Paunovic: Serbia ready for Pride parade

BELGRADE - The head of the Office for Human and Minority Rights Suzana Paunovic on Wednesday condemned the anti-Pride parade graffiti daubed in downtown Belgrade, and said that Serbia is ready for the LGBT parade.

"Over the past year, since last year's cancellation of the Pride parade, much has been done by both the state and the organisers," Paunovic told Tanjug.

Many messages have been sent to point to the need for tolerance and respect of diversity, which has generated a good atmosphere, without the aggressive, illicit or inappropriate comments that we had had in the past, she noted.
"Serbia is ready for the holding of the parade. It is important for the country to demonstrate a readiness to respect its own laws and, most of all, its Constitution, and demonstrate a readiness to implement them," Paunovic said.

It is important that Serbia conducts activities aimed at fighting discrimination and improving the position of sensitive social groups for its own sake, for society and for the future, she said.

What is often heard - that it is a requirement or a condition set by the European Union - is completely wrong, Paunovic said.
"It is just a request that the regulations of this country be respected and that citizens are ensured a right guaranteed by the Constitution - the right to freedom of gathering," she said.

Paunovic said that she and her colleagues from the Office for Human and Minority Rights will join the parade in downtown Belgrade on Sunday.

Taking part in the parade does not mean a promotion of a certain lifestyle, but a promotion of tolerance and a readiness to respect those who differ from us, she said.

Photo Tanjug, O. Toskic

Continue reading on: