Minister: Pride Parade won’t hurt country’s reputation

“As far as I am concerned, I do not think that the gay parade is hurting Serbia’s reputation. On the contrary,” the minister pointed out.

Yes, on the contrary: Banning the gay parade by the state giving in to hooligans and nationalist extremists who threat with violence, and the police being unable to prevent riots would hurt Serbia's reputation as a serious state.

Serbia's reputation in this regard is at the bottom of the barrel.

Nothing could hurt it because the whole world saw Serbia tearing asunder its own capital because 500 people were allowed to walk around 1 block:

http://vimeo.com/15710887

Serbia's reputation can't get worse, unless maybe if some gays were publicly hanged in the town square.

Serbia's reputation can either stay the same or get better.

If they hold the parade and 6000 thugs smash up the city, the reputation will stay the same

If they don't hold the parade because of capitulating to the country's thugs, the reputation will stay the same.

If they hold the parade and it goes without too many people getting hurt, then it can only get better.

Somewhat encouraging remarks, though still disheartening that there is continued dithering over security concerns. Put 10,000 men on the streets if necessary -- show thugs that the government is not to be messed with when acting to uphold the rule of law. Yes, there is added cost, but isn't this government supposed to be in the process of recouping financial losses by rooting out rampant corruption? Didn't they just vote to increase the VAT by a rather significant amount? Surely they could scrape up the money for this.

One other point I'd like to make is that Slavica has reminded us that Serbia is home to a large diversity of viewpoints. We all know that to be true but it's nice to see a high-profile politician articulating that message at times like this. And perhaps having read her remarks, some posters on this site will learn to stop and think before accusing people with Serbian names of being Albanian/Croatian/Otporist trolls whenever the latter choose to post comments that are out of step with the right-wing way of thinking.

Serbia's reputation in this regard is at the bottom of the barrel.

Nothing could hurt it because the whole world saw Serbia tearing asunder its own capital because 500 people were allowed to walk around 1 block:

http://vimeo.com/15710887

Serbia's reputation can't get worse, unless maybe if some gays were publicly hanged in the town square.

Serbia's reputation can either stay the same or get better.

If they hold the parade and 6000 thugs smash up the city, the reputation will stay the same

If they don't hold the parade because of capitulating to the country's thugs, the reputation will stay the same.

If they hold the parade and it goes without too many people getting hurt, then it can only get better.

Somewhat encouraging remarks, though still disheartening that there is continued dithering over security concerns. Put 10,000 men on the streets if necessary -- show thugs that the government is not to be messed with when acting to uphold the rule of law. Yes, there is added cost, but isn't this government supposed to be in the process of recouping financial losses by rooting out rampant corruption? Didn't they just vote to increase the VAT by a rather significant amount? Surely they could scrape up the money for this.

One other point I'd like to make is that Slavica has reminded us that Serbia is home to a large diversity of viewpoints. We all know that to be true but it's nice to see a high-profile politician articulating that message at times like this. And perhaps having read her remarks, some posters on this site will learn to stop and think before accusing people with Serbian names of being Albanian/Croatian/Otporist trolls whenever the latter choose to post comments that are out of step with the right-wing way of thinking.

“As far as I am concerned, I do not think that the gay parade is hurting Serbia’s reputation. On the contrary,” the minister pointed out.

Yes, on the contrary: Banning the gay parade by the state giving in to hooligans and nationalist extremists who threat with violence, and the police being unable to prevent riots would hurt Serbia's reputation as a serious state.