The fight to keep the living from walling us off

If we go back to fragmented information about numerous city projects - we also come to fragmented rebellions. It's simple, not a single neighborhood can defend itself, but networking and solidarity are necessary, and then joint resistance to this kind of orchestrated attack. If there is a pattern according to which the city, coasts, parks and plots of land are stolen, and there is, there must be a unique response to that attack."

When on June 27, 2014, the model of the "Belgrade on the Water" project was officially unveiled in the newly renovated Geozavod building, the then Prime Minister of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, announced the start of the construction of the first phase of the residential-business complex for March of the following year. Today, ten years later, Belgrade on the water is expanding along the Sava bank, threatening to swallow the Belgrade Fair, stretching towards Ada Ciganlija and slowly overflowing onto the left bank of the Sava, occupying the space from the New Belgrade heating plant all the way to the Branko bridge. Namely - it exceeds the original dimensions presented by the model from 2014 many times over.

While the government continues to present "Belgrade on the water" as one of its greatest successes, the majority of Belgrade citizens perceive the project as a paradigm of investor urbanism from the beginning. The latter is supported by a series of controversies: from the complete absence of public discussion in the early stages, non-transparent financing, through the violent occupation of space - including the still unexplained "demolition in Savamala" in April 2016 - up to the latest draft of amendments to the Spatial Plan of the Special Purpose Area for the Development of the Sava Coast, which should serve as a legal framework for the further expansion of the complex.

We talk about the announced expansion of Belgrade on the water and other issues with Đorđe Miketić, a civic activist and one of the initiators of the "Belgrade Remains" initiative.

"WEATHER" Does the Belgrade on the water that springs up on the banks of the Sava threaten to swallow the Belgrade in which we live?

DJORDJE MIKETIĆ: The Belgrade we know and love will disappear if we do not stop the announced robbery of the coasts and public spaces. I think we are still unaware of the devastating tsunami that is about to hit our coast. Even if we follow news about urban projects every day, we only get information about individual projects and plans. There is a lack of an overall picture and a broader plan of comprehensive impact on the city of Belgrade.

A short cut of what was announced would be:

Belgrade on the Water plans to appropriate the entire bank of the Sava, on the left side from New Belgrade's Toplana via Sajmishte all the way to Ušće, on the right side to Adu Ciganli, the Fair, part of Senjak, Prokop, the branch to Topcider, then the entire length of Savska and Karađorđeva Streets from the foot of Kalemegdan and up Kamenički, across the Sava Amphitheater to Hotel Moskva on Terazije.

Expo Surčin appropriates the left bank of the Sava from the Ostružnički bridge to Block 45, legalizes wild mansions on the Sava and construction on the water intake.

The expo pier will be located from Gazela to Ušće and represents the beginning of construction near the Sajmište camp and in Block 18, and infrastructure installations and two roundabouts in Vladimir Popović have already been laid for this purpose.

Hotel Jugoslavija with the bank of the Danube will extend all the way to Ušće - under the pretext of the Natural History Museum, Gondola, Mast and similar nonsense.

Then, there is the line park from Kalemegdan to Pancevac bridge, so it is still not clear what the plan entails, but it is known that PDR for SC "Gale Muškatirević" and Marina Dorćol are included.

The construction of a business-residential complex at the Belgrade water source on Makiš is again current, which would represent a crime against the drinking water of the citizens of Belgrade.

"Delta land" with 160.000 square meters is being built on the site of the former "Belgrade Cotton Plant" and "Belgrade Slaughterhouse", near the Pancevac bridge.

When we add to this the privatization of public transport and the announced construction in the depots of the half-dead GSP, construction along the deplorable highway, thousands of "small" projects in parks and public spaces, then the closing of Pariska street and construction in Uzun Mirkova, new buildings on the Sava embankment, an entire neighborhood in IMT and who knows what else - we remain tracked over that metastasis of urbicide that will destroy this city.

How and with what motives and goals was the initiative created "Belgrade remains"?

The initiative "Belgrade Remains" emerged from the heart-felt struggle for the Old Sava Bridge, and precisely with the idea of ​​preserving the whole of Belgrade and improving life in the city. We are ready to defend the city with bodies, but it must be with a clear plan and strategy.

If we go back to fragmented information about numerous city projects - we also come to fragmented rebellions. It's simple, not a single neighborhood can defend itself, but networking and solidarity are necessary, and then joint resistance to this kind of orchestrated attack. If there is a pattern in which the city, coasts, parks and lots are being hijacked, and there is, there must be a unique response to that attack, otherwise everything is in vain. When the excavators come under our windows, it's already finished. That's why we all have to get involved right now.

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What has been done so far??

The "Belgrade Remains" initiative launched two projects, the first of which is a geek project. We invited the citizens of Belgrade to form an interactive map of urbicide together, an overview and informational platform on which all large and small projects that citizens bring to our attention and attach documentation would be registered. It is time for the citizens of Belgrade to have an overview of all events and urban changes that must be responded to in one place, which will distinguish those who meet all legal norms and contribute to the development of Belgrade from those who destroy the city and life. This is a big undertaking for our legal and urban planning team.

The second project is precisely the formation of the widest possible front for the defense of the city through the announced public inspection for the "Belgrade on the Water" project. We started a petition against the expansion of Belgrade on the water, but not because we think it will prevent them from their intention, but in this way we will gather a large number of citizens to try to legally challenge the plan and stop the destruction of the city by writing objections in a mass, but synchronized manner. And then, if necessary, we organize field actions and the so-called. with intervention activism, we stand in defense of Belgrade.

"Belgrade Remains" strongly believes that the stopping of corrupt construction sites hurts this kleptocratic regime the most, which is why it hijacked all the institutions, so that it would not be able to loot and loot the coasts, neighborhoods and parks without hindrance.

Networking and unification of political parties and civic initiatives has been a constant topic in Serbia for years. On the wave of widespread civil discontent, Citizens' assemblies have been formed for months in almost all major cities. What is still missing in order to form a strong and authentic social front that would represent an effective alternative to the current government?

I believe that we are moving towards that. Let's not forget Novi Pazar. The human need for togetherness and solidarity blew decades of nationalistic strongholds to pieces. As soon as we let love and humanity out of the bottle - the generational mechanism of division and domination failed them.

And that's why, before I answer what is missing and where we are wrong, let's first look at the circumstances:

This rehabilitated regime from the nineties learned its lesson and the first thing they did in 2012 was the thorough destruction of all political articulation. Both party, union, citizen, student, and of course, media. Enormous effort and money have been invested not only in bribing and controlling established social groups, but intensive work is also being done on discord and mistrust. Just as they divided Serbia into fiefdoms and local lords, they also dismembered and enslaved all sectors. Simply, now they have come to power with the intention of never surrendering it again.

Let's remember that BIA agents broke into the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments when the employed experts rebelled against the illegal cancellation of protection to the General Staff. So, the people employed in the institution for which they were educated, finally strengthened to oppose the chronic trampling of the cultural and historical heritage, are annulled, and they personally, and their knowledge and legal procedures, all for the sake of a corrupt geo-political game. And now, we expect them to support defrauded farmers, impoverished professors, humiliated doctors, enslaved workers or God forbid, civic and political initiatives.

Of course they should support, but it is a process. The question is how to speed it up.

In addition, a narrative was created about apoliticalness as a supreme value. And that is exactly why it is so difficult to break through all the threats, traps, blackmail, vindictive punishments and media satanization that await you if you dare. On the other hand, we need even more trust and good faith in people, as well as the conviction that together we have a historic opportunity to change our lives and the lives of others, and even the entire community.

Your initiative often refers to the legacy of the architect Dragoljub Bakić. What would an alternative to the current city development model look like?? Do you have specific suggestions for a different arrangement of the coastline??

The famous architect and builder of a humane Belgrade, Dragoljub Bakić, drew up a three-year plan for the urgent revitalization of Belgrade. On Victory Day, May 9, the initiative "Belgrade Remains" presented and adopted this plan, which starts from three basic priorities for the development of a city focused on people and not profit, a city that breathes, and a city of culture and solidarity.

For four years, Belgrade has not had a GUP - a general urban plan and an umbrella development plan, which is precisely what enables the fragmentation of the city and the rampage of investors. Therefore, Bakić's first part of the plan, City for citizens, proposes a three-year moratorium on all megalomaniacal construction projects (such as the expansion of Belgrade on the water), on protected urban zones (Sajmište, Sajam, Kalemegdan, Krunski and Kosančićev venac) and on all buildings that are under the previous protection of cultural property until a new GUP is adopted, but which must be developed together with the profession and citizens.

The plan also includes the development of rail systems, first of all, Beovoz and the extension of existing railways to parts of the city through already built tunnels, that our city would get a real city railway as soon as possible, and thus an adequate replacement for road traffic.

The city breathes. is part of the plan that proposes detailed measures to reduce pollution by 15 percent by the end of 2028, protect the lives of citizens and sign the "C40 Clean air cities" declaration.

The third part is City of humanity and it represents a strong turn in cultural, social and educational policies such as the adaptation of unused city spaces into student dormitories, creative IT incubator centers, hubs and studios for contemporary art creators, sports development programs, critical thinking and environmental education, care for the most vulnerable categories of society, but also a plan for taking care of "city" dogs and cats.

To what extent citizens are ready to actively participate in the defense of public space?

It is true that the student protests awakened the will and readiness of the majority of citizens to fight for their right and orderly society. I believe that we are all witnessing the awakening of incredible energy and forgotten righteousness. Our society is tendentiously neglected, served by misinformation and divisions, battered by injustices and unexplained tragedies, which has now woken up and is fighting a battle for its survival, just as Belgrade is fighting a battle to preserve its identity and dignity. To be a city tailored to people, not investors. When you look at the examples from Block 4 in New Belgrade or Knez Milos 44, people are determined in their fight not to be walled up by the living. There are more and more such examples and finally the resistance has reached a critical point. Now we need to synergize all these rebellions and free our city together.

All city uprisings that won victory over arrogant investors or corrupt institutions such as the Reva dam, Toplicin venac, Vojvode Vuka park, Gondola, had this necessary component: determination and synergy in the fight.

What role do students and young people have in the political struggle? How do you see the current political situation?, especially in the context of the election and the position of the opposition?

Our society, from which critical thinking and dialogue have been banished, thinks in absolute categories and naturally strays into exclusivity. Until last year, the majority in this society wrote off almost all young people and students as uninterested, as zombies with phones who just want to escape the country, and now, just six months later, they are the ones teaching the lesson of freedom love and true patriotism. They lit the torch of freedom and all our hearts, but now the competition is on to worship students as saviors.

That is why I think that right now, in this crucial phase of articulating the further struggle for a true change of the system, a dialogue of all groups is necessary. Both the energy of the students and the experience of the previous fighters, and the voice of the profession and the cry of the workers.

Certainly, political organizations must undergo change because something is clearly not working. I believe that we must abandon the practice of unquestioned leadership and vertical hierarchical organization. Changes will not and cannot be brought by one person. There are no saviors or messiahs. It was neither Milošević, nor Koštunica, nor Tadic, nor Vučić. It won't be students either. Because there is no shortcut. Either the change of the system will be ensured by all of us united and solidary citizens or we will disappear together.

And we no longer have the right to make a mistake, that's why we have to learn from each other and rely on each other, and not repeat that every generation goes through the same school with, in the end, a questionable result.