Vesić: I am resigning

"The day of mourning in Serbia has passed due to the tragedy that happened in Novi Sad. I did not announce until now out of respect for the victims and their families. I was at the railway station that night, I offered my resignation the same day the accident happened, and I announced my intention to the President of the Republic. Tomorrow morning I will officially resign from the post of Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure," said Goran Vesić.

He added that when the National Assembly confirms his resignation, he will cease to perform the function in the technical mandate.

Vesić said that he cannot accept the blame for the death of 14 people.

"Neither I, nor the people who work with me have the slightest bit of responsibility for the tragedy that happened. I'm sure the investigation will show that," said Vesić.

Then he added: "I was the first to respond to the call for a hearing, because I want responsibility for the tragedy that happened to be determined. I am resigning because I want to show by personal example that as a responsible man, there is moral responsibility for such a tragedy in today's Serbia. The Ministry could not, by any act, affect the quality, the project and all reconstruction works. The Ministry could not influence the project, quality and supervision of the works by any of its acts".

The Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure then stated the chronology of issuing documents.

"The infrastructure of the Railways of Serbia gave a project assignment for the development of the project, and after that, in 2017, they were not subject to constructive reconstruction. In 2018, a contract was signed. All this happened before I was elected as a minister. The work was carried out by by a consortium of Chinese companies, the supervision was by two foreign companies, and the investor was the Serbian Railways Infrastructure. I call on the competent authorities to determine as soon as possible who is responsible for this terrible accident that happened, who did not do the work because of which 14 people died. This will remove the stain from many people who were mentioned in the previous days," he said.

Vesić asked why the railway infrastructure did not maintain the station in Novi Sad, which was their legal obligation.

"I and the people who work with me still cry for those people today. Even today I think about the grandfather who took the train with his two granddaughters and I will cry for them as long as I live. Even though I don't have children, I can't let anyone point the finger at me that I am guilty of the death of any child, without any evidence or proof, because they think that everything is allowed," said Goran Vesić.

• The injured are no better; Open Book of Mourning; The doctor explained: We wanted to amputate her arm
• Autopsy of the victims in Novi Sad has been completed; New video of canopy collapse; 20 people interrogated
• Rescue operation in Novi Sad ended: "Definitive balance of 14 dead and three injured"