Green-Left Front's International Activities in Struggle Against Lithium

Radomir Lazovic

MP and co-president of the Green-Left Front Radomir Lazovic said on Oct. 17 that the party was beginning a series of talks with its partners in the EU so as to convey to them the resolve of Serbian citizens to fight harmful projects such as Rio Tinto and other polluters.

Lazovic told BETA that Green-Left Front officials would meet with the ambassadors or representatives of the EU, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden and Romania.

"It is extremely important to us that our partners, both in the EU, as well as individual member states understand that Rio Tinto's mine in Serbia is not economically justified and that it comes with huge risks to the environment. It is important to us to convey to them that the Serbian Progressive Party has snatched all of the institutions of the system, which are not working in the interest of citizens but in the interests of a small group of people close to the Progressive's regime, and can therefore not be a guarantee or protection from a multinational company which they are supposed to keep in check. We see polluters from around Serbia not being kept in check and acting with impunity," Lazovic said.

He added that, aside from lithium, that talks would include the subject of Serbia's European integration. "We will tell them that the government of Aleksandar Vucic is the biggest obstacle to Serbia entering the EU. High standards for rule of law, the freedom of the media or, for example, fair elections like in the EU due not suit the Progressives at all, because they would not be able to keep their grip on power, achieve profits through manipulations at the expense of citizens or being untouchable to the law. This is why a permanent status quo and pretending that they want [Serbia] to join the EU, but without the true necessary reforms, suits them," he said.