Serbia’s Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Goran Vesic has resigned four days after the Novi Sad railway station collapse that killed 14 people, Serbian media reported.
Vesic told a press conference:
“A day of mourning has been held in Serbia for the terrible tragedy that occurred in Novi Sad. Until now, I have not spoken out of respect for the victims and their families. On that terrible night, I was at the railway station and prayed that the rescuers would save another life. I resigned the same day and communicated my intention to the President of the Republic. I want to inform you that tomorrow morning I will resign as Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure.”
He also said that he bears moral responsibility for the tragedy and wants to show it by his personal example. At the same time, the Minister emphasised that the Serbian Ministry of Construction “had absolutely no influence on the quality, the project and all the reconstruction works.”
The Minister said that he offered his resignation to Prime Minister Milos Vucevic on the day of the tragedy, November 1, at the same time informing Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić about his intention. He said that “all the last days he has been suffering attacks and insults from those who try to abuse every tragedy.”
The Novi Sad train station collapsed on the morning of November 1. Fourteen people are listed as dead, including a six-year-old child. The Blic newspaper reported that the old station canopy collapsed, “which had not been repaired.” The newspaper noted that the fallen structure was more than 60 years old.
