Joksimovic: Do everything to make Pride parade happen

BELGRADE - Serbia's Minister without Portfolio in charge of European Integration Jadranka Joksimovic said Thursday that it is important for Serbia to do everything it can to make sure that the Pride parade takes place in Belgrade this year, adding that she will personally back up the staging of this event.

"I expect that we will succeed in it this year, but I cannot be more specific as we have not yet discussed this matter officially," Joksimovic told reporters.

She also stressed that she will personally support the staging of the Pride parade, noting that the Pride Week was never an issue, but only the march through the city.
"It is certainly important to do everything we can as the state to make sure that the Pride parade is held,” said Joksimovic, and pointed out that the first steps have already been made in the talks with members of the LGBT community.

Organizing committee of the Pride Week announced mid April that the event will take place between May 19 and 31, and that a protest march in downtown Belgrade is planned for the final day.

A member of the Pride organizing committee told Tanjug that the Belgrade police are notified of the protest march.

The LGBT activists have tried to stage a Pride parade in Belgrade since 2009. The parade was held only in 2010, and was followed by street clashes.

Staging of the parade was banned four times due to risk of street riots.

Last year's parade was also called off for security reasons, but a group of LGBT activists gathered unannounced in front of the Serbian government headquarters on September 27 and went on a protest march to the parliament

Photo screenshot Tanjug video