Dacic Calls Firefighters Pride of the Nation, Says Some People Are Trying to Politicize Firefighting

Serbian firefighters(BETAPHOTO/MUP SRBIJE/EV)

Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said on Aug. 12 that much bigger countries are doing much worse in fighting fires, and stressed that the members of the Emergency Situations Sector are the pride of the nation.

"They are people who run into fire. They do their utmost every day. I'm not sure that they get the gratitude they are due because some people are politicizing the situation. Everything here is politicized and based on some kind of hate," Dacic told Pink TV. He said significant modern firefighting technology was acquired in previous years, like firefighting helicopters, the two largest of which were the Kamov, able to carry five tons of water, and two Super Pumas, able to carry four tons of water, and multiple others capable of delivering water.

He told Pink TV that the authorities have not been properly informed of a protest rally in Valjevo, announced by the student protest movement for Aug. 14, and called for public order to be respected. "That means that everyone can organize whatever they want, they can do whatever performances they want, but they can't attack the police or anyone, or anyone's buildings," Dacic told Pink TV.

The student protest movement has announced a major protest in Valjevo, on the anniversary of the large-scale unrest and police brutality against the people of the city. The protest is titled One Year without Justice - Valjevo Remembers as no-one has been held accountable.