Belgrade Mayor Dragan Djilas said on Aug. 18 that Serbia had bigger problems than the holding of the Pride Parade and that as mayor he would never support any event which could threaten the security of Belgrade's citizens.

"This is a country in which we have to fight for new jobs, for the rights of our minority in Kosovo which are threatened, this is a country in which today some people are forced to work in foreign companies for RSD17,000, and for days now we listen to stories about whether the Gay Parade will be held or not," Djilas told Radio Television Serbia.

He said "it is not disputed whether a minority group has rights or not, because that is defined by law," but the issue is whether that event can be held in Belgrade without endangering material property, members of the gay population, police officers and citizens.

Djilas said that the police had to say whether the parade could be held or not for security reasons. "The job of mayor includes protecting people and material property and I will never support an event which comes with the danger of threatening the security of Belgrade and its citizens," he added.