09.09.2019.
Illegal solutions to the problems at “Bristol” do not have the support of the Ministry of Defense
Member of Parliament Miodrag Linta has called on the Ministry of Defense to address the housing issue of those who have remained at “Bristol” in a statement issued by the Federation of Serbs in the region today.
Member of Parliament Linta supports the request of persons at “Bristol” to be provided permanent housing solution, contrary to the Ministry of Defense’s position that offers the only legal solution, namely that persons accept temporary housing and move into apartments they have already visited at Block A , Vračar and Zvezdara in Belgrade, in accordance with the rights they exercise.
The Ministry of Defense has consistently held that the issue of the housing solution of persons at “Bristol” has to be resolved within the framework of the laws and established procedures, respecting the unified ranking list of employees of the Ministry of Defense and the Serbian Armed Forces interested in solving their housing issue, including 18.000 persons. In case of awarding flats to former “Bristol” residents people from the list would have the right to sue the Ministry of Defense and win the lawsuits. Due to similar violations of the law in 2008, the Ministry of Defense has paid RSD 6 billion over the last two years for court verdicts on discrimination against reservists. That is why similar violations of the law will not be repeated in this or any other case.
In the meantime, the Ministry of Defense has established an on-duty medical team that regularly, twice a day, visits persons at “Bristol”. Since 5 September, when these persons went on strike, nine have been examined and it was established that they have no health problems.
As regards Linta’s call on the Ministry of Defense to provide them with electricity and water, we reiterate that the “Bristol” facility is no longer under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defense, nor does the Ministry decide on these issues.
Once again we can assure all those who propose illegal solutions to the issue of persons at “Bristol” that this is not a way to overcome the current situation. The Ministry of Defense maintains that this issue can only be resolved in accordance with laws and regulations.
The flats that the Ministry of Defense is offering, and which the persons at “Bristol” are refusing, can be seen at the following link.
