Deputy Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic, head of Montenegrin diplomacy Đorđe Radulović, Minister of Finance and Social Welfare Milojko Spajic and the mayor of Podgorica Ivan Vukovic, among others, will attend the ninth Pride Parade that will be held in the capital on Saturday, "Vijesti" learned.
Radulović said that he considers participation in the "Montenegro Pride" with his associates to be a matter of principle and a deep commitment to be on the side of respecting human rights.
"I believe that everyone should have the right to be who they are. Pride is actually a symbol of equality where we send the message that we want a society without discrimination. Following that principle, we will be part of the Pride Parade on Saturday," Minister Radulović told "Vijesti".
The Ministry of Finance and Social Welfare (MFSS) confirmed that the plan is for the Minister to attend the Parade Milojko Spajic.
"One of the basic principles governing the MFSS is the principle of equality - no one should be discriminated against, nor put in an unequal position. The LGBTIQ community has a sincere friend and ally in this department," the Ministry told "Vijesta".
Unlike them, the Prime Minister will not walk the streets of the capital with members of the LGBTIQ population Zdravko Krivokapic.
His cabinet did not answer the questions of "Vijesti" as to why he would not attend, and told the organizers that he had "earlier commitments".
"On behalf of the Cabinet of the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister's Advisor for Minorities will attend the procession Maida Gorcevic," the press release of the "LGBTIQ Association of Queer Montenegro" states.
The presidents of the state and the Assembly did not answer the questions about participation either Milo Djukanovic i Aleksa Becic.
Not even the Minister of Health Jelena Borovinić Bojović will not attend this event "due to prior commitments".
"But we also remind you that the epidemic measures against the spread of the coronavirus are in force, which strictly prescribe the permitted number of people outdoors. Also, the representatives of the health authorities are asking and appealing to the organizers of the Pride Parade to celebrate their holiday in compliance with the measures to protect their health and that of their loved ones," the response of her department states.
The Ministry pointed out that they contribute to equality and that LGBTQ people as users of health services are completely equal when it comes to health care and health insurance.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs said that the minister Sergej Sekulovic he will not be able to be part of this year's walk, but he will be a representative of that department at the parade.
Sekulović is also the coordinator of the Ministry of Justice, Human and Minority Rights. The presence was confirmed by the state secretary from this department Bojan Božović and the principal Mirjana Vlahović Andrijašević.
Other departments did not respond to "Vijesti" questions.
The "PG Bureau" confirmed that the walk will be attended by Vuković, who is the vice president of the Democratic Party of Socialists.
When it comes to the Assembly, it is known that the president of the Committee for Human Rights and Freedoms will not attend the procession Jovan Vučurović (Democratic Front), but the president of the Committee for Gender Equality will Bozena Jelušić (Civil Movement URA).
The Organizing Committee of the "LGBTIQ Association of Queer Montenegro" stated that they hope that the turnout will be as large as possible because they want Pride to be experienced by everyone, not just the community, and that messages of support should not be declarative.
"The organizing committee of Pride believes that the support and presence of decision-makers at the Parade is of great importance considering the significance of this event for the LGBTIQ community in Montenegro, and overall human rights in our country. The presence will also show that the state of Montenegro is proving that it is ready and willing to work on the affirmation of LGBTIQ people in society, but also that it wants to continue and improve the cooperation with civil society organizations," the announcement states.
The successful holding of the ninth Pride Parade, with the participation of many decision-makers, will send, as they say, a strong message of commitment and commitment to the additional affirmation of basic human, as well as European and advanced civilizational values.
The ninth Pride Parade is scheduled for Saturday from 15 p.m. at the monument to King Nikola in Podgorica. From the monument, the gathered will move along St. Bulevar. Peter Cetinjski, pass through Stanko Dragojevića Street, Bokeško Street and Freedom Street, after which they will return to the monument to King Nikola.
The first processions were organized in 2013, and last year's was organized as a car procession due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Ministers for human and minority rights and culture in the Government have been among those who have attended the parade so far Duško Marković Mehmed Zenka i Janko Ljumović, as well as the then director of the Police Administration Veselin Veljović.
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