Ilić apologetic of rioting in capital

Infrastructure Minister has today sought to justify the riots that took place in Belgrade and elsewhere.

Izvor: B92

Wednesday, 20.02.2008.

20:51

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Infrastructure Minister has today sought to justify the riots that took place in Belgrade and elsewhere. Although much of the media has referred to groups that clashed with police and attacked foreign embassies as hooligans, the MUP itself did not use the word in its statement yesterday. Ilic apologetic of rioting in capital Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica and President Boris Tadic have called for an end to street violence, which they say is detrimental to the country. Ilic, who is also New Serbia leader, sees things somewhat differently. "It is no wonder that the Serb youth, who went out in the streets to protest the snatching of Kosovo, broke a few windows on the U.S. and other embassies," he said, and added, "that's democracy." "They break our country, we break a couple of their windows… they must have seen this coming, to learn about democracy," the controversial minister said, according to FoNet news agency. He also told a news conference in Belgrade that the stoning of embassies, "especially American", happens regularly abroad "after certain events". "The Serb youth has not shamed us… some call them hooligans, but shouldn't. They came to express their revolt, certainly they must have had good intentions," Ilic continued. He went on to say that every protest attracts people who come for reasons other than those originally announced by demonstrators, as well as that there are provocateurs, which, Ilic believes, the investigation will prove "are not of Serb nationality". "The Serb youth stood on the side of justice and its state, that now needs protecting and defending. The events were decent, compared to what they could have been like," the minister said. Ilic then called on people to be responsible and control their protest and dissatisfaction, as well as not to clash with policemen, who have fought in Kosovo, but are now under obligation to protect "some structures and institutions". As for what the MUP officers should do next, Ilic said he favors the Serbian Army and police to "get as near to Kosovo as possible". "Serbs in the province like to see them, to feel safe around them, to know that there is someone nearby who will tomorrow, if there are, God forbid, more serious incidents, react on their behalf," Ilic concluded. Kosovo Serbs like to see them: Gendarmes on the Kosovo line last Sunday (Beta)

Ilić apologetic of rioting in capital

Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica and President Boris Tadić have called for an end to street violence, which they say is detrimental to the country.

Ilić, who is also New Serbia leader, sees things somewhat differently.

"It is no wonder that the Serb youth, who went out in the streets to protest the snatching of Kosovo, broke a few windows on the U.S. and other embassies," he said, and added, "that's democracy."

"They break our country, we break a couple of their windows… they must have seen this coming, to learn about democracy," the controversial minister said, according to FoNet news agency.

He also told a news conference in Belgrade that the stoning of embassies, "especially American", happens regularly abroad "after certain events".

"The Serb youth has not shamed us… some call them hooligans, but shouldn't. They came to express their revolt, certainly they must have had good intentions," Ilić continued.

He went on to say that every protest attracts people who come for reasons other than those originally announced by demonstrators, as well as that there are provocateurs, which, Ilić believes, the investigation will prove "are not of Serb nationality".

"The Serb youth stood on the side of justice and its state, that now needs protecting and defending. The events were decent, compared to what they could have been like," the minister said.

Ilić then called on people to be responsible and control their protest and dissatisfaction, as well as not to clash with policemen, who have fought in Kosovo, but are now under obligation to protect "some structures and institutions".

As for what the MUP officers should do next, Ilić said he favors the Serbian Army and police to "get as near to Kosovo as possible".

"Serbs in the province like to see them, to feel safe around them, to know that there is someone nearby who will tomorrow, if there are, God forbid, more serious incidents, react on their behalf," Ilić concluded.

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