Novi Sad Assembly Adopts Plans for Novi Sad Waterfront Project

Novi Sad, Serbia (BETAPHOTO/DRAGAN GOJIC)

Novi Sad city councilors adopted on Aug. 1 a Proposal for composing a plan for the general regulation of the space between the primary embankments next to the River Flotilla barracks and Fisherman's Island in Novi Sad, known publicly as the Novi Sad Waterfront project.

Opposition delegates are claiming that the building of the Novi Sad Waterfront will threaten the safety of citizens due to the moving of Danube River embankments and that the Galens company, which is close to the city administration, stands to earn an enormous amount at the cost of the public interest.

Novi Sad Together chapter co-president Radivoje Jovovic told BETA that the way that councilors voted on Aug. 1 was completely contrary to institutional procedures, but that they would continue their struggle despite the plan's adoption.

Before the assembly session, several dozens of citizens gathered in front of the Novi Sad Assembly in response to calls from several parties. After Jovovic and his party colleague Mladen Cvijetic were not allowed to attend the session, there was a scuffle between security and the crowd.

Commenting on claims by opposition activists that they were denied the possibility of addressing delegates at the session, Novi Sad Mayor Milan Djuric said that it was up to the Assembly speaker to determine whether or not this would be allowed and that in this case she had said that she received no request for that.