The Serbian Minister of Construction resigns after the incident in Novi Sad

2024-11-04 23:00:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Serbia's Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, Goran Vesic, announced on Monday that he will officially resign from the post on November 5, following the deadly incident in Novi Sad last week.

However, Vesic said in an extraordinary press conference that he does not accept the blame for the incident, but that he is retiring as a "responsible man".

At least 14 people were killed when a concrete shelter collapsed at the railway station in the northern Serbian city on Friday. Three people were injured and are still in serious condition.

"I cannot accept the blame for the death of 14 people, because neither I nor the people who work with me have the slightest responsibility for the tragedy that happened", said Vesic.

Vesic said that as a minister "he has not approved any act that could have an impact on the outcome of the project" of the reconstruction of the railway station in Novi Sad.

He called on the prosecution to determine who is responsible for the death of 14 people.

Vesic said that he offered his resignation to the Prime Minister of the country, Milosh Vu?evic, on the same day when the accident happened, and that he also communicated his intention to President Aleksandar Vu?i?.

Hundreds of people gathered on Sunday in front of the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure in Belgrade, where they demanded the resignation of Vesic and accountability from the Government for the incident in Novi Sad.

The reasons for the collapse of the concrete cover of the Railway Station are not yet known.

The High Public Prosecutor's Office in Novi Sad said it had heard the testimony of 40 people until November 3, including Minister Vesi? and those responsible for "Serbian Railways" and "Serbian Railways Infrastructure", as well as those who are responsible for doing the work.

Serbian President Vucic said on Monday that he is "sure" that the competent state authorities will find who is responsible for the tragedy.

The main railway station building in Novi Sad was opened in July 2024, after three years of reconstruction.

The institution of Serbian railways said on the day of the incident that the concrete shelter that collapsed "was not rebuilt and was not part of the renovations".

However, experts declare that even that part has been subject to reconstruction.

The reconstruction works were carried out by a Chinese consortium./ VOA