US Ambassador: Protect the rights of the LGBTI community

He called for the protection of the LGBTI community rights and said that love needs to be put at the center of this issue.

Ambassador Hill said he would like to be able to say that his country has solved all the problems regarding this issue but that this is not the case and that they, too, still have a lot of work to do but that he sees great progress.

French Ambassador to Serbia Pierre Cochard said it would be a step forward if people were able to walk on Saturday, and added that things cannot be “taken for granted" when it comes to human rights.

We are collectively facing conservatism, said Cochard, adding that the fight against discrimination must continue and that he looks forward to seeing everyone on the streets on Saturday.

Annika Ben David, the Swedish Ambassador to Belgrade, said that this is the first EuroPride outside the European Union (EU), which is not easy, but added she hopes Belgrade will make it possible for things to happen as planned.

There is no EuroPride without a march, said Ambassador David.

Norwegian Ambassador to Serbia Jorn Eugene Gjelstad said “the eyes of Europe are on Serbia” this week and that this is an opportunity to move forward in expanding human rights.