National Library head sacked in wake of controversy

Sreten Ugricic is no longer director of Serbia's National Library, it was decided in a telephone session of the government on Friday, B92 has learned. Ugricic's sacking comes after he signed a petition put together by the Writers' Forum of Serbia in support of Montenegrin Parliament Speaker's adviser Andrej Nikolaidis. National Library head sacked in wake of controversy Nikolaidis wrote in an online article earlier this month that it would have been "a civilizational step forward" had explosives been used in a Banja Luka venue that was hosting hundreds of people, including Serbia's President Boris Tadic and other top state officials. They were gathered to mark the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Serb Republic (RS). A man, referred to in the Nikolaidis' article, is currently held on terrorism charges in Bosnia, on suspicion that he smuggled weapons and explosives inside the Borik arena. Ugricic's signature on the Writers' Forum document came to light after a newspaper in Belgrade on Thursday ran a headline saying that with his support for Nikolaidis, the National Library chief "supported the assassination of Tadic". Later in the day, Interior Minister Ivica Dacic asked for Ugricic to be sacked. Ugricic first denounced his critics, to then say in a separate statement that he had signed the petition "recklessly", and offer his resignation. The government's decision came despite opposition from Minister of Culture Predrag Markovic, who in his report to the government said on Friday the issue of replacing Ugricic "did not require urgency". Meanwhile, the media in Belgrade are reporting that cabinet ministers from the Democratic Party (DS) and the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) attempted to sack Ugricic during yesterday's regular session, having spent "almost an hour trying to persuade Predrag Matkovic to replace Ugricic because of the Nikolaidis affair". According to the Belgrade-based Danas newspaper, Markovic resisted, "insisting on legal procedures and on being given a deadline until Friday to prepare his proposal on the fate of Ugricic at the helm of the Library". Sreten Ugricic (Tanjug, file) B92

National Library head sacked in wake of controversy

Nikolaidis wrote in an online article earlier this month that it would have been "a civilizational step forward" had explosives been used in a Banja Luka venue that was hosting hundreds of people, including Serbia's President Boris Tadić and other top state officials.

They were gathered to mark the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Serb Republic (RS). A man, referred to in the Nikolaidis' article, is currently held on terrorism charges in Bosnia, on suspicion that he smuggled weapons and explosives inside the Borik arena.

Ugričić's signature on the Writers' Forum document came to light after a newspaper in Belgrade on Thursday ran a headline saying that with his support for Nikolaidis, the National Library chief "supported the assassination of Tadić".

Later in the day, Interior Minister Ivica Dačić asked for Ugričić to be sacked. Ugričić first denounced his critics, to then say in a separate statement that he had signed the petition "recklessly", and offer his resignation.

The government's decision came despite opposition from Minister of Culture Predrag Marković, who in his report to the government said on Friday the issue of replacing Ugričić "did not require urgency".

Meanwhile, the media in Belgrade are reporting that cabinet ministers from the Democratic Party (DS) and the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) attempted to sack Ugričić during yesterday's regular session, having spent "almost an hour trying to persuade Predrag Matković to replace Ugričić because of the Nikolaidis affair".

According to the Belgrade-based Danas newspaper, Marković resisted, "insisting on legal procedures and on being given a deadline until Friday to prepare his proposal on the fate of Ugričić at the helm of the Library".