usual.

The history of these Pride events is particularly painful. In other words, one cannot be held inside Serbia without riots -- without a major escalation of right-wing violence. last year, the blgd regime was more or less (more) forced to defend the participants, thru their police. they did the "right" thing, even for the wrong reasons. the result: major rioting throughout belgrade. dozens hospitalized. it was a miracle that no one was killed.

Now here's the deal -- here's what you have to understand. of course there is widespread homophobia there, much more so than Sweden or throughout the (present-day) west. But the crucial difference is NOT the common people but the elites of the society. most of them are quite homophobic (not to mention xenophobic...) and very open about it.

Their interior minister (so called) who was part of the milosevic machine, went on a very public (and of course inappropriate, to say the least) campaign to stop the parade, basically thru fear-mongering. day after day after day, of course carried dutifully by their media. So in this situation, he was the attack dog of the regime, so that tadic, jeremic and the rest of those nice men could stay behind the scenes, watching benignly.

Then you had their Police Union, in a public press conference(!) with Dveri, a far-right, "family-values" org basically threatening that if the parade continued, there'd be a major reaction -- violence and rioting. and publicly stating that they had no desire to protect the participants. that's called public policy by police and the right wing.

of course the basic premise of blaming the participants, and covertly supporting the would-be rioters and violent homophobes was never publicly questioned.

and as for the lgbt organizers, their message was put out poorly and minimally by the media, to say the least. that's not just our observation, but their's as well. we contacted one of the organizers, from the US, did some informal interviewing and shared some of their info. as i've said, it was an incredibly arduous task (3 seconds.) Apparently that was just too much for their local media.

There are a few insightful articles on "Pescanik," which is more or less alternative.

Hopefully you met some of the locals, and had a good time. generally people in the Balkans are quite warm and friendly, in person, especially if you avoid all politics, which we do not.

Since I am from the US, the issues around the eu do not directly affect me. (In as much as we're all affected by one another's actons, esp.ly today.) If you decide to start the ascension process with today's serbia, then technically that's your business. and it might, in theory, eventually help out the common people living there, we hope, including lgbt people. including friends of ours.

But just beware: you will be importing some very dangerous and volatile politics -- a situation that has changed very little since milosevic. you would be importing, potentially, the balkan wars.

I really believe that a LOT more work needs to be done before serbia's candidacy can be seriously considered, and I hope by now that is quite obvious. europe needs to pressure the belgrade regime to make peace with its neighbors, and help bring the human rights situation into the 21st century.

Hope you had a fun vacation, otherwise. and learned a lot.

ciao! roberto frisco

I agree with President Tadic. Security much prevails in gatherings. Every time there has been a Gay Parade, there were violence against it and members of this group were injured.
(LOGIC, 1 October 2011 12:43)

If Serbia is not able to even protect Serb minorities, how can it protect Albanian minority ?! That's why it's no suprise Kosovo Albanians did not want to go back under Serbia's "protection".

Robert, what about the human rights of all those who are opposed to the parade, should they be ignored? This isnt a victory only for "extremists" and so on as many people have claimed, but rather the vast majority of the Serbian people, if that isnt right then I dont know what is. Gays are not prohibited from attending other shameful parades across Europe, why dont they go and parade where it is allowed. The new liberal idea that simply because of the progression of time being gay is now suddenly a normality, and that centuries of the understanding that it wasnt is somehow now false, it is ridiculous. The progression of time doesnt mean truths change, whether one has faith in God or even looks at biological science one can know with certainty that homosexuality isnt normal and is nothing to celebrate.

SPCUK

Hate, intolerance and oppression aren't "human rights"

Milan,

You certainly knew to place Belgrade in right context: among capitals like Pristina, Tirana, Tripoli and Tehran.

SCP UK,

Reading your idea of human rights suggests you have landed in Europe rather recently, from some of dimmest corners of the world.

Robert and Anders from Stockholm Sweden Tourist and Pride 2011 visitors in Belgrade!, If you just judge and insult Serbia and its people because your little luxury vacation turned out differently then please take a cab to the airport now and go back to Sweden. Then Serbia and Belgrade do not need your money and you do not deserve their hospitality. How many parades do you need to attend each year? They are all pretty much the same: some are more extravagant and some are more risky. Next year force a parade in Pristina or Tirana or Tripoli and Tehran and see what will happen and then come back here and tell us about your experiences there: Belgrade and Serbia will suddenly look like paradise. Bon voyage
(Milan, 1 October 2011 13:57) Serbia and Serbs need to lighten up you are chasing tourist away like this example http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUQXvfwrZig&feature=related not very welcoming.

"Tadić believes that the state has the right to ban rallies whose guiding principle is violence against those who are different and thus threaten public safety."

Of course, but you surely cannot say that about the pride parade! These guiding principles of violence are only present in the national and religious extremist groups in Serbia.

Serbia and Serbs need to lighten up you are chasing tourist away like this example [link] not very welcoming.
(Lenard, 1 October 2011 22:22)

Serbs are not as good at chasing the tourists away - the absolute champions were K-Albanians begin of 1980-s, at least with us. Bulgarians and Macedonians are also excellent at how to make sure, the tourist does not come back ever.

In Macedonia no problem with the people - but their authorities (border guards) are first-class crooks, asking for bribe - first in 2006 and also this summer. I just plainly refused to pay this year, he got angry and told me, he won't let me back to FYROM. Not a big deal, Ohrid lake has a round shape with two crossings.

Pretty funny link, Lenard.

Serbian supposed hospitality is vastly overstated. I've experience a lot of those kind of encounters and I have Serbian decendancy.

"Serbian supposed hospitality is vastly overstated. I've experience a lot of those kind of encounters and I have Serbian decendancy."

Danilo,

Maybe Serbian hospitality is not what it used to be at times and in certain locations. However, it does exist unlike Croatian hospitality. You might have Serbian blood, but you certainly do not seem Serbian and so if the Serbian descendancy is such a burden on your shoulders then accept a new identity and stop calling yourself Serb when it suits you.

Oh right Danilo but human rights is forcing the majority of society to respect something that they think is rather disgusting. You need to sort out your understanding on human rights. I dont advocate violence against gay people, I just think parading homosexuality is utterly inappropriate and insulting to many people. The fact that you want to ban all nationalist organizations really says something about your understanding of human rights, and just goes to show that how hypocritical you are calling me intolerant, where you have clearly shown your intolerance to the majority nationalists, but somehow in your view thats ok and perfectly justified, give me a break.

“This way the citizens and members of the LGBT population are protected,"

So now Serbia is a country of Serbs, other citizens and LGBT population?
Good job the constitution is so easy to amend.

Lenard

If you watch the video with an open mind, it's pretty obvious the security guard is telling them not to be so dumb as to set their camera up on a tripod and then walk away from it, as they did on the shot of them entering the fortress. And if those two had been a bit better at non-verbal communication, or had fewer subconscious prejudices against Serbs, they would have got it.

Suddenly a perfect example of the foreign professionals and "gay"-tourists,"Robert" appears. Thank you very much for that. Please feel free to step forward and share your disappointment with us.

In Sweden where i also happen to be from,now studying here, these parades has gone on for years. Even in such an atheistic and god-less society, people are fed up with it. At first they attracted many politicians, declaring their love for "the gay culture" in order to get votes but since not many but the sexuals themselves attends them any more, they have been growing more and more disgusting and obscene. Flashing genitals (an unspeakable obscenity in itself) is simply not enough, they also simulates sex and some even have sex right out on the streets, sheered by each other. That´s why they are seeking your attention and seeking to provoke and humiliate your culture. These people are in a desperate need and feeds from your attention, dont give them that. You have done the right thing.

Olli,

An expected cheap shot, but I give you credit for it. However, if you would think a little bit deeper than you would see my point: in those cities (and many others) even the thought of a gay parade would be impossible. So please go ahead and go there next year, organize a parade and live with the consequences (not that agree with that, but at least I have to accept that other societies have different standards and that it is not up to me to judge them right or wrong).

Tom in Lazybrook,

Do you really think that your heroes from Sweden can and will sue the Serbian government to get reimbursed for their expenses? Maybe next year you should travel to Belgrade and if it gets cancelled again you can turn your big and scary threats into action. Europe is not the US where you can sue anybody for anything because people do not want to think and take responsibility for their own actions and mistakes.

The two Swedish dudes could have started their posting with stating that they had had a nice time in Belgrade, saw beautiful architecture, met friendly people from Serbia and other countries, and enjoyed good food and drinks, and so on. Then they could have stated how disappointed they were that the even was cancelled and maybe looked at the perspectives of both sides. But no, they went on a stereotypical rampage against a whole people and country. If you curse the place you visited then obviously you do not want to be there so then you better leave. There are so many people, straight and gay, who love to visit Belgrade and Serbia and they are more than welcome. I agree with Anders. I have seen shots of gay parades on television and they seem quite boring. Take alcohol, drugs, and sex out of the equation and you have nothing. I would not go to a straight parade either. People just want attention and I can chose not to look at it and if they are happy than that is fine with me. Maybe the old days “in the closet” lifestyle was more mysterious and now most gays have turned into boring straight-like people.

@ Vlado

I'm not a Serb and I don't call myself such.

Milan,

I accept your criticism toward my comment that was a cheap shot. But even as such, it had its goal, or target.

Totally another matter is the fact that an average Serbian citizen has no knowledge of what it means to be a homosexual. (I myself belong to heterosexual majority.) Neither does he/she know personally a single homosexual, and therefore there's no understanding of the problematic, handicapped daily life of homosexuals. Instead there is a heavy load of prejudices, ignorant attitudes, thoughtlessness, fear, hardened opinions, arrogance, hatred and underlying acceptance of violence against homosexuals. Plus the very very strange message from the Serbian Orthodox Church that has completely, perhaps on purpose, missed or "forgot" the substance of teachings of Jesus.

Jesus calls for the one without sin to cast the first stone when people are getting ready to stone a woman for adultery. In the end he doesn't do it even himself.

The Serbian church must be asked: Where is mercy, righteousness and forgiveness? The very basics of Christian religion are God's words that He sent Jesus to people not to condemn but to save them. The Serbian church either ignores this or then it has smelled that judge's vacancy is open.

And what about Serbian hospitality?

There are very people showing sincere hospitality and people of rough unfriendliness. Majority of Serbian citizen lay between these points. Like people anywhere.

@LOGIC
Although I happen to agree with your opinion this time, I would respectfully ask you to change your pseudonym in order to avoid possible confusion in the future. Namely,I am using same pseudonym for several years already and intend to continue so. I am aware that you are using caps which is perfectly legal for computer, however, I feel that another name be more suitable since we may disagree on some other topics. I appreciate your cooperation, and thanks for saving me writing the same comment