Brnabic: Parliament is the place for discussion, it's not time for political divisions

Photo: Tanjug/Strahinja Acimovic

Serbian PM Ana Brnabic is participating in a session of the Assembly of Serbia, where a report on the security situation in the Republic of Serbia after two mass shootings - in the elementary school Vladislav Ribnikar in Belgrade and in the area of Smederevo and Mladenovac, in Malo Orasje and Dubona - is being discussed, the government has announced.

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"As someone who deeply believes in democratic values, I believe that the National Assembly is the right place to discuss all topics, rather than create performances, and especially topics that are so difficult and so important for our society and for our citizens.

As prime minister, I will sit here, answer questions from people's deputies and discuss as much as necessary - about the security situation before and after these tragedies, about the measures we have taken, about the expectations from these measures and how far we have come with their implementation, I will listen carefully and respecting every additional proposed measure so that children (above all and everyone), but also all citizens of Serbia, would be safer, feel safer and that everyone would be together, and not divided along political and other lines, as has happened in many other countries after similar tragedies, to, without politicization (if that is at all possible) work on proposals on how to continue as a society," she said, and added:

"I don't think this is the time for political divisions and I wish there weren't any, although unfortunately even today, now, I see that some want to use this in the crudest and most banal way for divisions. I think that the Assembly is the only forum where serious and responsible politicians should discuss the measures we are taking as a society. I will now present only a brief overview of the security measures before tragedies, with a special emphasis on schools."

The prime minister began her presentation by once again expressing her condolences to the families.

"I will not go into further details of the report that was submitted to the people's deputies, I am here for all questions and clarifications, and I sincerely want to hear during this discussion proposals for additional measures to increase the security of citizens in our country, reduce violence, as well as reduce calls to violence, and we have heard so many of them in the last few days, then the reduction of tensions in society, but also objections to the concrete measures that we are taking and that we have taken," she stated.

"I am sorry that part of the opposition today, as we saw at the beginning of the session here, decided in favor of a performance, and not a conversation about the most difficult tragic topics that we had in society.

"I will repeat that during this discussion we want to hear proposals for additional measures to increase the security of citizens in our country. I think that we will send the right message to our citizens and I think that the fight against violence is not waged on Gazela (bridge), with violence against all other citizens who are denied the right to free movement, but is guided by words, in the Assembly, in front of the eyes of all the citizens of our country," said Ana Brnabic.

(Telegraf.rs)