The day after putting up the New Year's lights, the mayor of Novi Sad, Milan Đurić, announced that the city will not organize the New Year's Eve, nor the Serbian New Year
The decision was made out of respect for the victims tragic accident at the railway station in Novi Sad, when 15 people tragically died and two were seriously injured.
In Belgrade, on the other hand, nothing disturbs the plans for festive celebrations.
Acrobats, alternative bands and dancers
The city of Belgrade has announced a tender for the organization of the "Belgrade winter" event, which includes New Year's concerts, children's events and the installation of lighting in the city, writes New economy. The estimated value of the purchase is 275 million dinars, or about 2,35 million euros.
The City of Belgrade, more specifically the City Secretariat for Culture, will once again organize the "Belgrade Winter" event this year, which will include concerts, a children's program, New Year's lighting... to "visual experience".
Concerts are also planned on Trg Republike, on New Year's Eve and on the occasion of the celebration of the Orthodox New Year. In addition, numerous other events will be held in different places in the city. In addition to music and lighting, it is planned that acrobats, alternative bands and dancers will be engaged during the entire duration of the event...
How long does public mourning last?
Psychologist and prof. Dr. Žarko Trebješanin tells "Vreme" that the question of celebration is very delicate, but the most important thing is to act according to subjective feelings.
"The tragedy that happened in Novi Sad, as well as everything that happened after and is still happening, is still close. Arresting and mistreating people, we don't even know if any indictments will be filed against them. Who actually just wanted to warn about the danger of corrupt construction", says Trebješanin.
On the other hand, he adds, we have had so many tragedies that one can say "life must go on".
"To me personally, it seems a little disgusting and tasteless to decorate the city and spread false joy, as if nothing had happened." Again, I can't say that I don't understand people who can honestly regret all that, but if they say that life goes on, there will still be births, celebrations and new years..., says Trebješanin.
The interlocutor of "Vremen" adds that, personally, he has not felt like celebrating in this country for years, due to numerous tragedies and the fact that we live far from normal conditions in which it is quite normal to celebrate.
"It seems to me that for most people, the holiday celebration is far-fetched and artificial." Again, everything is a matter of each individual. In the end, we all had personal losses in the family, so it is an individual question how long the public display of mourning lasts", says Trebješanin.
Budget inconsistent with financial situation
The director of the Center for Local Self-Government, Nikola Jovanović, tells "Vreme" that he has nothing against beautifying Belgrade for the New Year holidays, but that the tragedy in which innocent people died, as well as the City's financial situation, should be taken into account.
"The city is facing some kind of bankruptcy." Everything that is essential for the development of the city has stopped. From street reconstruction to capital projects. So I think that, when the problem is paying salaries to employees in the City Administration, every decent government should save where it can," says Jovanović.
I'm sure, he adds, that everyone wants a normal atmosphere, but taking into account the people who have suffered and the bad financial situation, it should all be much more reduced.
"The amount for the New Year's holidays is completely inconsistent with the financial situation in the City," concludes Jovanović.
