Citing an inability to maintain security at the event, Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic advised organisers of the 2009 Pride Parade on Saturday to move the rally from the streets of central Belgrade to Usce Park, a venue traditionally used for rock concerts. Organisers of the parade called this unacceptable and cancelled the event.

On Friday, President Boris Tadic had assured organisers that marchers would be protected, but Cvetkovic’s U-Turn came following police advice that they would not be able to protect participants.

Dragana Vukovic, one of the organisers of the parade, said “taking the Pride Parade to a different place is simply not acceptable. Pride parades are traditionally held on the main streets to give the message that groups kept on the fringes of a society need to be integrated."

Marchers had been threatened by a number of religious, nationalist, neo-Nazi and football hooligan groups, one of which, 1389, had posted notices around the centre of the city that read: “we’re waiting for you”.

The 1389 movement tried to hold a rally on Saturday, despite a police decision to prohibit all public demonstrations in the city centre for security reasons.

Citing a secret police document, newspaper Politika had revealed that serious clashes were also expected during this weekend's event.

In a statement issued after the cancellation the organisers said: "The state has failed the test. The next exam is approaching fast. The Republic of Serbia has capitulated. We have not."

This was the second attempt by the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender, LGBT, community to march in Belgrade. The first march was suspended in June 2001 when opponents seriously injured several participants and policemen.

In March, the Serbian parliament approved a unified Anti-Discrimination Law which prohibits, amongst other things, discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and transgender status in all areas.

(Source: http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/22337/ )