Mayor addresses claim trams were hiding protesters

(Tanjug)

BELGRADE -- Belgrade Mayor Sinisa Mali said that the tram traffic in Belgrade was interrupted last night because of a protest of citizens.

Mali was a guest on TV B92 when he talked about the signing of the Belgrade Waterfront project, and also commented on a protest held against it by the opponents who gathered in front of the building of Geozavod, at the time when the contract was being signed.

"There are people who criticize it, we are open to any constructive criticism, I received architects once and talked with them. As for the trams, they could not pass because of the people gathered, and the traffic was normalized after the protest," said Mali.

Mali was referring to two trams that stopped in front of the building, "so that the delegations that come out of the building could not see the protesters."

The Belgrade-based daily Blic said that "this information has been confirmed by the driver of one of the trams, who said he was ordered to stop there."

All passengers left the vehicles as the protesters were shouting: "Move the trams away, what are you hiding now?"

According to the signed agreement on Belgrade Waterfront construction, the Republic of Serbia will be the owner of 32 percent of the capital, while the partner from the UAE will have 68 percent.

Mali said that Serbia has secured "an exceptionally good agreement with the investor."