In the famous story by Radoj Domanović, the famous hero of epic poems Marko Kraljević returned from the afterlife. Tired of the five-century cries of the Serbs for Kosovo, Marko went before God one day and asked him to let the common people in - to see if something could be done.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić did the same today. It's just that he didn't come from the other world, but from Andrić's wreath, and the reason was his descent into the ordinary world of Mali Zvornik not Serbian Kosovo, but the Anglo-Australian international corporation Rio Tinto.
That is why the President of Serbia is talking to the citizens of Mali Zvornik today from 18:XNUMX because of their concerns regarding the "Jadar" project and the consequences of the opening of the mine on the environment and people's health. Only, do the citizens of Mali Zvornik care at all? The "Informer" survey says - no.
How the "Informer" survey went
The survey was conducted by a journalist "Informer" Branka Lazić, the same journalist who is reported from the blockade of the Main Railway Station in Belgrade on Saturday. The scene looks something like this:
Journalist: It's extremely hot here, I'll try to find someone to talk to now... Some people are just coming by. Here, just a moment dear viewers... Excuse me, can I ask you something? Here, here, we are from "Informer" TV.
A man and a woman then appear in the frame and slowly approach the camera. The journalist then asks them for their names, determines that it is the married couple Petrović and asks a specific question - what do they think about lithium.
Interlocutor: I think that lithium should be opened for work.
Journalist: Why?
Interlocutor: That is for the development of Serbia and Mali Zvornik and Loznica and everything.
Then follows the question of whether random interlocutors think that the protests in Belgrade are political or that they, the demonstrators, are really fighting for some environmental rights. This time, both Mr. and Mrs. answer alternately, and they agree on the same thing - the protests are political, they are fighting for their interests, and against the people. And they want to cause a disturbance.
Finally, the reporter from "Informer" asked them if they were informed that the President of Serbia will answer other questions in Mali Zvornik, and not only those related to Rio Tinto. The married couple replied that they were acquainted, and that's why they came.
Apart from the aforementioned "Informer", the conversation was broadcast live by RTS, Pink, B92 and Prva televisions.
They even got to ask
Petrović was personally ushered into the hall by the President of Serbia. And they had the opportunity to ask him a question later.
"I am Vujadin Petrović from Mali Zvornik, I have problems with the municipality and the cadastre, and the mayor of the municipality. I contacted five emergency services, they replaced my parcel and threw it into the stream. I have all the papers, they are in my wife's purse," Vujadin said.
"I spoke to whoever needed it," he added. To which the President of Serbia reacted quickly.
"Get this young man the papers." Leave your phone number," said Vučić.
Then he continued to solve the problems of other citizens. The president, despite his busy schedule, is still in the hall in Mali Zvornik, and he said that he will stay there - as long as the citizens have questions.
Conversation with the people
And there are many questions. Some related to lithium, some about everyday life problems.
These others are easily solved by the President of Serbia - leave a number, we will call you back, we will help as much as we can.
The President of Serbia previously announced on his Instagram profile that "he is coming to hear and listen to the people."
"I invite all citizens of Mali Zvornik and the surrounding areas to a meeting in the hall of the Mali Zvornik Community College starting at 18 p.m. Access is free and everyone is welcome."
When it comes to issues related to lithium mining, the conversation was opened by Dr. Sanja Sakan from the Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy, one of the speakers at the protest against lithium mining on August 9. Most of the organizers of this protest refused to come to the interview.
Sakan stressed her concern for the environmental consequences of mining.
"Nowhere in the world is there a mine where the exploitation of lithium is in a densely populated agricultural area." Nature is a dynamic and complex system, no one can guarantee that toxic elements will not be released into nature," Dr. Sakan said, among other things. She is one of the authors of a scientific paper on the impact of research on a potential lithium mine on the area of Western Serbia.
Vučić replied that "in Finland, there is a mine three kilometers from the city center." Nevertheless, he invited Dr. Sakan to participate in discussions about lithium.
