Ilić abandons construction of clinic

Infrastructure Minister Velimir Ilic says he will stop works on a clinic in his private estate in Kaculica near Cacak. “I am forced to abandon the works in order to protect myself and the doctors that were supposed to work there,” said Ilic. Ilic abandons construction of clinic “Everyone is attacking me. They find fault when churches are being built, roads constructed, when concessions are being secured, they are complaining when I do humanitarian work, and now this." "There are more than 2,500 people in Serbia waiting for a heart surgery, and people dare question the construction of new hospitals,” explained Ilic. The infrastructure minister said he “succumbed to the pressure” and decided to shelve the construction of the clinic, for which he took out a EUR 500,000 loan, until "better days have come and Serbia became a state ruled by law.” Asked whether criticism leveled at him for the construction of the hospital has a political background, Ilic replied that the "reason behind these attacks was his announcement to run for presidents at the next elections." Meanwhile, on Wednesday, a Vecernje Novosti correspondent from Calak, Vladimir Ilic, was physically assaulted in Kaculice near infrastructure minister’s estate while waiting for a permit to tour the hospital under construction. The Journalists Association of Serbia (UNS) said that an unidentified man grabbed the reporter by his neck, hurling threats and insults at him. He then snatched his cell phone and shoved the journalist into his car ordering him to "get back to where he came from." The association condemned the attack, calling for an urgent police reaction in finding the attacker. Commenting on the incident, the infrastructure minister said that "the security of his estate is unwavering" and does not allow taking photographs, “even in cases journalists claim that I gave them permission.”

Ilić abandons construction of clinic

“Everyone is attacking me. They find fault when churches are being built, roads constructed, when concessions are being secured, they are complaining when I do humanitarian work, and now this."

"There are more than 2,500 people in Serbia waiting for a heart surgery, and people dare question the construction of new hospitals,” explained Ilić.

The infrastructure minister said he “succumbed to the pressure” and decided to shelve the construction of the clinic, for which he took out a EUR 500,000 loan, until "better days have come and Serbia became a state ruled by law.”

Asked whether criticism leveled at him for the construction of the hospital has a political background, Ilić replied that the "reason behind these attacks was his announcement to run for presidents at the next elections."

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, a Večernje Novosti correspondent from Čalak, Vladimir Ilić, was physically assaulted in Kačulice near infrastructure minister’s estate while waiting for a permit to tour the hospital under construction.

The Journalists Association of Serbia (UNS) said that an unidentified man grabbed the reporter by his neck, hurling threats and insults at him. He then snatched his cell phone and shoved the journalist into his car ordering him to "get back to where he came from."

The association condemned the attack, calling for an urgent police reaction in finding the attacker.

Commenting on the incident, the infrastructure minister said that "the security of his estate is unwavering" and does not allow taking photographs, “even in cases journalists claim that I gave them permission.”