BELGRADE, 4 October 2012 - The Acting Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, Paula Thiede, issued the following statement on the decision by state authorities to ban public gatherings on 6 October, when the Pride March was planned:

"The OSCE Mission regrets the decision by authorities to cancel all public gatherings in Belgrade planned for 6 October. Although we acknowledge that the decision made was based on a security assessment, state authorities have a direct responsibility to protect the constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression, as well as to protect citizens against discrimination of any kind.

“The OSCE Mission urges the Serbian Government to send a clear and unequivocal message that extremist calls for violence and intimidation have no place in this society."