Opposition Party: Trial of Culture Minister Key Moment in Battle of Public, Private Interest

Vladimir Pajic (BETAPHOTO/MILAN ILIC)

The Free Citizens Movement said on Feb. 4 that the beginning of the trial of Serbian Minister of Culture Nikola Selakovic represented "a symbolic and essential moment in the battle between public and private interest" and that the fate of the General Staff building in downtown Belgrade was not a "value system" issue.

"At the time when the man directly responsible for the policy toward cultural heritage is on trial, the government is attempting to push through the demolition of the General Staff -- one of the most important symbols of modern Serbian architecture and recent Serbian history. That is not an accident -- it is a message from a system that considers itself above the law," said Free Citizens Movement MP Vladimir Pajic.

"The decisions that led to the structure being stripped of its protected status and the adoption of special legislation to advance a private investment project represent the flagrant trampling of legal order, institutions and the fundamental principles of the protection of cultural heritage," he said.

"We demand the urgent cessation of all activity leading to the demolition of the General Staff, the abrogation of decisions stripping it of its cultural heritage status, an independent legal and culture expert review of the entire proceedings, full transparency into all contracts and documents related to the project, and the establishing of political and criminal responsibility of all who participated in making illegal decisions," Pajic said.