November 2, 2024.

Following the tragedy at the entrance to the railway station in Novi Sad, the Government of the Republic of Serbia has declared national mourning for the victims who have lost their lives. The Book of Condolence will be open for signing at our Embassy on the following dates:

18. Jun 2024.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Marko Djuric today received the participants of the Pupin Fellowship program, which is attended by 15 international relations and political science students from Serbia and the United States every year.

30 January 2023

In separate meetings on Capitol Hill, Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the U.S.A., Marko Djuric, met with Congresswoman Veronica Escobar and Congressman Paul Gosar and discussed further strengthening of Serbian and American cooperation and current geopolitical situation in the region.

Ambassador Djuric conveyed to the Members of the U.S. Congress the position of our state leadership in light of the latest developments in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija, reiterating our commitment to the continuation of negotiations and finding a compromise solution.

Furthermore, he emphasized the active and constructive role of Serbia in establishing stability in the Western Balkans through encouraging development of concrete frameworks of cooperation and focus on creating new opportunities for economic progress of the whole region.

Djuric added that the U.S. support to the Open Balkan Initiative greatly contributes to the positive atmosphere of political dialogue and is a strong wind at the back of all parties involved, as well as additional motive to the American and European investors to increase their presence in our region.

At the end of the meeting, Ambassador Djuric invited Congresswoman Escobar and Congressman Gosar to join the U.S. Congressional Delegation to visit Serbia in the forthcoming period within the MECEA (Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange).

28 January 2023

A literary evening of writer and journalist Gordana Petković Laković was held at the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Washington.

Three diaspora collections of works titled „At the Crossroads“, „Why We Left“ and „With a Heart in the Homeland“ were presented.

Through extensive research and interviews, the author captured all the unforgettable moments that touched the lives of some of the most prominent Serbian immigrants in North America.

Mrs. Petković Laković is the winner of numerous awards and recognitions for her contribution to improving the ties between the motherland and the diaspora.

A literary workshop for children aged 2 to 8 was also held.

27 January 2023

Marko Đurić, Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the United States of America, officially opened a photography exhibition “Heritage of Stone and Heaven - World Cultural Heritage of Serbia” at the Embassy in Washington D.C.

The exhibition consists of photographs that are part of the international award-winning photography competition held in 2022 by the non-governmental organization “Art Exchange” based in Washington.

Ambassador Đurić thanked Svetlana Rogić, the founder and president of the “Art Exchange” organisation, for being able to unite and present the cultural assets of Serbia that are on the UNESCO list, whose beauty transcends national borders and represents the heritage of all humanity.

This exhibition is a part of numerous activities that will present Serbian culture and tradition to the American public in the coming period.

11 January 2023

In organisation of the Embassy of Serbia in Washington, concert „This is Serbia“ was held at the Millennium Stage of the prestigious Kennedy Centre.

Deputy Chief of Mission Andon Sapundzi addressed the audience, pointing out that it was a rare opportunity for visitors to listen to three very talented female artists performing songs by Serbian composers.

Milica Sekulić (piano), Biljana Soldo (soprano) and Nataša Rašić (mezzo-soprano), made an effort to introduce some of the most beautiful Serbian songs to the audience.

The repertoire included the songs of Davorin Jenko - composer of the Serbian national anthem, and Kornelije Stanković, thanks to whom modern melodies were reconciled with the traditional ones, Slavenski, Milojević, Marinković and Bajić - representatives of late Serbian romanticism, as well as our contemporaries Hristić, Le Roux Obradović and Golemović.

Milica Sekulić gives concerts and teaches piano in Potomac, Maryland, Biljana Soldo performs at the Virginia Opera, while Nataša Rašić performs in theatres in Belgrade and abroad.

22 December 2022

Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia in Washington, Marko Đurić, organised a holiday reception for officials of the State Department, the White House, the Pentagon, Congress and other representatives of the United States administration.

Guests of honour included Gabriel Escobar, US Special Envoy for the Western Balkans and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Congresswoman Claudia Tenny, Co-Chair of the Serbian Congressional Caucus, Spencer Boyer, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence, and Ambassador Philip Ricker, former acting US Assistant Secretary of State.

Ambassador Đurić addressed the audience, saying that the year 2022 will be remembered as the year in which, the relations between Serbia and the USA reached a completely new level in terms of substance, quality, and perspective, thanks to the joint efforts by both sides.

“We are saying farewell to another year of great cooperation, new partnerships and plans. In anticipation of the upcoming holidays, I want to thank you all for your sincere enthusiasm and commitment to preserving and improving Serbian-American relations, which, thanks to your and our dedicated work, have become an image of the exact vision our ancestors had 141 years ago”, Djuric said.

Held in the new building of the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Washington, this event brought together representatives of American business associations and companies, as well as high-level officials of the American administration dealing with our country and region.

19 December 2022

„Serbian cultural afternoon“ was held at the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Washington, where the Serbian art, sculpture and music scene at the intersection of generations was presented to the American public, spouses and partners of members of the diplomatic corps.

The event, hosted by the Ambassador's wife Andrijana Đurić, was held in two parts: the first part consisted of a group exhibition of paintings and sculptures by nine Serbian contemporary artists, called „Finding a Way“, while in the second part guests had the opportunity to listen to the works of Serbian composers performed by Milica Sekulić, successful Serbian pianist from Maryland.

The exhibition is the result of the joint vision, effort and creativity of Marija Milošević, Director of the „Art For All“ gallery from Belgrade and curator of the exhibition, and Elizabeth Escobar, the wife of the special American envoy for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar, who spoke as special guests.

After reading a poem she wrote in memory of her stay in Serbia, Elizabeth Escobar also spoke about her personal experience of Serbian culture and art, which she had the opportunity to learn about during her husband's service at the US Embassy in Belgrade.

Marija Milošević explained the artistic concept of the project in the context of international exchange of ideas and global visibility, pointing out the symbolism of finding the path that artists in Serbia take in the process of materialisation of an idea, and finding a way for individual affirmation of artists through professionalism, commitment and renunciation.

The singularity of the event is reflected in the fact that for the first time the presentation of several types of art from Serbia has been united in this form through a peculiar combination of musical creativity in the period from 19th to 20th century, with a display of contemporary fine art.

17 December 2022

As decided by the Tesla Science Foundation, Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to USA Marko Đurić received the Tesla Spirit Award.

On behalf of the Foundation, the Award was given to Ambassador Đurić by David Vuich, Chairman Emeritus and one of the seven engineers of Serbian origin who had participated in the Apollo Mission, a part of the NASA Space Programme.

“It is an honour to receive an award bearing the name of the greatest Serbian American scientist of all time, the man who lit the world, both literally and figuratively, and whose inventions changed the course of history for the benefit of the humanity as a whole. Paying homage to Nikola Tesla, we are paying homage to all Serbs and Americans, and to everything that our two countries and the Serbian and the American people can achieve together”, said Ambassador Đurić.

Handing the Award, Mr. Vuich explained that Ambassador Đurić was chosen to receive the prestigious accolade for his commitment to promoting the importance of the 140-year long history of diplomacy between the two countries, and his continuous efforts on finding new ways to improve the bilateral cooperation in the best interests of both Serbia and USA.

At the ceremony in the new building of the Embassy of Serbia, a statue of Nikola Tesla was presented, which had been built for the occasion by the American sculptor Stan Watts, and would be also exhibited at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington and many other museums and universities throughout USA.

The Tesla Spirit Award is the highest medal awarded by Serbs in the United States, Americans and admirers of the most world-famous Serbian inventor, who comprise the Tesla Science Foundation from Philadelphia.

Guided by its Founder and President Nikola Lončar, this Foundation has, for almost two decades, organised conferences and symposia in Tesla’s honour, and various events presenting his life and work, thus raising awareness of his scientific achievements and preserving the memory of his invaluable contribution to the human society.

14 December 2022

As one of his meetings with members of the Serbian Caucus in the United States Congress, Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to USA Marko Đurić met with Democratic Congressman Frank Mrvan, and handed him a personal letter from President Aleksandar Vučić.

With respect to the current development in the northern part of Serbia’s southern province, Ambassador Đurić conveyed concerns over the more and more frequent and intense violation of basic human rights of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, and highlighted the importance of the observance of the Brussels Agreement and necessity of creating a Community of Serb Municipalities.

In terms of economic cooperation, Ambassador Đurić informed Congressman Mrvan about Serbia’s newest macroeconomic results, which, in spite of the global crisis, exceeded all expectations, and emphasised that Serbia remained the regional leader n in terms of the number of direct investments.

Noting the considerable success that Serbia was having in the IT sector, as a leading branch of industry, Ambassador Đurić informed Congressman Mrvan of Serbia’s readiness to share its existing knowledge and experience in this field with the State of Indiana.

In view of the fact that a substantial Serbian diaspora lived in Northwest Indiana, Ambassador Đurić and Congressman Mrvan also discussed possibilities of further economic and industrial cooperation and market penetration of Serbian companies in that region.

12 December 2022

Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the USA Marko Đurić met with Congressman Joe Wilson, a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, with whom he discussed current events on the world political scene and the common wish for an end to the war in Eastern Europe.

Đurić pointed out to Wilson the events in the area of Kosovo and Metohija and the destabilising moves of the Priština authorities, emphasising the facts that speak in favour of Belgrade's constructive approach as a credible interlocutor at the negotiating table.

Perceiving him as a sincere friend of Serbia who shows that Serbia and the USA share common values of peace, understanding and cooperation, Ambassador Đurić pointed out that Serbia greatly appreciated Congressman Wilson's devoted support for the start of the strategic dialogue between Serbia and the USA, as well as the Open Balkan initiative.

The Ambassador expressed special gratitude for the congressional letter that Congressman Wilson together with Congressman Eric Swalwell recently sent to President Joseph Biden proposing that the USA should host the Open Balkan Summit. Among the topics of discussion were the perspectives of further improvement of military cooperation between Serbia and the USA, as well as joint plans in the domain of expanding the activities and membership of the Serbian Congressional Caucus.

11 December 2022

At the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Washington, a fashion show of folk costumes was held by Biljana Regan, founder of the "Association for the Preservation of Balkan Tradition and Culture".

The event gathered a large number of representatives of the diplomatic corps who were greeted by Ambassador Marko Đurić at the beginning of the event.

With this exhibition, Regan marked a decade of work and announced her book entitled "Once Upon a Time in Maryland". The entire collection she owns is her private property and consists of over a hundred authentic folk costumes, jewellery and other antiques from the 19th and 20th centuries. Representatives of the "Tesla Scientific Foundation" used this opportunity to present mini sculptures by sculptor Stan Watts dedicated to Nikola Tesla and the Halliard mission.

05 December 2022

Representatives of the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Washington attended the first gala dinner organised by the Serbian Cultural Center in San Diego, which brought together over 100 of the most successful Serbs from Southern California.

The event was organised as a fundraiser to finance permanent premises of the Centre, Serbian library, and media centre, as well as to help in the work of the first free Nikola Tesla Science Club on the West coast.

On behalf of the Embassy, Radomir Ilić, the first adviser, addressed the audience and spoke about the possibilities of cooperation between the Embassy and the diaspora, the simplified procedure for obtaining Serbian citizenship, encouraging the return of emigrants to their homeland, and strengthening economic and cultural ties.

02 December 2022

The Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia in Washington, Marko Đurić, organized, within the framework of cooperation with the American-Central European Business Association (ACEBA), a business round table to discuss the existing and future modalities of cooperation between the two countries in the economic domain.

Speaking as the host, Ambassador Đurić talked about the priorities of the new Government of Serbia, underlining energy, economy, and the ICT industry as the key sectors.

“We are extremely proud that the information technology sector has for the first time surpassed the previously leading agricultural sector, so we expect to end this year with a record export of ICT services exceeding 2.7 billion euros,” Đurić said.

Explaining that artificial intelligence has an increasing influence in the IT domain, Ambassador Đurić informed that Serbia is the first country in our region to become a member of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence, which represents a great recognition of our success in this industry.

Speaking about bilateral cooperation with the USA, Ambassador Đurić emphasised the importance of establishing strategic dialogue, as a confirmation of the high level of political relations between the two countries achieved over the last few years through mutual openness and the good standing of our leadership led by President Aleksandar Vučić. In this sense, he reiterated Serbia’s interest in strengthening mutual trust with members of this Association and improving cooperation on all issues.

“Given that economic cooperation will have an important place in the strategic dialogue with the USA, we hope to use that productive platform to further improve our bilateral relations and to start negotiations on avoiding double taxation, which was unequivocally assessed as an issue of importance for both sides”, Đurić pointed out.

Ambassador Đurić also singled out cooperation in our region as one of the main focuses of the Government, especially in terms of promoting the “Open Balkans” initiative and more active joint presentation of the perspectives of the region as a whole.

In addition to the president of the ACEBA Association, Eric Stewart, the round table participants included Louis Dupuis, director of global business development at Lockheed Martin, as well as representatives of the companies Bechtel, UGTR renewables, Merck, L3 Harris, and others.

The event was held at the premises of the Embassy of Serbia in Washington and is a continuation of a regular practice of holding round tables and meetings established last year, as an additional channel of communication with business entities in the USA and a form of promotion of the economic, technological and investment potential of Serbia.

01 December 2022

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia Ivica Dačić met with Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs of the United States Victoria Nuland in the margins of the OSCE Ministerial Council in the city of Lodz, Poland.

Minister Dačić and Under Secretary Nuland discussed the status of bilateral relations between the two countries and agreed that efforts should be made to intensify the political dialogue.

Minister Dačić emphasised that a strategic dialogue between Serbia and USA, as proposed by Serbia, would send a strong message to Serbia and its citizens about the current relations, while also giving a clearer structure to the bilateral dialogue.

In the matter of Kosovo and Metohija, Minister Dačić stated that Serbia was ready to consider all initiatives originating from international representatives concerning normalisation of the relations between Belgrade and Pristina.

In his words, Belgrade remained fully committed to the dialogue, but insisted that all the obligations from the agreements reached so far should be implemented, or else any participation in the dialogue would be pointless.

Minister Dačić also expressed his gratitude for Washington's continued support to our path to a full EU membership, one of the priority foreign policy goals of Serbia and its strategic commitment.

However, he also said that Serbia was against making the progress of Serbia’s European integration contingent on the progress in the dialogue with Pristina, in view of the fact that developments in that process did not solely depend on the Serbian side.

Minister Dačić and Under Secretary Nuland agreed to work on strengthening regional peace and stability, and stressed that a constructive position of Serbia in all regional matters was subject to economic interests and progress, as it was possible only in a stable environment, which would be helped by further US investments.

25 November 2022

The Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia in Washington, Marko Đurić, visited Clemson University in South Carolina, where he gave a lecture to the students of political sciences.

Ambassador Đurić first introduced to the students Serbia's basic foreign policy priorities and efforts to develop regional cooperation through the Open Balkans initiative, and he also referred to current challenges in complex circumstances on the international level.

In a pleasant conversation with the Vice-Chancellor of Clemson University and the management of the Department of Political Sciences, both sides expressed satisfaction with the successful cooperation and partnership between Clemson University and the Faculty of Political Sciences in Belgrade, which has been established in 2006. The possibilities for further improvement of the program were discussed, as well as exchange of students and researchers.

12 November 2022

Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia in Washington, Marko Đurić, participated in the International Cooperation Conference organized by the Association of Caribbean States (ACS).

As representative of the Republic of Serbia and official observer at this Association, Ambassador Đurić emphasized our country's determination to expand cooperation with the countries of the wider Caribbean region.

“Serbia will continue to nurture a long tradition of sincere friendship with the Caribbean nations that, despite geographical distance, we continue to perceive as brothers in every respect.

I will also use this opportunity to convey messages of sincere gratitude from the Republic of Serbia for respecting the principles of international law in all world multilateral forums,” Đurić underlined.

On the sidelines of the Conference, Ambassador Đurić met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Guatemala Mario Búcaro and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Keisal Melissa Peters, as well as with many ambassadors of Caribbean countries and other officials of regional organizations.

01 November 2022

The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Washington received Gordana Petković Laković, author, journalist and theatre actress who is credited with the idea of creating a literary playroom for children aged 4 to 12.

Through an interactive and dynamic one-hour game, Ms Petković Laković presented Serbian culture, tradition, alphabet and great figures of its history to the children.

Her mission is to visit, by the end of the year, 16 more US cities with organised Serbian communities, in order to promote her poetry and prose books for children and adults.

28 October 2022

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dačić met today at the Ministry with the Ambassador of Serbia to Washington, Marko Đurić, to consult on activities aimed at improving Serbian-American cooperation.

Minister Dačić and Ambassador Đurić agreed that the recent opening of the new Embassy of Serbia in Washington, just over half a mile from the White House, will undoubtedly contribute to a better representation of our country on American soil.

“The opening of the new embassy testifies to the ever-stronger ties between our two countries and the determination to take them to a higher level,” Dačić said.

The head of Serbian diplomacy reiterated the foreign policy priorities of our country and called for increased involvement of ambassadors in accordance with the national interests of Serbia, with special reference to the possibility of intensifying bilateral and multilateral relations.

20 October 2022

The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Washington and Anacostia Arts Centre, in cooperation with the Art For All Gallery from Belgrade, jointly participated in the Finding A Way project.

The project is a result of the initiative of the Art For All Gallery and Elisabeth Escobar, wife of Gabriel Escobar, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and US Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, who became a big fan of Serbian art during her stay in Belgrade.

The exhibition of works of nine contemporary Serbian artists was officially opened on 20 October at the Anacostia Arts Centre and will be open until 5 November.

The group exhibition aims to present the Serbian contemporary art scene and show the original style of each of the artists who gave a special expression to Serbian contemporary art in the second half of the XX and the beginning of the XXI century. Andon Sapundži, Deputy Chief of Mission, Marija Milošević, owner of the Art For All Gallery and curator of the exhibition Finding A Way, as well as Elisabeth Escobar, addressed the attendees.

18 October 2022

Mr. President,

Madam Special Representative,

Ladies and gentlemen,

It gives me honor to address this distinguished body once again and to discuss the latest report of the Secretary-General on the work of the UNMIK. I would like to thank the Secretary-General and the Special Representative for submitting the report. We take note of the efforts that Ms. Ziadeh makes in performing this very responsible duty, especially bearing in mind the necessity of a comprehensive overview and the complexity of the situation on the ground.

I also take this opportunity to underline that the Republic of Serbia highly values the activities of UNMIK in Kosovo and Metohija, established under UN Security Council Resolution 1244. We advocate for its continued operation in an unchanged and undiminished scope and capacity, especially bearing in mind that the Mission has not yet achieved the main goal of its mandate - a peaceful and normal life for all citizens of our southern province.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Unfortunately, the last few months have not brought more stability in Kosovo and Metohija and the situation in the Province is not exactly as presented in the report. Unilateral moves of Pristina continue to consciously and systematically deepen ethnic differences, causing discrimination against the non-Albanian population. To our knowledge, 105 ethnically motivated attacks have been recorded since the beginning of this year. In addition, Pristina is actively working on administrative and bureaucratic obstacles, by taking measures that were not agreed upon in the dialogue as the basic mechanism for negotiations and reaching solutions between Belgrade and Pristina. Pristina’s approach is problematic in many ways. This irresponsible conduct of Pristina is consciously sabotaging the efforts not only of Belgrade, but also of the EU and other involved parties of the international community, with the clear intention of achieving two goals - the first being to avoid the implementation of assumed commitments. The second, the ultimate and far more alarming goal is the intimidation, marginalization and persecution of Serbs.

In all previous statements before this this distinguished body, Pristina focused on what happened in the past while failing to mention, which is painful to witness, how non-Albanians in Kosovo and Metohija live today. Serbs are still intimidated in different ways, forced to leave their homes, villages and cities. Those displaced are discouraged from returning to where they were born and lived their lives. The provisional institutions work systematically to remove and erase as much as possible of the cultural and national diversity that is left. At the same time, Pristina is consciously fueling inter-ethnic tensions using all available methods.

Attending religious celebrations seems to be a crime in Kosovo and Methohija. It is the case of Nikola Nedeljković who was arrested for allegedly "inciting ethnic hatred and intolerance", but actually his imprisonment was for attending the St. Vitus Day (Vidovdan) celebration.

Nikola was sentenced to eight months in prison without any material evidence. On the other hand, let me remind you that even to this day there is not a single perpetrator held legally accountable for the more than 1,000 Serbs killed since 1999. Due to planned intimidation, almost all towns and villages in Kosovo and Metohija are ethnically cleansed. Representatives of Pristina are ignoring the suffering, insulting the open wounds of the Serbs who had to leave their ancestral homes, and I underline, there are more than 200,000 of them. Such conduct has not change for last 23 years and is in complete opposite to the democratic values and principles that the provisional institutions of self-government often promote in their statements.

Therefore, I consider it necessary to emphasize that the true political will of the involved international actors and Pristina is necessary in order to create the conditions for the beginning of the end of discrimination on a national basis and common life in the Province. Esteemed members of the Security Council, I would like to draw your attention to the rigid, problematic and extremely irresponsible conduct of the other negotiating party within the dialogue. In achieving the above-mentioned goals, Pristina applies the so-called policy of reciprocity, a well-thought-out, malicious strategy that, unfortunately, was not constructed independently. By continuously insisting on mutual recognition as a central part of the dialogue, the so-called policy of reciprocity demonstrates the essential unwillingness of the current political leadership of Pristina to find any compromise solution. Let me remind you that the talks between Belgrade and Pristina did not start with last elections in Pristina, but have been in progress for 11 years since the technical dialogue started (8 March 2011). Therefore, we assess as inadmissible attempts to disregard the current format of the dialogue, and annul the agreements only because they are not to the liking of the current political factors. It is unacceptable that the current geopolitical circumstances are being used to simply erase what has been painstakingly worked on for years. Belgrade, I underline, was institutionally involved in the dialogue from the very beginning, while the commitment of the other side has varied and continues to vary depending on the political option that is in power.

The harsher political rhetoric and narrative of the current leadership of the provisional institutions of self-government in Pristina are accompanied by concrete destabilizing steps. In the reporting period, measures on license plates were imposed, disguised as attempts at alleged integration into society.

Let me remind you again, there was no agreement on such measures in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. I believe, ladies and gentlemen, that even today we will hear from the representative of Pristina that their side has fulfilled all obligations, but the decision on re-registration of license plates shows that Pristina is not only failing to fulfill what has been agreed upon, but it nullifies the results of the dialogue, creating a new crisis all over again. The effect of such forcibly imposed measures is best illustrated by the fact that since the decision was made a single-digit number of re-registered vehicles with Serbian license plates has been recorded, of which only two are Serbs from the north of Kosovo and Metohija. This is another indicator that Pristina does not enjoy full support, but that, on the other hand, it continuously provokes the natural reaction of the Serbian population, which cannot endlessly be subject to the arbitrariness of temporary institutions.

I believe that even today we will hear already known narrative of representatives from Pristina who try to present every reaction of the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija as an activity organized by Belgrade in alleged attempts at destabilization. Such claims are simply not true. Serbia, for its part, cannot in any way contain the revolt present among the non-Albanian population of Kosovo and Metohija. It is an undeniable fact that citizens' protests represent a voice against many years of institutional violence and the deprivation of rights of the non-Albanian population, which, in this case, is denied the right to peaceful enjoyment of private property acquired in a legal manner. Pristina does not cease in its attempts to confiscate property, and, as is well-known, one of the targets is the Serbian Orthodox Church. By calling into question the return of property to the Dečani Monaster Pristina paradoxically does not execute the decisions of its own so-called Constitutional Court.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I thought for a long time how to best illustrate the true picture of everyday life of the non-Albanian population in Kosovo and Metohija. I will mention only some of the facts. Numerous ethnically motivated incidents, hate speech, intimidation, violations of the right to a fair trial, threats to the right to freedom of movement and religious rights, desecration of churches and graves were recorded in the last reporting period as well. The frequent attacks on the sites of the Serbian Orthodox Church are also unacceptable, and especially the humiliating attitude towards the Serbian cultural and spiritual heritage, including the 4 monuments that have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Numerous administrative and technical barriers are imposed on priests and monastic communities, making it difficult and even impossible for them to survive on church properties. When it comes to civil rights, try to imagine that the basic political and civil right to vote has been taken away from you.

This is precisely what the Serbs in the Province have experienced along with frequent intimidation and violent incursions of the ROSU special forces, which are an instrument for the implementation of Pristina's goals under the pretext of allegedly fighting crime.

In December last year Bratislav Nikolić the president of municipality of Štrpce has been detained, as suspected of the organized crime and corruption - still not charged, kept in detention unit in Podujevo, only for the reason to make additional and final pressure on the Serbian community living in the enclave of Štrpce. How can this be justified as the fight against crime when special forces are used to raid village festivals, schools and kidnap drivers of ambulance transporting infusion containers and medicines? What are the motives behind and how can one rationalize these actions? Just try to imagine and put yourself in the shoes of Ms. Dragica Gašić, the only Serbian returnee in Djakovica. Imagine that you are still not allowed to buy bread because of your origin and nationality, because you live in a municipality that the local Albanians proudly consider forbidden to non-Albanians. Imagine that as many as eleven Albanian civil society organizations demand your expulsion, as well as a ban on any non-Albanian ever returning to that town. Then you will realize the level of intimidation that Serb returnees are facing. It will be clear to you why the percentage of returnees is below 2% and why it is still one of the lowest in the world. Let me pose a question - are these the characteristics of a society that presents itself to the world as a fully fledged democracy and a factor of stability in the region?

We are aware that the dialogue has a wider dimension and that it can affect the situation in the entire region. This is reflected in every statement given by Serbian officials, including the President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić. "It is better to negotiate for a hundred years than to fight for a day" are the words of our President that best describe the policy of peace, reconciliation, and regional cooperation pursued by the Serbian leadership, which is guided by the vision of building a common and prosperous future of the Balkans. I believe that it is a duty of today's leaders to create a clear common vision for the future generations. Such a vision was shown by the leaders of Belgrade, Skoplje and Tirana by creating Open Balkan, an initiative from the region for the region, which is already producing concrete results. Serbia has on several occasions reached out to Pristina inviting it to join this initiative. We counted on an awareness of the importance of economic connectivity and progress for the benefit of the citizens of the entire Balkans. However, our invitation was not met with understating from the other side.

Ladies and gentlemen,

We categorically reject Pristina's argumentation regarding the alleged unconstitutionality of the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities. It is clear that Pristina's attitude towards this obligation reflects its attitude towards the Serbian people in the Province. It also indicates that Pristina is against Serbian people being organized as an ethnic community and thus exercising their collective rights. The aim of their approach, as a preferred model, is a community without Serbs, such as those in Pristina, Djakovica or Pec, or some similar localities in the Province. For our side, it is unacceptable that Pristina has refused to fulfil its obligations and discuss the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities for as much as 3,470 days but I assure you that, regardless of this fact, Serbia will not give up on its efforts to find a compromise solution for the current situation.

I will remind you that the representatives of Pristina, although they often repeat in their statements that the case of the so-called Kosovo is a fait accompli, continue not to be recognized by the majority of UN member states for 14 years now. If the so-called Kosovo's independence is a reality, how come that we have the dialogue? And how come that Belgrade is faced with increasing pressures as regards the need for mutual recognition? What the current political leadership of Pristina refuses to accept is that Belgrade cannot be left out in the search for a final solution. The same also applies to the case of the increasingly frequent indications about Pristina's upcoming membership in international organizations. Will these moves help to create the necessary atmosphere for dialogue? Are we, in this way, rewarding Pristina's destructive behaviour and refusal of dialogue? Our view is that the attempts of the so-called Kosovo to join international organizations are an unacceptable act and Serbia will work decisively against such steps.

During the last session in April this year, we could hear the calls of some members of the UN Security Council to reduce and even terminate UNMIK, with the explanation that Pristina has its own functional institutions. However, the circumstances I have presented to you and the situation on the ground remind us again that international presence in our southern province is still necessary. In this regard, we support the efforts made by UNMIK, KFOR, EULEX and OMIK within their mandates. The Serbian and other non-Albanian population in Kosovo and Metohija has the highest confidence in the international presence and considers it a guarantor of security, which additionally confirms that international missions need to remain engaged in an undiminished scope and capacity in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1244.

In conclusion, I would like to point out that lately in all international forums we keep hearing calls for respect of the principles of the UN. We support the territorial integrity of all UN member states. But, what about Serbia? I would like to ask the esteemed members of this distinguished body whether the need to implement the principles of the UN Charter applies only to some or all of its members? As a country that consistently respects international law and still suffers the consequences of it being violated, we believe that the UN Charter and international law, including the territorial integrity and sovereignty of states, should be respected by all and apply indiscriminately to all UN member states.

Ladies and gentlemen,

It was this body that more than two decades ago adopted Resolution 1244, which confirmed the territorial integrity of Serbia. This fact did not prevent certain countries from recognizing the so-called “Kosovo” and thus violating the UN principles, but also the resolution that they adopted, by adjusting international law to their interests and goals. Precisely because of this, the more and more frequent mentioning of the case of "Kosovo" is an indication that the precedent made opened a Pandora's box, because the strength of each principle rests on its full and universal application and unconditional adherence.

You will notice that I posed a lot of questions in my statement and I express hope that today we will hear answers to at least some of them from you, esteemed members of the UN Security Council and representatives of Pristina, because the inhabitants of Kosovo and Metohija, of any nationality, whether they are Serbs or Albanians deserve it.

All the inhabitants of Kosovo and Metohija have every right to expect an improvement in the atmosphere and the reduction of tensions on the ethnic level, which are a prerequisite for a normal life. For such a step to be made, we need constructiveness, which is not lacking on the Serbian side, genuine support of international actors. I emphasize that Serbia has always been and remains deeply committed to finding a sustainable solution by peaceful means, for the sake of peace, stability and a common future.

Thank you.

14 October 2022

The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Washington D.C. was one of forty embassies that participated in this year's Embassy Chef Challenge.

The event was organised at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and according to the organisers, this year it gathered the largest number of participants and guests.

The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia was represented by Chef Branislav Pavić, who presented the specialties of Serbian national cuisine to the professional judges and visitors to the event.

The culinary challenge was accompanied by a cultural and artistic programme. Serbian Cultural Center "Opančići" from Washington D.C., at the invitation of the Embassy, ​​presented the Serbian folk dancing.

The winner of this year's culinary challenge was the People's Republic of China.

13 October 2022

The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Washington participated in the first ever Fashion Gala, organised by the “Diplomacy and Fashion” project.

This event was attended by the wife of the President of Serbia, Tamara Vučić, Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of Serbia and Minister of Culture and Information Maja Gojković, and Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the United States of America Marko Đurić.

The theme of the Fashion Gala were designs made for first ladies and heads of state, including three designs by Serbian designers Igor Todorović and Mihano Momosa, made for the wife of the President of Serbia, Tamara Vučić.

The Fashion Gala was followed by tasting of national drinks, where one of the drink stalls belonged to the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia.

11 October 2022

The new building of the Serbian embassy in Washington was opened at a ceremony attended by about 200 distinguished guests.

On this occasion, Ambassador Marko Đurić said that he was happy and proud that the embassy building was opened in the vicinity of the White House, and noted that, thanks to Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Selaković and government efforts, this best reflected a progressive and prosperous Serbia that is a friend of the USA and other partners worldwide.

Ambassador Đurić pointed out that the opening of the embassy was a crowning achievement of the efforts made over the past two years to bring the two countries closer, and noted that in that period the Serbian caucus doubled in membership and that economic cooperation had been substantially improved, as well as that discussions have been opened in a number of important areas, such as security, culture and sports.

“In the future, we will correct mistakes and things that were wrong in the past. For that reason, the choir made up of Serbian children in national costumes, who performed the Serbian and American national anthems at the Serbian embassy in Washington, speaks of the past as well as the future of Serbian-American relations,” Đurić said.

Speaking at the ceremony, Serbian Parliament Speaker Vladimir Orlić, said that positive examples of cooperation from the history of Serbian-American relations should be highlighted, in order to correct the wrong perceptions that have been created over the past decades.

“Serbia is today developing its ties with the US based on mutual respect and understanding, and we expect Serbia-US cooperation to be taken to a higher level also in formal terms through establishment of strategic bilateral dialogue,” Orlić said.

Expressing her satisfaction with the improvement of cooperation in the field of culture, the Vice-President of the Government of Serbia and the Minister of Culture and Information, Maja Gojković, stated that it is important to present the contemporary Serbian art scene in the USA, a country that is the birthplace of many modern ideas and trends in art.

The first lady of Serbia Tamara Vučić also spoke at the ceremony and reminded that many distinguished Serbs participated in the creation and development of the USA and still do today, so that we can also talk about the Serbian contribution to the creation of the American dream.

According to her, Serbia and the USA have been together throughout history, sharing the same ideals and values, and that this obliges us today to build a stronger structure for future cooperation.

“Let the new Serbian embassy building in the USA be the place where new bridges of cooperation will be built, deepening the Serbian-American historical ties,” Tamara Vučić said.

US Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, and Commander of the Ohio National Guard, Major General John Harris also attended the opening ceremony.

Major General Harris noted that the opening of the new Serbian embassy in Washington symbolizes the opening of a new era in bilateral relations.

“As a diplomat, I am very happy that our relations are developing in the right direction, but as an American, I am also proud to say that people from Serbia and the Balkans have made a great contribution to the development of this country,” Escobar said.

Major General Harris said that Serbia and the USA share values ​​in many aspects, and that Serbia can count on him and the Ohio National Guard to convey positive messages about the future of Serbian-American relations.

“I would like to be able to say that this generation had an easy diplomatic path, that it had the opportunity to grow up in a peaceful world, but that is not the case.”

“This generation has a lot of work lined up, and a lot of it will be done in this place,” said Major General Harris.

29 September 2022

The Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia in Washington, Marko Đurić, met with the US Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, with whom he discussed improving cooperation between the two countries in all areas.

“A cordial meeting and sincere conversation with Escobar at Serbia's new home on 16th Street. Official opening next month”, Đurić said on Twitter.

“We continue to agree and implement concrete steps towards the improvement of Serbian-American cooperation in all areas”, the Serbian ambassador wrote on Twitter.

Source: Tanjug

23 September 2022

In a packed ExPats Theatre in Washington, an adaptation of the play “Einstein’s Wife” (original title “Gospođa Ajnštajn”) had its premiere on 23 September.

As the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Washington had supported this project, Deputy Chief of Mission of Serbia to the USA Andon Sapundzi addressed the audience after the end of the play. Mr. Sapundzi thanked the project leaders and emphasised the importance of giving the audience an opportunity to learn more about Mileva Marić, a renowned Serbian physicist and mathematician, one of the pioneering women in the worlds of art, science and politics, whose hard work and achievements were constantly devalued in a profession that was mostly reserved for men.

The story of Mr and Mrs Einstein, written by Snežana Gnjidić, directed by Karin Rosnizeck and translated to English by Milena Trobozić Garfield, is based on the findings about the contributions of Serbian scientist Mileva Marić to the development of the theory of relativity. The play’s director, Karin Rosnizeck, founder and artistic director of the ExPats Theatre, strives to present the works of contemporary foreign playwrights to the audiences in Washington, and to include them in the current global social debates.

20 September 2022

Ambassador of Serbia to USA Marko Đurić stated that it was very important for Serbia to point out at the UN General Assembly that the principles of international law and the UN Charter still had universal significance, and to try to gain support for Serbia’s positions on the matter of Kosovo and Metohija, as well as show that Serbia was committed to cooperation and future in the region.

“For this reason, I call on our people to listen to the speech of President Vučić, which, I can already say that, will be a unique and historically important speech, due to its open statement of the facts about the role and status of the UN and Serbia in the international community”, said Ambassador Đurić for Television Pink from New York.

Ambassador Đurić stated that, as a long-time observer of the sessions of the UN General Assembly, he could say with certainty that the Serbian delegation was to have the record number of meetings with the highest international officials, and that President Vučić would have almost 50 meetings, more than he could remember anyone having during a session of the General Assembly.

He said that there were good reasons to highlight the hypocrisy of the major countries which were looking to satisfy their own selfish interests.

“We have a good reason to point out that the principles of international law and the UN Charter still had universal significance, and highlight, as appropriate, the hypocrisy of the major countries which are looking to satisfy their own selfish interests, and to try to gain support of as many countries throughout the world as possible for our positions in the matter of Kosovo and Metohija, as well as demonstrate that we are committed to cooperation and future in the region, to give an example by extending a hand to our neighbours and fight to preserve peace and stability, and, in spite of the centrifugal political tendencies, contribute to the preservation of the principles enshrined in the UN Charter”, emphasised Ambassador Đurić.

According to him, many of speeches heard at the UN General Assembly did not contain any of the encouraging words we might expect to hear at the East River.

Ambassador Đurić said that the debate at the UN General Assembly had never been held in more difficult international circumstances than today, that there had never been this much tension, with the world’s leading powers focused primarily on satisfying their own interests, which one could even call selfish, fully and at any cost.

In such circumstances, adds Ambassador Đurić, the dialogue is not what it should be, and it is very important for Serbia to properly position itself in the international arena, as this directly affects its survival in such difficult times.

Ambassador Đurić emphasised that this was very important in a situation where the fate of the generation was being decided on the world stage in key matters, from the way that the territorial integrity and sovereignty of internationally recognised countries was treated, to the way that the energy security and stability would be ensured in the circumstances of a multi-layered crisis, and the way that the food safety would be preserved, which UN General Secretary António Guterres had talked about in his speech.

12 September 2022

First Counsellors at the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Washington Jovana Nedić and Radomir Ilić attended the ceremonial unveiling of the bust of Novak Djoković in the Serbian Cultural Garden in Cleveland, Ohio.

Made at the initiative of Alex Machaskee, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Serbia, and the Tesla Science Foundation, this is the first bust of an athlete in a garden where busts of famous Serbian scientists, painters, writers and rulers have been featured since 2008.

A work of the sculptor Bojan Mikulić, this is the twelfth bust in this magnificent garden. On the same day, Milana Mim Bižić and Alex Machaskee received awards and medals from the Tesla Science Foundation for their contribution to preserving the Serbian community in the United States.

August 5, 2022

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic spoke today with US Ambassador to Serbia Christopher Hill about bilateral relations between the two countries, the situation in the region, dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, as well as cooperation in the field of energy.

Brnabic emphasised that the preservation of peace and stability in the region is one of the key priorities and that Serbia remains committed to investing additional efforts in order to develop regional ties in all areas.

Serbia also provides strong support for regional cooperation through the Open Balkans initiative, which has proven to be an effective framework for solving issues important to our citizens.

Speaking about the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, the Prime Minister expressed her belief that the meeting on the occasion of the new round of dialogue on 18 August in Brussels will be constructive, especially in light of the current situation and Pristina's unilateral moves.

Hill noted that the continuation of talks is the only way to resolve open issues, and pointed out that the USA strongly supports the dialogue with the mediation of the European Union.

The interlocutors pointed out that there is great potential for cooperation in the field of energy, especially when it comes to projects of renewable energy sources. Accordingly, the Prime Minister assessed that energy security is a topic of extreme importance for Serbia and that it is necessary to make a new step towards the energy transition and the construction of new energy capacities, and added that in this sense we see the potential for cooperation with the USA.

28 July 2022

Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the United States of America Marko Đurić spoke in Washington today with Special Envoy of the State Department for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar about the most important topics on the bilateral agenda.

During their conversation, the interlocutors considered together the positive results produced so far as well as the continuous progress in the relations between the two countries, achieved through mutual commitment and efforts.

The importance of increasingly stronger dynamics of bilateral meetings at a high political level, the increased presence of investments from the USA in Serbia, as well as the significance of the successful operations of American companies in the Serbian market was emphasised.

The two officials expressed their satisfaction with the agreements reached and the concrete projects being implemented in the field of IT industry, energy, education, culture, and sports.

Ambassador Đurić used this meeting with the high-ranking U.S. diplomat to reiterate Serbia`s firm commitment to achieving regional connection, dialogue, and cooperation as the key to stability, prosperity, and well-being for all citizens, confirmed through the continuous activities of the President, the Government, and other Serbian institutions.

July 4, 2022

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Mr. Nikola Selaković, sent a congratulatory message to US Secretary of State, Mr. Anthony Blinken on the occasion of US Independence Day, in which he wished progress and well-being to the American states and people.

"I want to express my belief that the overall relations of our two countries will continue to progress successfully in all areas of mutual importance and in the spirit of traditional friendship and mutual understanding, which obliges us to the significant jubilee that we proudly celebrated last year – 140 years since the establishment of diplomatic relationship", the minister's congratulatory message states.

Mr. Selaković thanked the US for their continued support for continuing dialogue between Belgrade and Priština, Serbia's European path, as well as for their support for our efforts to preserve peace and stability in the Western Balkans region.

He also stated that he was convinced that the strengthening of economic ties, which are the most promising segment of our relations, would be an additional motive for deepening all forms of cooperation.

"In anticipation of the opportunity to exchange opinions on further modalities for the rapprochement of the ties between our two peoples, please accept the expressions of my high regard," the congratulatory message of the head of Serbian diplomacy states.

21 June 2022

Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the United States of America Marko Đurić stated that the relations between Serbia and the United States of America were on the right track and that he believed that they could only grow further, as well as that he was witnessing that first-hand in the daily communication with the representatives of the American administration in Washington.

In an interview with “Srpski Telegraf”, Ambassador Đurić said that Serbia and the United States of America had established a high level of respect and understanding regarding the majority of bilateral issues, that they were exchanging positive messages, and that the cooperation was developing more and more every day in many areas.

Ambassador Đurić stated that the tragedy in Ukraine was affecting the global geopolitical trends as well as the international relations among almost all countries and stressed that Serbia was investing its efforts and energy to continue, and even increase, the upward trajectory of relations with Washington in the difficult times for entire Europe, because, as he stated, that was Serbia`s desire and interest.

According to him, the cooperation with U.S. Ambassador to Serbia Christopher Hill was excellent, adding that Ambassador Hill understood the position of Serbia and was actively working on deepening and strengthening the relations between the two countries.

Ambassador Đurić announced that the Serbian Embassy in Washington would soon officially move to a new building, located only a few hundred meters from the White House and representing a historic building owned by former U.S. Secretary of State Elihu Root, which had been acquired permanently as the property of the Serbian state.

June 20, 2022

A segment of the documentary film and series "The Soul Dance", directed by Zeljko Mirkovic, was completed last week in Washington D.C.

Organized by the Serbian Cultural Center "Opančići" from Washington D.C. and supported by the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in the United States, this project was filmed in front of the White House, at the Jefferson Memorial, in front of the Washington Monument and at several other locations.

"The Soul Dance" project gathered over 60 performers from three folklore ensembles, a girls' choir, the chamber choir "Srbijana", accordion soloist Milan Mitic, Biljana Regan’s Association for the preservation of Balkan tradition and culture in the USA, as well as Saint Luke's Serbian Orthodox Church children's choir and folklore group.

12 June 2022

The Ambassador of Serbia to the United States of America, Marko Djurić, says that the first term of the President of the Republic, Aleksandar Vučić, had a defining influence on the development path of Serbia in our time.

In an interview with "Politika", he states that he has changed the paradigm and focus of Serbian politics and directed the political debate from one-century debates on ideology, identity and territory to economic and infrastructural, but also technological development and progress in de facto all segments of society.

"That is why I believe that in the first term, President Vučić made a decisive contribution to building the foundations of a new, rejuvenated and emerging Serbia. After a decade of his predominant influence on politics in Serbia, a new standard has been set when it comes to accountability to the state for all possible contenders for or future holders of state power. That is my personal opinion. However, the people gave a politically authoritative assessment of President Vučić's term so far on 3 April. The uniqueness of his convincing victory in the presidential election in terms of the historically large number of votes won, as well as in terms of him as a candidate who was the first since the introduction of multi-party system in our country more than three decades ago to succeed in the first round in such a dominant way and win again support of the citizens speaks for itself", says Marko Đurić.

What do you expect in the second term of President Vučić?

From the conversation with the President, I clearly see that for Serbia, in addition to deep-rooted love, he also has great dreams and ambitions, and the unwavering determination and sacrifice that are needed to turn them into reality. Therefore, in the next five years, I expect many changes, dramatic acceleration of reforms and modernisation, as well as continuation of hard work on the recovery and rejuvenation of Serbia. Bills for decades of wandering, various mistakes, and sometimes bad choices have come to be charged to our generation. We are lucky that in our time, a statesman capable of continuously turning challenges into chances has happened to Serbia.

What is your cooperation like now?

President Aleksandar Vučić is always there when needed, both professionally and humanely. He is more accessible to associates and all in general than people who are in incomparably less demanding positions. I am immensely grateful to him for the indicated trust and honour to perform the duty of Serbia's representative in the world power such as America, and then for his wholehearted support in all my activities and efforts to get relations between Serbia and the United States developed, expanded and improved every day. Moreover, I am grateful to him for all the professional opportunities he has given me so far, and to which I have tried to respond appropriately with all my being, sometimes grateful for his patience and friendly dedication. We understand each other and believe in the same things.

Can we expect the President of Serbia to officially visit the White House again, or someone from the top of the US administration, President Joseph Biden or Ms. Camilla Harris to visit Belgrade?

President Biden and President Vučić maintain very good personal communication. I would also like to remind you of President Biden's recent letter to our President, which may not have received enough media attention, and which was visibly more than a routine congratulation. I am convinced that new meetings at higher levels between our two countries will take place in the coming period. The personal relationship between President Vučić and President Biden, built through numerous meetings at multilateral gatherings, and during bilateral visits to Serbia during his term as Vice President of the United States, is also very useful for Serbia. During my recent meeting with President Biden at the White House, I took the opportunity to repeat the President Vučić’s invitation for him to visit our country, reminding him that the last American president who visited Belgrade was Jimmy Carter back in 1980.

What are the relations between Serbia and the United States?

Relations between Serbia and the United States are on a continuous rise and a great and mutually beneficial future lies ahead for the partnership of our countries. Our relations are based on a 140-year-long tradition, the unbreakable ties of hundreds of thousands of American Serbs with their homeland, political, economic, educational, cultural and scientific ties. We are also working together to overcome the legacy of the 1990s in our relations, and we want to return the relations to the paths of old glory.

Is it possible to maintain a neutral foreign policy in the long run?

Military neutrality is the determination of the people and rulers of Serbia, based on history, but also on the modern needs of our country. I believe in military neutrality, too. However, Serbia has not shown any claims to political neutrality since the beginning of the EU membership process. What we aspire to, or rather what we fight for and what we firmly insist on, are independence in decision-making and freedom. These are our values ​​woven into our political DNA. And cooperation with everyone. We will not give up on that as long as we exist. The Prime Minister of the Provisional Institutions of Priština, Albin Kurti, experienced a diplomatic fiasco during his visit to the United States.

Will Priština be recognised as a factor in destabilising the region?

Albin Kurti showed an enviable amount of nervousness because of the Serbian lobbying and presence in the centers where he and his like-minded people had a monopoly on the fight for support for a long time. Understanding for Serbia in the United States, just like its recovery, would be much healthier if Kurti saw it as positive for the entire region.

Is Washington's attitude towards Belgrade changing and how much?

I am optimistic about our relationship. Foreign policy of the great powers changes gradually and in proportion to each other's interests, but also to the efforts made to harmonise them. Today, Serbia is seriously working on this relationship. During my service in the United States so far, I have witnessed increased attention to and interest in Serbia, and deepening of our ties across the political spectrum in Washington.

What are the latest activities of our embassy?

Serbia now maintains relations with America not only from Belgrade, but also directly on the ground, in Washington, where in communication with the White House, the State Department and other institutions we come up with specific, our, Serbian proposals and initiatives aimed at strengthening cooperation, understanding and dialogue in a number of areas. Results of that, I would say, in this difficult time in the world, are already visible for those who follow and correctly interpret international relations. In the coming months, they will become even more visible, which, I emphasise, is very important at this time.

Are you preparing to move into the new Embassy building?

I am very satisfied with the work of my team and the fact that the presence of Serbia in the Congress, in think tanks and the political public in general, is becoming more and more effective. We strive to restore the trust of our emigrants and to arouse their interest and enthusiasm to work together with us. We always have a lot of work ahead of us, but we know what we want and we believe in Serbia. These days, we are also preparing to move into the new Embassy building on 16th Street, in the immediate vicinity of the White House. It is a historic building in the heart of Washington, which was the home of former US Secretary of State Elihu Root, and which we acquired into the permanent property of the Republic of Serbia. I am personally grateful to the President, the Government and Minister Selaković who supported the solution of the decades-long problem with the space for the Embassy in the most numerous diplomatic capital of the world. This gave Serbia a home to be proud of. We also started the accelerated renovation of the old, Serbian royal residence in Washington, which was abandoned for several decades, and whose renovation, along with gaining representative space, will bring significant savings to Serbia, just as it saved by buying a new building below market price, thus disposing of the previous expensive rents for the next period. We are really working hard in all fields, and one day, digging through the archives, someone will say much more than I can today.

Source: Politika

Belgrade, 9 June 2022

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic expressed her gratitude last night, on the occasion of marking the 20th anniversary of the American Chamber of Commerce in Serbia (AmCham), for the continuous support of this business association for the development of economy and entrepreneurship in Serbia.

At the ceremony, Brnabic especially pointed out the good results achieved in the trade exchange with the United States last year, as well as the American support for the "Open Balkans" initiative.

She underlined that during all 20 years of its work, AmCham has been a strong and reliable partner of the government in creating a better business environment in Serbia, which has greatly contributed to our country becoming one of the world leaders in attracting foreign investment.

The Prime Minister pointed out that AmCham is also responsible for Serbia's progress in the area of rule of law and independence of the judiciary, so that the economy would have security and safety.

Together, we changed Serbia and invested in its most important and strongest potentials – intelligence and creativity, and we did that through reforms in education, through investments in young entrepreneurs, startups and innovation companies, Brnabic reminded.

She emphasised that American companies, such as NCR, Microsoft, Oracle, Philip Morris and many others, but also the American administration through the US Embassy in Serbia and organisations such as USAID, believed that Serbia it is not a country of cheap labour, but a country of intelligence, talent, innovative and creative people.

According to her, in 2021, the export of goods from Serbia to the United States reached the value of €435.9 million and increased by 35.5 percent compared to 2020, while imports amounted to €408.7 million, with growth of 4.7 percent compared to last year.

The Prime Minister also referred to the excellent results when it comes to the export of services from Serbia to the United States in 2021, stating that it amounted to more than a billion dollars or €870 million, which is twice as much as the export of goods.She mentioned that we also have a significant surplus on our side in the amount of €562 million.

According to her, that shows that the relations between the two countries are developing in the best possible way, with mutual respect and appreciation, and as the next steps in this cooperation she announced investment in the field of artificial intelligence and biotechnology and biomedicine.

May 25, 2022

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Nikola Selaković sent a letter of condolences to the US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken over the tragic loss of young lives in the shooting in Uvalde, Texas.

"On behalf of the citizens of the Republic of Serbia, please convey sympathies to the families of the victims along with wishes for a speedy recovery of the injured," the minister said in the letter, adding that, in these difficult times, our thoughts and prayers were with the American people.

Source / Photo: www.mfa.gov.rs

11 May 2022

Today, in Marrakesh, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia Nikola Selaković participated in the Ministerial Meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS.

Minister Selaković said that Serbia was committed to the multilateral aspect of the fight against terrorism, adding that he firmly believed the United Nations should be the key forum for international cooperation in this field.

Minister Selaković stated that Serbia was fulfilling all international obligations pertaining to the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions, especially those related to the introduction of arms embargoes, including bans aimed at non-state actors, terrorist organisations and related individuals.

He emphasised that Serbia was a signatory to 15 international conventions against terrorism. “By participating in multinational UN and EU peacekeeping missions, Serbia is making a concrete contribution to preserving regional and global security,” Minister Selaković said, paying tribute to a member of the Serbian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Dejan Stanojević and his colleagues, who tragically lost their lives on March 29 in the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

“Serbia does not diminish the importance of other international forums, which is why it joined the Global Coalition from the very beginning, and selflessly contributes to international efforts to fight ISIS, primarily through various forms of donations in military equipment, ammunition, and training in Iraqi security forces”, Minister Selaković said.

He added that as a candidate country for membership in the European Union, Serbia gave its full contribution through active participation in European policies on the fight against terrorism, and had developed a strategic cooperation with EUROPOL.

Minister Selaković noted that Serbian criminal legislation provided instruments to prevent and punish the encouragement, organisation, and participation of its citizens in wars or conflicts in foreign countries.

He explained that the Serbian judicial authorities had completed proceedings against 7 persons engaged in foreign battlefields, and that several investigations against persons connected with terrorist activities were underway.

Minister Selaković said that the fight against terrorism, radicalism and extremism was a priority, and that Serbia was actively involved in combating these challenges and threats at the domestic, regional, and international level.

06 May 2022

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Nikola Selakovic met today with Ambassador of the United States Christopher Hill.

The Minister said that Serbia was firmly committed to communicating as substantially as possible with the US administration and building a steady partnership with the United States.

Selakovic emphasized that our country was very interested in promoting economic cooperation with the United States, while also welcoming the presence of numerous American companies in Serbia.

The Minister said that preserving stability in the region and promoting good-neighborly and mutually beneficial cooperation was the foundation and unchanging starting point of our foreign policy, noting that US support to regional initiatives was of great importance.

Selakovic stated that in relations with all countries in the region, we strived to focus on the development of economic cooperation, especially highlighting the "Open Balkan" initiative as a successful example.

The recent visit by US Assistant Secretary of State Karen Donfried, the situation in the region and the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina were also discussed at the meeting.

5 May 2022

The Doing Business with Serbia round table was held in Washington D.C. at the joint initiative of the American-Central European Business Association (ACEBA) as a continuation of activities aimed at promoting the economic potential of both the Balkans region and Serbia, which had started in December last year with the Doing Business with the Balkans round table.

The event was organised by ACEBA as a form of promoting economic, trade and investment potentials of the Republic of Serbia, with the aim of connecting and further improving cooperation with American commercial entities.

ACEBA President Eric Stewart was the event host, and the speakers included Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and Special Envoy of the State Department for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar, US Ambassador to Serbia Christopher Hill, who joined via a video link from Belgrade, and Ambassador of Serbia to the USA Marko Đurić whose idea it had been to organise this meeting.

In his address, Ambassador Đurić expressed his gratitude for positive assessments and praises of Serbia's economic progress and development so far, which had been supported by an increasingly intensive presence of foreign companies and investors in Serbia.

Speaking about the excellent and proactive cooperation with ACEBA, he suggested that ACEBA gather interested companies and organise a special business mission to Serbia — the suggestion was approved by those present and confirmed by ACEBA President Eric Stewart.

"Be confident in Serbia's full support and readiness to host a business and trade mission this autumn, which will open new doors to fulfilling our country's economic potential and further deepen our bilateral relations," Ambassador Đurić said.

He pointed out the importance of organising events such as round tables, trade and business missions as an opportunity to build contacts, trust and cooperation, as key pillars of strengthening overall relations between Serbia and the United States.

"Discussions and events like these, where new ideas, new initiatives and new ways of connecting our two countries are being born, pave the way for and provide additional impetus to our economic cooperation, while reflecting on other aspects of our bilateral relations," he noted.

Ambassador Đurić also stressed that the presence of Gabriel Escobar as High Representative of the State Department and US Ambassador Christopher Hill spoke volumes about the importance of bilateral initiatives of this kind, and confirmed USA’s support and readiness to further strengthen economic relations with Serbia.

Ambassador Đurić added that Serbia, led by President Aleksandar Vučić, remained committed to the goals of strengthening the positive reputation of the country as a favourable investment and economic environment, to the development of modern industries and digitalisation, and to the further improvement of bilateral and regional relations which — he believed — would be among the priorities of the future new government.

The round table brought together again representatives of large American and world corporations such as Philip Morris, Visa, Oshko Defence, Merck, UGT Renewables, Jacobs, Citigroup, Palo Alto, and others.

Belgrade, 26 April 2022

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic talked today with US Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Asia Karen Donfried about bilateral cooperation between the two countries, dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, regional cooperation and the European integration process.

The Prime Minister pointed out that the process of European integration and the preservation of regional peace and stability are of key importance for the Republic of Serbia, and that peace and stability are essential for the future of the Western Balkans.

Speaking about the importance of regional cooperation, Brnabic pointed out the Open Balkans initiative as a good example of connecting all citizens of the region, especially young people.

Serbia is committed to continuing reforms in the area of the rule of law, and the most important part of that work was done by adopting constitutional amendments in January this year, which is a precondition for strengthening the independence and autonomy of judges and prosecutors, Brnabic said.

The Prime Minister added that the government is committed to continuing the dialogue and open communication with civil society organisations and media representatives.

US Assistant Secretary of State Karen Donfried congratulated Serbia on its good economic results. It was concluded that further strengthening and improvement of economic cooperation is important for both sides, as well as that American companies and investments are important for Serbia, especially in the field of IT and new technologies.

Brnabic and Donfried also discussed the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.

The Prime Minister emphasised in the conversation that Serbia is open and ready to continue the dialogue and reminded that Pristina has still not done anything on the formation of the Community of Serbian Municipalities, which was agreed by the Brussels Agreement nine years ago.

In the conversation, Brnabic pointed out the good cooperation and communication with KFOR, which is especially important for Serbs living in Kosovo and Metohija.

Donfried said that the United States supports the continuation of the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. She also added that the United States strongly supports the region's European integration process.

Brnabic and Donfried also discussed current geopolitical topics.

19 April 2022

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic met today with American Senators of the Committee on Foreign Affairs Chris Murphy and Jeanne Shaheen, and Senator of the Armed Services Committee Thom Tillis.

The meeting was also attended by US Ambassador to Serbia Christopher Hill.

The Prime Minister underlined that the Serbian government is committed to strengthening the partnership with the United States.

According to her, the presence of US companies in our country is extremely important, especially in the field of IT industry and high technologies, emphasising that these are investments that change Serbia and give us a chance to keep up with the world.

Brnabic expressed gratitude to the senators for the clear support of the United States for Serbia's European path, which is one of its foreign policy priorities, as well as for the engagement in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.

The Prime Minister reiterated that Belgrade is committed to dialogue and is fully ready to continue talks with Pristina.

Speaking about the situation in the region, Brnabic pointed out that preserving peace and stability are key to further regional progress, but also to Serbia's progress.

Senator Murphy said that the goal of the visit to the Western Balkans is to discover all the ways to strengthen regional cooperation, while Senator Shaheen expressed satisfaction with the fact that US companies are participating in the construction of capital infrastructure projects in Serbia.

13 April 2022

The Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the United States of America, Marko Đurić, participated in a round table organized by the German-American Business Council in Washington.

The topics of discussion were bilateral economic relations between Serbia and Germany, as well as Serbia and the United States, and opinions were exchanged on opportunities for their further improvement in the context of strengthening transatlantic business ties.

Ambassador Đurić presented the economic and trade potentials of the Republic of Serbia as an internationally recognized economic leader of our region to the present representatives of the American-German business community.

He also presented the concept of the Initiative ‘Open Balkans’, introducing the participants to the regional significance of this initiative and the opportunities it offers to all parties involved.

The event was attended by representatives of a dozen American and German companies operating in the United States, including Siemens, Panasonic, BMW, Bank of America, Eli Lilly, Oxygen Solutions and others.

The German-American Business Council is a non-profit organization that brings together prominent companies, enterprises and professionals from the business community with the aim of supporting the strengthening of German-American economic cooperation and trade.

9 April 2022

The Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia in Washington met with the President of the United States of America, Joseph Biden, at the White House.

President Biden welcomed Ambassador Đurić in the Oval Office of the White House.

Ambassador Đurić expressed our appreciation for this gesture of respect for Serbia and our 140-year-long interstate relations, which have been showing continuous growth trend in numerous areas in recent years.

‘By continuing our hard work on economic development, reforms, integration and modernization, we are repaying what we owe to ourselves, but we are also gaining the respect of others. As a country looking towards the future, but also preserving its traditional self, the Republic of Serbia, led by President Aleksandar Vučić as the initiator of numerous positive changes in society, will continue to achieve exceptional results and build relations and bridges with the international community,’ said Đurić .

Đurić expressed his belief that the Republic of Serbia, as a responsible and reliable partner to everyone in the international community, will continue to implement the policy of regional stability and advocate for peace, prosperity, and economic progress of all citizens of the Western Balkans.

15 March 2022

At the invitation of the "Delphi Economic Forum", the Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the USA, H.E. Marko Đurić, was one of the speakers at the international conference "Southeast Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean" held in Washington.

Addressing the session entitled "Redefined Western Balkans", Ambassador Đurić spoke about the importance of strong and comprehensive regional cooperation and the strengthening of various types of economic and energy diplomacy as a foundation for preserving peace and stability.

"The Balkanization period of the Balkans is over and a new era of accord among all stakeholders in our region is beginning. We can overcome the current challenges and crises that we are facing only with solidarity, cooperation and association in all areas of common interest," Ambassador Đurić noted.

He also added that the preconditions for stability and neighbourly relations are cooperation based on economy, investments and the opening of new opportunities for associating that will bring benefits to all parties involved.

"That's our heading for a better, more stable and promising future. By pursuing it, we demonstrate that each of us individually is a reliable partner, but also that only by acting together can we ensure progress for all our citizens. It is essential to preserve peace and stability, to be committed to the common goal and to believe that together we can really achieve anything." Ambassador Đurić stressed.

He also underscored the potential of the "Open Balkans" concept, which is increasingly becoming synonymous with economic diplomacy, cooperation, and unanimity - as values whose importance is especially emphasized by the current circumstances at the international level.

"The visionary approach embraced by President Aleksandar Vučić and the highest officials of North Macedonia and Albania shaped the "Open Balkans" as a key initiative that will transform and strengthen our entire region. Our effort is recognized by partners in Europe, as well as in America, that regularly offer top level assurances of support for further development and implementation of specific projects." - Ambassador Đurić said.

Organized for the third time, this two-day conference in Washington brings together senior US administration officials - including State Department officials, congressmen, senators, as well as directors and presidents of major US economic, research, academic and non-governmental institutions.

Hosting the conference is the non-profit organization "Delphi Economic Forum" based in Athens (Greece), which is also the organizer of the DEF Conference in Delphi - one of the most important annual economic events in Europe.

20 February 2022

As of today, the Republic of Serbia is the owner of a new building in a prestigious location in the centre of Washington D.C.

The building was acquired as a publicly owned property of the Republic of Serbia for the needs of the Embassy in Washington, which has not owned official premises until now and has been accommodated for many years in rented and inadequate provisional office premises since the breakup of Yugoslavia.

“Today in Washington we wrote a small but important line from Serbia’s diplomatic history,” said Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the United States Marko Đurić during the key handover ceremony.

„Today, Serbia is the owner of the new, beautiful palace of the Serbian Embassy in the centre of Washington, just a few hundred metres from the White House. This historic Neo-Renaissance Washington building belonged to former US Secretary of State Elihu Root and has now become the new building of the Embassy of Serbia,” Ambassador Đurić said.

Ambassador Đurić expressed particular satisfaction that after several decades of living in rented, unconditional premises where not even the Serbian flag could be raised and where there was no adequate or decent way to represent the country, Serbia finally found a new home.

“The vision of Serbia’s development, which is slowly becoming a reality, is shown here, together with our desire to constantly improve relations with the United States,” Ambassador Đurić said, adding that the new building would be an important meeting place for the Serbian diaspora and the Serbian community not only in Washington and the surrounding area but across America.

Ambassador Đurić added that new home of the highest Serbian diplomatic mission in the United States is a result of hard work in Washington over the past few months, as well as of significant understanding and support from Belgrade.

“I am grateful to the leadership of Serbia, led by President Aleksandar Vučić, for the vision to support this important achievement for Serbia here in America, both financially and politically,” he said.

“Such a solution to decades-old problems and a fresh start for Serbia in Washington is only possible thanks to the results that Serbia has achieved in recent years, and it demonstrates that we can really achieve anything together, as a society,” emphasised Ambassador Đurić.

Ambassador Đurić also expressed gratitude to the American hosts from the State Department and the City of Washington, who helped the Embassy with all the necessary administrative procedures.

“I am proud and pleased to be serving here, together with my colleagues who have put a lot of effort to make this happen, at a time of reconstruction and renewal of Serbia and work on improving the Serbia–America relations” concluded Ambassador Đurić.

16 February 2022

Serbian Ambassador to Washington Marko Đurić assessed that the recent letter from 16 members of the American Congress to President Joe Biden represented a great recognition Serbia had achieved in the past few years.

Ambassador Đurić reminded that the letter mentioned Serbian success in the field of economy as well as the Serbian initiative launched by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić together with several other regional leaders with regards to the creation of the Open Balkan Initiative, i.e., free-trade zones, free flow of people, capital, and services.

"That speaks of a new paradigm of Serbian politics," Ambassador Đurić said in an interview with the Serbian Diaspora Television (TSD).

He pointed out that the congressmen's letter was the result of Serbia's new approach to institutions in Washington and the new structure of Serbian activities in America, as well as the hundreds of meetings and talks held with U.S. officials, congressmen, and their staff.

Ambassador Đurić announced that the Serbian Embassy in the United States would continue to work with the executive branch, the Congress and the legislative branch, and that the team tasked with cooperation with the Serbian diaspora, which encompasses consulates general and the core team in Washington, would continue to visit Serbian communities intensively across the United States.

"Together with the dioceses of our church, which are deeply rooted here and enjoy the most serious forms of cooperation with the Serbian diaspora, I think we are on the path to making a long-term and new position for Serbia. This will take a lot of patience, a lot of effort, a lot of perseverance."

Ambassador Đurić also called on TSD viewers to actively work with their political representatives in America and to be in constant communication with them.

"Only in this way can we manage to do something," he said. Ambassador Đurić extended his congratulations to the TSD viewers on the occasion of the Statehood Day and pointed out that Serbia had not achieved little in more than 200 years of its renewed statehood.

"When Duke Karađorđe and his insurgents started the second anti-feudal revolution in Europe back in 1804 after the French Revolution, which made the Serbs one of the leading nations in the world, we practically started rebuilding the country from scratch. Today, when Belgrade is one of the largest metropolises in Southeast Europe, the largest city between Vienna and Istanbul, when 10 modern motorways are being built, when Serbian scientists are participating in leading global projects in various fields, from biotechnology to medicine to the most state-of-the-art digital IT industries, we can proudly say that Serbia has come a long way", he pointed out.

Ambassador Đurić noted that "we have a long way to go", that our country was still being built and that we should take such a stance. "Everyone should give their contribution. Long live Serbia, and I wish you all a happy holiday," he concluded.

Source: Tanjug

7 February 2022

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic attended today in Geneva the signing of the Agreement on the Establishment of the World Economic Forum Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in Serbia, the first of its kind in the Western Balkans.

The agreement was signed at the headquarters of that forum by Director of the Office for Information Technologies and eGovernment Mihailo Jovanovic and Managing Director and Head of the Forum's Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Jeremy Jurgens.

The centre in Serbia will be the 16th in the network of centres of the World Economic Forum in the world and the first in the region of the Western Balkans.

The new centre will start operating on 1 March and will function as a non-profit organisation and a platform for public-private partnership and cooperation for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, while the focus of work will be on artificial intelligence and bioengineering.

This centre will work within the Serbian government’s Office for Information Technologies and eGovernment and will cooperate with scientific institutes, state institutions and the private sector.

The signing of this document was also attended by founder and Executive Director of the World Economic Forum Klaus Schwab and President of the World Economic Forum Borge Brende, with whom Brnabic had previously met.

Addressing the press, Brnabic pointed out that this agreement is the result of many years of joint work between Serbia and the World Economic Forum.

We started talking in 2018, signed a Memorandum of Understanding, then 2020 hampered us a bit, but we continued to plan in 2021 and here we are today, she said.

According to her, the centre will be focused on the development of artificial intelligence, biomedicine and biotechnology, and on the ways in which digitalisation can raise the productivity of companies and the entire economy.

This is what further leads to higher salaries, a better standard of living, as well as to an economy that is mainly based on knowledge, creativity and innovation, Brnabic emphasised.

Today, we have received great recognition for everything that Serbia has done in the field of digitalisation, development of high technologies and paradigm shift – from an economy that was based on labour-intensive investments to digital development. That is why this agreement shows that Serbia has been recognised as one of the leaders in the economy and IT industry in the last six years, the Prime Minister pointed out and assessed that this is the announcement of the beginning of an even closer cooperation between Serbia and WEF.

She added that they will have a joint meeting with the 16 WEF centres for the fourth industrial revolution in the world every month, at which they will talk about what each of them is doing, since each has a different focus.

That is how we will hear what everyone is doing every month, learn from each other and I am sure that the centre in Belgrade will be one of the best, the Prime Minister said.

According to her, this gives us visibility, the opportunity to further establish Serbia as an investment destination, a country good for living and investing in new technologies and knowledge.

Jovanovic said that the ecosystem formed around the centre will use the infrastructure of the National Platform for the Development of Artificial Intelligence, the Centre for Genome Sequencing and the future bioeconomic centre – BIO4 Campus.

Source/Photo: Tanjug

3 February 2022

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic met today with EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and other Western Balkan regional issues Miroslav Lajcak and US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs and US State Department's Envoy for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar.

Brnabic expressed her gratitude to Lajcak and Escobar for their personal engagement, as well as for all the efforts they are investing in the progress of the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.

She pointed out that the Republic of Serbia expects the formation of the Association of Serbian Municipalities (ASM), as well as the full implementation of the Brussels Agreement.

Lajcak said that the European Union is making great efforts so that the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina could continue and called on Belgrade to remain committed to that process, because it is important for the stability of the entire region.

Escobar pointed out that the United States is closely monitoring this process and strongly supports it. He believes that the two sides can resolve all open issues through dialogue only, and that there is no alternative.

The Prime Minister expressed her dissatisfaction with the fact that Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija were not permitted to vote in the 16 January referendum.

She called on Lajcak and Escobar to do everything in their power to enable Serbs living in Kosovo and Metohija to vote in the elections scheduled for 3 April this year.

January 9, 2022

At the end of his visit to Chicago, where he spent the Christmas holidays with members of the Serbian diaspora, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia Nikola Selakovic stated today that Serbia would deal more intensively with the needs of Serbs living outside the homeland.

"We came here not to ask anything from the members of the diaspora, but to hear from them what they expect from the motherland and what Serbia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office for Cooperation with the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region can do for them", Selakovic said.

According to him, one of the most numerous Serbian communities in the world lived in Chicago and its surroundings, which is connected by a very strong patriotic feeling and the Serbian Orthodox Church, which had been active in that area for more than a century. “I was able to see that our people here have an extremely high potential. And that is what we have to work on much more in the future, on establishing even greater national unity, even stronger ties with the motherland - the Republic of Serbia, and to work much more on promoting what Serbia is today”, the Serbian Foreign Minister said.

On the second day of Christmas, Selakovic visited the oldest Serb organization in this part of the USA - the Serbian National Defense, talked to members of various associations of the Serbian people and participated in the celebration of the patron saint day of the Republic of Srpska.

Minister Selakovic pointed out that the visit to Chicago was also an invaluable opportunity to meet with representatives of the business community in this part of the United States, who have the desire and need to invest and increase their capital in different parts of the world.

Selakovic underlined that this was an opportunity to promote Serbia as one of the fastest growing economies in Europe and a country that is the absolute regional leader in attracting foreign investments.

8.1.2022.

Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Selaković attended the premiere of the documentary "The Last Hero of Halyard" in Chicago on Christmas, which tells the story of the fate of George Vujnovich, the only American war hero of Serbian origin who rests in the country of his ancestors.

The screening of the film and the reception, organized by the Consulate General of Serbia and the Halyard Mission Foundation at the Pritzker Military Museum and Library in downtown Chicago, were attended by numerous Americans, representatives of the Serbian diaspora and the diplomatic corps.

On that occasion, Minister Selaković stated that the film spoke about the primordial closeness between Serbian people and their allies in the Second World War, and that it aroused a sense of pride and sadness because the heroic operation to rescue American pilots in Serbia has not been known for decades.

"In this way, we revive the memory of those people and show the genuine humanness of the Serbian people while celebrating a kind of our historical alliance and friendship with the United States," Selaković said.

As he pointed out, today we are witnessing what will one day be history, and President Aleksandar Vučić and the Government of Serbia are making efforts to further develop cooperation with the United States, to build a new partnership in the times to come.

"I am convinced that many forgotten pages of our common history will come to the fore only in the time ahead. This was a special moment for our Serbian community in the United States, and especially here in Chicago, and a unique way to celebrate Christmas and our alliance and friendship." Selaković said.

Minister Selaković celebrated Christmas in Chicago with Serbian diaspora, attending the Christmas liturgy officiated by Bishop Longin of New Gracanica and Midwestern America and the clergy in the Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral.

7.1.2022.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia Nikola Selaković celebrated Christmas with Serbian diaspora in Chicago.

Minister Selaković and Director of the Directorate for Cooperation with the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region Arnaud Gouillon attended the festive Christmas liturgy officiated by Bishop Longin of New Gracanica and Midwestern America and the clergy in the Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral.

The Cathedral exuded a festive atmosphere and the Serbs who were in attendance said they were pleased that a representative of their motherland was with them in Chicago for Christmas for the first time.

Speaking to Tanjug News Agency, they said that the visit would contribute to strengthening the ties between the Serbian diaspora in the United States and the motherland.

"Christmas is very important for us Serbs. It means a lot to us that a delegation from the homeland is with us," an elderly Serbian woman said.

Her compatriot, who came to the liturgy from Milwaukee pointed out that the unity of the Serbian people was important as well as the visit of Minister Selaković, adding that Gouillon was a "great Serb".

Serbs from Chicago welcome the arrival of the head of Serbian diplomacy, pointing out that the state should always be with its people, including with the diaspora.

"We are always happy when they come for a visit. We support our government, which is blessed by God and which should continue along the same line," he said.

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7.1.2022.

Serbian Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic spent Christmas Eve at the New Gracanica Monastery in Chicago where he attended the liturgy officiated by Bishop Longin of New Gracanica and Midwestern America.

After burning the Badnjak (Yule log) in the churchyard, Selaković talked with the members of the Serbian diaspora.

On this occasion, Selaković said that he was honored to spend Christmas with the Serbian diaspora in the State of Illinois, noting that in the past representatives of our country were visiting that part of the world in order to seek some sort of assistance and expressed his desire to present Serbia as it is today-a lively and proud Serbia that experienced its full renaissance in the time of Aleksandar Vučić.

According to him, Serbs are well established in this part of the United States, they have achieved many life and professional successes and are closely following the progress of Serbia and increasingly want to return to their homeland.

"It is our task to show that Serbia is a mother to her children wherever they are and that their return to Serbia is always desired," Selaković said.

Bishop Longin said that it was encouraging that for the first time a representative of the Government of Serbia came to Chicago for Christmas, where the Serbian people, although geographically far from the motherland, are faithful and loyal to the name of Serbia and Orthodox faith.

"I believe that this day will remain inscribed in golden letters in our annals here. "I have a feeling that the time has come for the representatives of the state not to come expecting support and help from the Serbs, but to come and ask what the state can do for them," the Bishop said.

The liturgy was also attended by the Director of the Directorate for Cooperation with the Diaspora and Serbs in the region Arnaud Gouillon.

The Delegation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia will also attend today the Christmas service at the Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral.

6.1.2022.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia Nikola Selaković met today in Chicago with the representatives of some of the largest companies from that city and presented the economic potential of our country, primarily the benefits and opportunities provided to investors.

Selaković stated that Serbia has had the fastest growing economy in Europe in the past two years, that, despite the pandemic, it has remained stable in terms of public debt and that it is convincingly the first in the region when it comes to foreign investments level.

As he explained, the progress of the Serbian economy is the result of numerous reforms initiated at the time when the incumbent President Aleksandar Vučić was at the head of the government, primarily fiscal consolidation but also extensive changes in the education system.

Selakovic said that Serbia offers excellent conditions for business development in many areas, especially in the IT sector which has achieved impressive growth in the last five years and continues to grow.

According to him, the fact that German companies in our country employed around 17,500 workers only a few years ago speaks of the attractiveness of Serbia as an investment destination, and that today about 74,000 people work in German companies in Serbia.

Minister Selaković explained that Serbia offers excellent benefits to investors from the USA, favorable tax conditions but also fewer administrative obstacles than EU countries, adding that companies such as Microsoft and Amazon already operate in our country, and that NCR employs as many as seven thousand people.

He also pointed out the importance of infrastructure development in Serbia, emphasizing that ten highways are currently being built, which will completely change the way and quality of life and business doing in our country.

He added that Serbia is also unique with regard to the fact that every potential investor is received by the president or prime minister and that an efficient system of protection of investments against corruption has been created, while the comparative advantage of our country is numerous free trade agreements.

Minister Selaković also informed his interlocutors about the epidemiological situation and the measures that Serbia is taking in the fight against the corona virus, emphasizing that, through concrete assistance, we have expressed solidarity with our neighbors and many countries worldwide.

The Director of the World Business Chicago Michael Fassnacht said that the citizens of Chicago were proud of the fact that the city was home to the largest Serbian emigrant community in the United States as well as of the established partnership with the twin city of Belgrade.

Representatives of Chicago companies had a number of questions about the specific conditions for investing in Serbia.

Minister Selaković also had the opportunity to visit the DRW Holdings where he learned in more detail about the economic potential of Chicago, primarily about the financial sector.

Minister Selaković arrived in Chicago, together with the Director of the Directorate for Cooperation with the Diaspora and Serbs in the region Arnaud Gouillon, to spend Christmas with the Serbian emigrant community. The delegation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also includes Assistant Minister for Economic Diplomacy Miroslav Knezevic.

6.1.2022.

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic talked today with the ambassadors of France, Italy, Germany and the USA and the charge d'affaires of the United Kingdom and the European Union Delegation to Serbia about the upcoming referendum on changing the Constitution, scheduled for 16 January.

The Prime Minister stated that Serbia has made great strides in the field of the rule of law and that the change of the Constitution is the most important reform in that area.

Representatives of the Quint countries stressed the importance of the rule of law and called for further progress in judicial reform.

In that context, they stated that the judicial reforms proposed in the referendum represent important steps in strengthening the independence of the judiciary and improving the rule of law in Serbia. That is also important in the context of Serbia’s obligations in the process of EU accession, it was concluded at the meeting.

Brnabic expressed disapproval of the position of interim institutions in Pristina not to allow the holding of the referendum in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija.

12 November 2021

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic stated today that severe examples of endangering the Serbian cultural, historical and spiritual heritage in Kosovo and Metohija are proof of the important role of UNESCO in protecting and preserving heritage.

At the 41st session of the General Conference of UNESCO in Paris, Brnabic emphasized that four jewels of the Serbian medieval cultural heritage in Kosovo – Visoki Decani, Pec Patriarchate, Gracanica and Bogorodica Ljeviska, have been preserved thanks to the fact that they are inscribed on the endangered world heritage list.

Hundreds of other sites and monuments are endangered.

The Serbian heritage in Kosovo and Metohija is of immeasurable importance, not only for the national identity of Serbia, but also as a part of the esteemed European and world heritage, she underlined.

Source/Photo: www.srbija.gov.rs

Nov 09, 2021

Ambassador Marko Đurić officially became the first Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Serbia to the Republic of Suriname on a non-residential basis.

The ceremony of handing over the credentials to President Chan Santokhi was held at the Presidential Palace in Paramaribo.

In the conversation with Santokhi, Đurić reiterated Serbia's gratitude for the position on respecting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our country, as well as for the support that Suriname provides us in international organizations.

"Serbia and Suriname have been connected for decades with universal values ​​of preserving peace, stability and respect for international law. We overcome our geographical distance by continuity in bilateral dialogue, strengthening the cooperation of our institutions and connecting our peoples", said Đurić.

He added that he was especially pleased with the fact that young people represent the most important link of friendship with Serbia, who are increasingly interested every year and apply to study in our country by participating in the "World in Serbia" program.

"I believe that a great future lies before the relations between Serbia and Suriname, which have been raised to a new, higher level today", concluded Đurić.

Đurić conveyed to President Santokhi the personal greetings of President Aleksandar Vučić, as well as the invitation to visit Serbia in the coming period.

Ambassador Đurić also had a separate meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and Cooperation, Albert Ramdin, with whom he discussed the expansion of cooperation between the two ministries, and especially the two diplomatic academies through study visits and professional practice programs.

02 Nov 2021

The Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the USA, Marko Đurić, became the first Ambassador of Serbia in Antigua and Barbuda today, based in Washington.

At a ceremony held at the governor's residence in St. John's, Ambassador Đurić presented his credentials to Governor-General Rodney Williams, thus officially taking over the duty of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Serbia to this Caribbean state on a non-residential basis.

"Today we wrote diplomatic history because we accredited an ambassador of Serbia in Antigua and Barbuda for the first time. Although our diplomatic relations were formally established only in 2018, I talked with the highest officials about specific modalities of cooperation between our countries and peoples", said Đurić.

The basis of our bilateral cooperation so far is the "World in Serbia" program, through which we have enabled young people from Antigua and Barbuda to study for free in our country, said Đurić, adding that in the coming period more scholarships will be awarded as a sign of friendship with the people of Antigua and Barbuda.

During the visit, Đurić had separate meetings with the Acting Prime Minister Steadroy Benjamin and the Minister of Foreign Affairs E.P. Chet Greene, to whom he conveyed personal gratitude of Minister Nikola Selaković for participating in the recent commemorative meeting on the occasion of marking the 60th anniversary of the first Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement in Belgrade.

Referring to the Memorandum of Friendship and Cooperation, signed by Ministers Selaković and Greene in October, Đurić assessed that the document represents an excellent platform for further joint action of the two ministries in terms of achieving mutual interests.

Economies and health were mentioned in the talks as an important segment of Serbia's cooperation with Antigua and Barbuda, and the plan for a joint fight against the COVID-19 pandemic was especially discussed.

November 1, 2021

The Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia in Washington, Marko Đurić, is on a working visit to Antigua and Barbuda to hand over his credentials to Governor-General Rodney Williams.

As a personal guest of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Everly Paul Chet Greene, Ambassador Đurić attended today the central ceremony in St. John's on the occasion of marking the 40th anniversary of the independence of this Caribbean state.

On that occasion, he conveyed to his hosts the cordial congratulations and best wishes for the prosperity of the country and the well-being of the friendly people of Antigua and Barbuda.

A large number of high-ranking officials from the countries of the Caribbean region, South America and Europe attended the ceremonial parade and celebration of this jubilee at the Vivian Richards Stadium.

Antigua and Barbuda gained independence from Great Britain on 1 November 1981, and according to the state system, it is a constitutional parliamentary monarchy and a member of the British Commonwealth.

October 31 2021

Representatives of the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in the United States of America attended the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the parish and the celebration of the Church of St. Luke in Potomak near Washington.

The solemn liturgy on the occasion of the church's celebration was held by His Grace Bishop Irinej of Eastern America, and the ceremony was attended by the President of the Republic of Srpska Željka Cvijanović, Deputy Secretary of State from Maryland, Luis Borunda, Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United States, Bojan Vujić and numerous prominent members of the Serbian diaspora from Washington, Maryland and Virginia.

On behalf of the staff of the Embassy in Washington, Deputy Ambassador Andon Sapundzi addressed the audience, conveying the congratulations of Ambassador Marko Đurić, emphasizing the contribution of the parish of the Church of St. Luke to the preservation of the Serbian language, culture and tradition in the United States.

On that occasion, the growth of interest in Serbian language schools within the Diocese of Eastern America, which this year marks 100 years of existence, was especially emphasized.

28 October 2021

Last night in New York, the Ambassador of Serbia in Washington, Marko Đurić, organized a reception in honor of Marina Abramović and the great jubilee of 140 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The reception was attended by numerous officials of the US administration, led by the advisor to the US Ambassador to the UN, Elisabeth Millard, who, recalling famous Serbs, such as Nikola Tesla and David Vujić, said that whenever Serbs and Americans work, create and play together, great things happen.

At the gathering at which Đurić, as a special envoy of the President of Serbia, presented a gold medal to one of the most important artists of today, a letter from the President of Serbia was read in which he expressed his deepest respect for the work of Marina Abramović, in his own name and in the name of the Serbian people.

"Serbia is waiting for you with an open heart, we are waiting for your new performances and new successes", said President Aleksandar Vučić and reminded that the exhibition "Cleaner", seen by more than 60,000 people, was an example of cooperation between the state and artists, and which shows and confirms a new state policy towards culture. Marina Abramović emphasized that the recognition she received from her country for her work touched her deeply.

She reminded that her art is not like painting, which everyone can see in a museum or gallery whenever they want, because behind the finished performance there must be an impression and a memory that a person will always carry with him.

She added that for her art, there should not be any special knowledge of the theory, but that it is important for every person, be he a cleaner or a president, to feel that energy and emotions.

As she says, it is important that her performance at the MoMA, which attracted 850,000 visitors, more than any other living artist, showed that this type of expression is an important and living part of art.

She also stated that she always says that everything is possible and that everyone can succeed, when she succeeded, and she comes from the Balkans, where everything was difficult at the time when she was growing up.

"Every "no" is a new beginning for me", said Abramović and emphasized that if she sees a wall in front of her, she never stops but goes further and tears it down.

Ambassador Đurić expressed his satisfaction with the gathering, which celebrates both creativity and courage, and emphasized that he believes that these two important qualities are just some of the many that unite the Serbian and American people.

"I am convinced that together we will achieve great things in the years ahead of us", said Đurić and emphasized that together we can tear down the walls in order to create the society and relations we deserve.

The gathering in Hudson Yards, a new, modern, prestigious part of Manhattan, was also attended by Bishop Irinej of Eastern America, Columbia University professor Gordana Vunjak Novaković, New York City officials, and for them, the ambassador organized a gala dinner in honor of Marina Abramović, which Millard also attended.

During the day, a promotional video depicting the ties between Serbia and the United States, created on the occasion of the great jubilee of 140 years of diplomatic relations, was broadcast on Times Square, on one of the two largest billboards rented by the embassy.

The central celebration of the great jubilee in memory of 1881, when the Trade Agreement and the Consular Convention were signed, will be held in early December in Washington.

Đurić: It is an honor to be a Serb in Manhattan

"It is an honor to be a Serb in Manhattan on a day like today", said Ambassador Marko Đurić after the reception on the occasion of 140 years of Serbian-American diplomatic relations, at which one of the most influential artists of today, Marina Abramović, was awarded a gold medal for merit.

At the reception, fantastic sentences in praise of relations with Serbia could be heard from leading people from the American administration.

"It's as if we are on the roof of the world with Serbia tonight here in New York, our advertisement in Times Square, Marina Abramović, world number one in the creative industry at our reception, our guest of honor at the 140th anniversary celebration, one of the leading figures in American diplomacy uttering fantastic sentences in honor of relations with Serbia", said Đurić for Tanjug and RTS after the reception and emphasized that all this shows that the hard work and effort that has been invested over the years to change things in Serbia is starting to reflect on our position in the USA as well.

Advisor to the US Ambassador to the UN, Elisabeth Millard, recalling famous Serbs such as Nikola Tesla and David Vujić, said at the meeting that whenever Serbs and Americans work, create and play together, great things happen.

"We dedicate the anniversary of diplomatic relations to a common history and a bright future", Millard said at the reception and emphasized that Serbia is a key partner of the United States committed to preserving a secure and stable Western Balkans and a partner that is becoming stronger on the world stage.

"And what is even more important, Serbia will be a friend of the United States for the next 140 years as well", she said.

Đurić said that he was proud to see so many successful young and creative people from the Serbian community at the reception organized in honor of Marina Abramović, molecular scientists, IT engineers, doctors of science from Colombia, professors from Harvard.

"These are the people in whom we are looking for support for our future and development", said Đurić, adding that he was personally proud, and as he added, Abramović also spoke about tearing down walls, of the Open Balkans initiative, not only because it tears down walls but because it also builds new bridges of friendship, not only in the United States but also in many other places.

Đurić added that in good and difficult times, he had the opportunity to talk about a fundamental change in the paradigm of politics and society in Serbia and the creation of a society oriented towards progress, work and prosperity.

"In the previous two days, I spoke personally with five members of Congress from the Republican and Democratic ranks, who have serious political weight", said Đurić, emphasizing that he met with four other Congressmen last week, which is important before tomorrow's hearing in the Congress on the situation in the Western Balkans.

"There will be different tones, but there will be fewer of them than usual, until there are more positive tones", he said, emphasizing that it should not be surprising that some people are worried and organize protests in front of the Consulate, because of Serbia’s work and efforts.

"We do not blame anyone, we are working for Serbia to be the country with the highest growth next year as well, which will attract the most foreign investors", said the ambassador.

Đurić added that everyone is welcome, just as the billboard in Times Square says – visit Serbia, dear friends, wherever you come from. In addition to the reception on the occasion of the great jubilee of 140 years of Serbian-American relations, the embassy rented one of the two largest screens in Times Square, where a promotional video about special ties between Serbia and the United States was broadcast.

Source: Tanjug

26 Oct 2021

The Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia in Washington, Marko Đurić, began his working week with a series of meetings with members of the House of Representatives in the US Congress.

"We have an extremely important working week ahead of us, both in Washington and in New York. Only yesterday and today, I talked with as many as four congressmen who are in charge of our region in the Foreign Policy Committee, and by the end of the week, I will have more meetings like this at the Capitol. When you want to present the positions of your country in a good way, it is necessary to maintain an intensive and regular dialogue with all representatives of the Congress, and that is why my interlocutors come equally from the ranks of the Democratic and Republican parties", said Đurić.

As the most important event for our country this week, Ambassador Đurić singled out tomorrow's reception in honor of the conceptual artist Marina Abramović and the celebration of the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Serbia and the United States.

"As the envoy of the President of the Republic, I will solemnly present the gold medal of merit to the great Marina Abramović. This decoration is the gratitude of Serbia to our world-famous artist for representing our country, as well as for exceptional merits and achieved results in the field of culture, and especially in the art of performance", Đurić emphasized.

"Apart from the presence of high-ranking officials from the American administration, a special part for our country will be the showing of a promotional video on the occasion of our diplomatic jubilee, which will be broadcast throughout the day in the heart of Manhattan, on famous big screens in Times Square", he added.

22 Oct 2021

The Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the USA, Marko Đurić, talked with Brad Schneider today, a democratic congressman from Illinois, about the intensification of the activities of the Serbian caucus in the US Congress.

Thanking the congressman for his active membership and contribution to the visibility of our Caucus at the Capitol, Ambassador Đurić underlined the importance of the joint approach of the Embassy and members of the Serbian Caucus in presenting Serbia's views in the place where the American foreign policy is being defined.

"Working with the US Congress is very high on the agenda of my tasks in Washington. I am glad to be able to state that the interest in our country is growing every day, as well as the readiness to understand our position in the regional and international context. Good news from Serbia and the region is now regularly heard in the Capitol chambers", said Đurić.

The special role of the Serbian community in Chicago and the whole of Illinois, which actively contributes to the strengthening of political, economic and cultural ties between Serbia and the United States, was also emphasized in the conversation.

21 Oct 2021

The Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia in Washington, Marko Đurić, met with the Democratic Congressman Jim Costa, a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the House of Representatives.

In addition to current foreign policy topics, the focus of the talks was on further expansion of economic cooperation between Serbia and the United States, which, as the ambassador pointed out, will gain special momentum in the coming period.

"We are in serious talks with representatives of the American administration, primarily with the US Department of Commerce, about the opening of a special economic representation of Serbia in America in cooperation with the Serbian Chamber of Commerce. The representative office would be in the format of a Serbian House, which would be a kind of a development hub for the presentation and promotion of Serbia's potential in the field of economy, energy, IT industry, technology and innovation", said Đurić.

Ambassador Đurić conveyed to Congressman Kosta, who represents California in the Congress, that this federal state is highly ranked on the list of potential locations, both because it is considered one of the key industrial centers of the United States and because of the significant Serbian diaspora that lives and works there.

On October 14, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS) and the U.S. Department of Commerce, supported by the Serbian Embassy in Washington and the U.S. Embassy in Serbia, jointly organized the first ever “U.S.-Serbia Virtual Roadshow”, highlighting opportunities in information and communication technology (ICT) and innovation.

Nearly 100 American companies, business associations, and state institutions participated in the event, including representatives of Microsoft Serbia, the Government of the Republic of Serbia, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Commercial Service section of the U.S. Embassy in Serbia, and the Development Agency of Serbia registered for the event.

Serbia is an IT hub of the Western Balkans region and a leader in software development, artificial intelligence, and smart IT solutions for sectors from finance and energy to health and education.

The positive experiences in Serbia of American companies such as Microsoft and NCR can help raise awareness of opportunities for new American investors to consider the Serbian IT sector.

This Virtual Roadshow highlighted these investment and commercial opportunities in Serbia and the Western Balkans. Trade in services between Serbia and the United States is growing.

Serbia’s rapidly developing IT sector, which employs more than 50,000 people, combined with its excellent infrastructure and geographic position in the heart of southeastern Europe, provides ideal conditions for additional investment in IT and logistics hubs for American and other European and global companies, according to Serbian and American business leaders who spoke at the event on October 14.

Serbia’s focus on digital transformation, and the innovation and development of creative industries can serve as a springboard to strengthen cooperation with U.S. companies, according to panelists at the event.

The United States is Serbia’s 20th largest trade partner, with total trade exchanges in the first eight months of 2021 totalling $590 million.

Excitement is high over Serbia’s potential as an investment hub, as evidenced by the number of American high-tech companies that participated in the Virtual Roadshow, said Nenad Đurđević, Advisor to the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia.

“They understand the potential of Serbia as a new European hub where investors from all around the world do not only open their factories, but they move their development centers there,” he added.

Today’s Virtual Roadshow laid the foundations for additional a multitude of opportunities to showcase Serbia’s talent, know-how, and innovation in the ICT sector, thus opening new doors for U.S. companies to enter the Serbian market, said Serbia’s Ambassador to the United States Marko Đurić.

“The fact that American companies are exponentially recognizing the potential of the Serbian ICT industry with a continuously growing interest in bilateral cooperation speaks volumes about Serbia’s role as a regional leader of economic growth. I am looking forward to continuing the successful cooperation with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia on intensifying our economic diplomacy activities, especially this year when we are celebrating 140 years of Serbia-USA diplomatic relations.”, highlighted Đurić.

“The U.S.-Serbia relationship is stronger than it has been in many years and is steadily improving. I am especially proud of our cooperation in the IT sector. Serbia leads the Western Balkans region in the digital transformation of its economy. Serbia’s investments in higher education have fostered a young, motivated, highly educated workforce forming the backbone of Serbia’s transformation into a digital technology hub,” said U.S. Ambassador to Serbia Anthony F. Godfrey.

“The U.S.-Serbia commercial relationship is diversified, growing, and benefits both the Western Balkans and the wider Europe region. Serbia’s technology sector is dynamic and growing. American technological expertise is well positioned to help Serbia build its digital ecosystem,” added the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Europe and Eurasia, David De Falco.

14 Oct 2021

Serbian Ambassador Marko Đurić visited the AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition, which is being held in Washington.

On this occasion, at the exhibition space of the Public Company "Jugoimport SDPR", for the first time on American soil, the Nora-B52 M15 155 mm self-propelled howitzer was presented.

"Our "Nora" is a real star at the AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition here in Washington, the pride of the Serbian defense industry", said Ambassador Đurić, adding that this self-propelled howitzer had been tested at the US Armed Forces training ground in Arizona in recent weeks.

Đurić stated that it is a real honor to be the representative of Serbia at the largest American fair of arms and military equipment from all over the world.

The Ambassador pointed out that by participating in this fair, Serbia is showing its strength and assessed that "this is not only the rise of the Serbian defense industry, but also the overall defense capabilities of the Serbian Armed Forces, given that "Nora" was introduced into as the standard equipment of our armed forces".

In addition to "Nora", other products of the Public Company "Jugoimport SDPR" are exhibited at the fair, such as unmanned aerial vehicles "Gavran", guided missiles "Alas" with a range of 25 kilometers, as well as the "Nova" rocket.

"This is a real exhibition and demonstration of the progress and development of the Serbian defense industry", the ambassador concluded.

The "AUSA" fair of products of the defense industry, organized by the Association of the US Army, is traditionally held every year and is the largest international event of its kind on American soil.

13 October 2021

Today, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Nikola Selaković, met with the Minister of Labour of Guyana, Joseph Hamilton, whose delegation participated in a gathering in Belgrade held on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the first Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement.

Minister Selaković thanked the representatives of Guyana for their participation in the commemorative meeting of the NAM, and emphasized that Belgrade was the centre of the world during the two-day conference and that the great turnout of members of the movement, observers and special guests testifies to the respect that this movement enjoys.

The head of Serbian diplomacy stated that diplomatic relations between the former SFRY and Guyana were developed in the 1980s, especially within the NAM, but also assessed that today greater engagement is needed to strengthen the political dialogue between Serbia and this Latin American country in order to determine areas of cooperation of mutual interest.

He also extended an invitation to his colleague, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guyana, to visit Serbia and expressed his readiness to visit Guyana.

Minister Selaković informed the guest from Guyana about the economic successes of Serbia, as well as about the possibilities for expanding economic cooperation.

13 October 2021

Today, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikola Selaković, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of St. Kitts and Nevis, Mark Brantley, whom he thanked for coming to Belgrade and participating in the commemorative gathering held on the occasion of marking the 60th anniversary of the first Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement.

Minister Selaković stated that bilateral relations between our countries are insufficiently developed, but also that there are potentials for establishing and improving cooperation with this Caribbean country.

The head of Serbian diplomacy stated that several agreements and memoranda with Saint Kitts and Nevis are in the process of harmonization, including a memorandum of understanding between the foreign ministries of the two countries on establishing a mechanism of political consultations, as well as an agreement on cooperation in tourism and cooperation in the field of agriculture.

Selaković informed his interlocutor about the situation in Kosovo and Metohija and the endangerment of the Serbian people in the province, pointing to today's new ethnically motivated unilateral action of Pristina in the north of Kosovo and Metohija, when a young Serbian man was wounded and several dozen injured.

12 October 2021

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Nikola Selaković, met on the sidelines of the conference of the Non-Aligned Movement with Everly Paul Chet Green, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Antigua and Barbuda.

Selaković stated that in the forthcoming period, it shall be necessary to strengthen the contractual and legal bases for more efficient bilateral cooperation, both in the field of visa liberalization and in the field of economy.

The possibilities for cooperation in the areas of healthcare, education, youth and sports, as well as the investment potentials of the two countries were also discussed during the meeting.

The head of Serbian diplomacy informed his interlocutor about the “World in Serbia” project and that the number of scholarships which Serbia gives to young people from friendly countries to study in our country has quadrupled, and that he hopes more students from Antigua and Barbuda will apply.

After the meeting, the ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the two ministries on friendship and mutual cooperation. Minister Selaković conveyed Serbia's readiness to donate vaccines against the coronavirus to this Caribbean country.

8th October 2021

The Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the United States, Marko Đurić, met in the Senate with a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Bill Hagerty, and talked with him about the importance of strengthening economic relations with the United States, as well as in our region.

Assessing that well-developed economic cooperation is a strong thread of overall bilateral relations, Ambassador Đurić informed Senator Hagerty about a number of financial parameters that confirm that Serbia is a leader in economic development in this part of Europe.

"Current data show that the inflow of foreign investments in Serbia alone is about 61%, while our region has a total of 39%. It is an indicator of the perspective of concepts such as the "Open Balkans", because such initiatives directly open new doors for the future of the entire region", said Đurić.

Within the economic topics, the interlocutors also paid attention to energy security issues, where Ambassador Đurić assessed that the interests of Serbia and the United States are complementary in those areas as well.

He added that every country today strives to strengthen its energy independence by continuously supplying energy and thus strengthen the overall economic stability and position on the international scene.

October 7, 2021

It is very important for Serbia that the European integration of the Western Balkans is one of the priorities of the US policy, said the Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia in Washington, Marko Đurić today, and pointed out that this is complementary to the interests and policy of Serbia.

Đurić told Tanjug that the American influence in Europe is extremely great, especially in the countries that are key to EU enlargement.

Commenting on the statement of the spokesman of the State Department, Ned Price, in which he welcomes the message of the European Union to the Western Balkans that the doors of the EU remain open, Đurić pointed out that President Joseph Biden spoke about it recently after talks with the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

"Also, the US envoy for our region, Gabriel Escobar, who did a great deal for Serbia by meeting its representatives two days after his appointment, spoke about supporting European integration as one of the priorities of American policy towards our region. That is complementary to our interests, to our policy", said Đurić.

Asked about the significance of the letter sent to Biden by seven members of the Congress to double America's attention to tensions between Kosovo and Serbia, Đurić said that he would not underestimate the significance of any congressman's letter, but that the time when Albanians were the only ones lobbying in Washington was long gone.

Đurić said that the Serbian caucus in the USA has more than 30 members and that the number of those who understand Serbia's position on the issue of Kosovo and Metohija and the need to reach a compromise solution that implies satisfying the interests of both sides is growing every day.

"I think it is very important that I lead a quiet but persistent diplomatic fight for the position of Serbia", the ambassador said.

He stated that he talked to Senator Mike Rounds and another American senator, but he did not want to reveal who it was.

"What’s important is that the Serbian caucus and the number of people who understand the position of Serbia and who are ready to listen to it grows", he added.

He also emphasized the importance of strategic talks with representatives of the Serbian diaspora and the Serbian Orthodox Church, and that, as he says, Americans of Serbian origin are very interested in events in their homeland and want to contribute to strengthening Serbia's position.

"These are all processes that give good results in the medium and long term, but it is important that we work and fight", said Đurić.

Source: TANJUG

October 7, 2021

The Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the United States of America, Marko Đurić, talked with Senator Mike Rounds, a member of the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

Speaking about Serbia's priorities in relations with the United States, Ambassador Đurić emphasized that our country is firmly committed to strengthening the partnership with the United States in all areas of mutual interest.

In terms of cooperation between the Serbian and American armed forces, Đurić emphasized the importance of a large number of joint military exercises and activities on a regular annual level.

He also specified that the center of cooperation in the field of defense is the partnership between the Serbian Armed Forces and the Ohio National Guard.

In that context, the ambassador informed his interlocutor that this year, in addition to the 140th anniversary of the official establishment of bilateral relations between Serbia and the United States, 15 years of cooperation between Serbia and Ohio are being marked through the State Partnership Program.

Ambassador Đurić and Senator Rounds also talked about the recent events in our southern province, where Đurić reiterated his satisfaction with the peacetime battle that our team led by President Aleksandar Vučić and Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petković, won last week.

"The compromise in Brussels is an important and significant achievement, and we are grateful to the American partners for contributing to a mutually acceptable solution in this case, but also for recognizing the issues we insist on, such as the lack of implementation of the agreement", Đurić concluded.

October 6, 2021

The Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the United States of America, Marko Đurić, talked today in Washington with His Grace the Bishop of Eastern America, Mr. Irinej.

Ambassador Đurić underlined the importance of the existence of the Diocese of Eastern America and pointed out that we can achieve a lot through the conciliar actions of the state and the church.

"The centuries-old presence of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the United States, founded by our saints and greats, is a pledge for the survival of the Serbian people in the United States, but also a comparative advantage of Serbia and Serbs, compared to some other countries and ethnic communities on this soil. Therefore, it is our responsibility to make our actions here complementary to the centuries-old experience of our Church", Đurić pointed out.

"I am especially happy about the centenary of the founding of the first diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the United States and Canada, which will be solemnly marked on 6 and 7 November in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania", he added.

Ambassador Đurić also said that in the previous months, great steps had been made in improving cooperation with the church and the diaspora with the help of local dioceses of the Serbian Orthodox Church on American soil, for which he was grateful to local bishops and clergy.

5 October 2021

The President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, attended the opening of the most modern technological campus of the NCR company in New Belgrade today, which will employ more than 5,000 people.

This campus is also the largest in Europe, covering an area of about 30,000 square meters, and it will be a center for the development of new technologies, while the total value of the investment was more than 100 million dollars.

During the tour of the company's premises, President Vučić stated that Serbia has managed to preserve a large number of young talents in the country exactly thanks to companies such as NCR.

"This is a great day for Serbia! It took many years, effort, work and energy to reach this beautiful opening today", said the president, expressing special gratitude to American partners, who have recognized Serbia as a great place to invest and work.

"I am grateful to our American friends for recognizing Serbia, this was also one of our dreams. NCR is the largest American employer in Serbia. The most important thing for us is that those 5,000 young people will stay in their country and plan their future here", said President Vučić.

According to Marija Živanović Smith, one of the company's executives, 85 percent of employees are "millennials" – young people aged 25 to 40.

The new business center of this American company was built according to the highest standards of "smart construction", and the cornerstone for the campus was laid in May 2019.

NCR is an American corporation that is also a world technological leader in providing high quality and professional support to companies in various industries, including companies in the field of finance, tourism, catering and telecommunications.

The Prime Minister, Ana Brnabić, and the US Ambassador to Belgrade, Anthony Godfrey, also visited the campus today.

Source: www.predsednik.rs

Photo: Dimitrije Goll

27 September 2021

The President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić has received today ambassadors of the Quinta member countries - the USA, Great Britain, France, Italy and Germany as well as the Head of the European Union Delegation who asked for the de-escalation of the crisis in the north of Kosovo and Methoija.

President Vučić explained the position of Serbia on this occasion. “We are dedicated to the preservation of peace and observance of the Brussels Agreement but under no circumstance shall we allow the humiliation of Serbia or its citizens”, said President Vučić.

Source/Photo: www.predsednik.rs

26 September 2021

The President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, has discussed today by phone with the General Secretary of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg about, as the General Secretary said, worrisome situation in northern Kosovo and Metohija.

President Vučić said that Serbia had not violated either Brussels Agreement or Resolution 1244 by anything, by any single move or in any manner jeopardized peace preservation.

“The complete occupation by armored vehicles of northern Kosovo and Metohija has lasted for seven days and it is conducted by Priština and everyone in the international community “are thunderously silent”, said Serbian President.

“However, everyone is worried all of a sudden when they spot Serbian helicopters and airplanes at the territory of central Serbia, because apparently they should not exist, or should not take off until they receive the approval from Kurti or someone from the international community”, says President Vučić.

Serbia observes all international agreements it signed, Serbia will always conduct responsibly and seriously, but Serbia is still asking when the formation of SMC will start and when Kurti’s armored units will be withdrawn from northern Kosovo and Metohija.

Finally, with the gratitude to General Secretary Stoltenberg for the fair relation and wish to listen to the Serbian side, President Vučić asked about the norm and international regulation violated by Serbia? Today, yesterday or any time?

The two interlocutors agreed to stay in constant touch due to necessity of the preservation of peace and stability in the entire region.

Source/Photo: www.predsednik.rs

25 September 2021

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Nikola Selaković, has stated that in New York he introduced foreign ministers of 28 countries to economic success of Serbia but also to the situation in Kosovo and Metohija, which he also discussed with the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergey Lavrov, who told him that we could count on the support of the Russian Federation, with regards to Serbian interests in K&M.

Summarizing results of his visit to New York within the session of the UN General Assembly, Minister Selaković says that one of the last meetings was with Minister Lavrov, which was their third meeting in the previous nine months.

The Serbian Foreign Minister says that he surely used this opportunity, too, to introduce Minister Lavrov to the latest events in northern Kosovo and Metohija, the situation of the dialog between Belgrade and Priština and very clear and unambiguous attitude of President Aleksandar Vučić regarding the continuation of the dialog and subsequent events in K&M.

“We discussed the principled support of the Russian Federation, which is constantly present not just in Moscow, Belgrade, in the field, but also here in the East River, by the delegation of the Russian Federation as the permanent member of the UN Security Council. Of course, we will continue to maintain this type of dialog. What Minister Lavrov said was that we could count on the support of the Russian Federation in future with regards to our interests in K&M”, highlighted Minister Selaković.

He said that he had had the opportunity in New York to hold 33 meetings, of which 28 with ministers of foreign affairs, whom he had introduced also to topicalities related to the latest events in Kosovo and Metohija, but also to our principled position regarding the observance of the international public law, territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Minister Selaković said that his colleagues at the meetings had praised the substantial and fantastic success of Serbia in the consolidation of the economic sphere and transformation of what had been on the edge of collapse and economic disaster seven years before to the fastest growing economy in Europe, which Serbia was in the past two years.

He said that most of his interlocutors had supported our reforms and expressed great respect toward what President Aleksandar Vučić and Serbia had done in the previous period.

Many of them, says the Serbian Foreign Minister, showed great interest in the manner in which Serbia organized the figth against Covid 19.

“It was a great pleasure and pride to represent the Republic of Serbia in all these meetings. Many of my colleagues confirmed their arrival to Belgrade to the Conference on 11th and 12th October, which is dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the foundation of the Non-Allied Movement”, said Minister Selaković.

He emphasized that it was not just the evidence of how much they had cared to come to Belgrade to the conference, but also to see and witness the Serbia which after several decades of attempts to fight different challenges rose to its feed, was economically consolidated and turned towards its traditional friends.

“That is a great deal and our country will surely during October be one of the spots on Earth of greatest importance for multilateralism, for cooperation among the countries which share the same values, the values entered into the UN Charter and which are based on the promotion and fight for peace, equality, observance of the international public law and rights of every country to pursue its path to happiness and better and more ordered society in compliance with the wishes of its population”, said Minister Selaković.

He said that the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov, would come to Belgrade to the conference on the occasion of the Non-Allied Movement adding that we had strategic cooperation with Azerbaijan and frequent contacts.

“We agreed to realize as soon as possible after the Belgrade conference his bilateral visit to Serbia”, added Minister Selaković.

He said that it had been agreed to intensify the cooperation and finalize the agreements which should be signed and after that realized when the meeting of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev took place.

Minister Selaković says that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had recently received its sector for economic diplomacy and there were great expectations from it and one of the tasks was to deepen the cooperation with Azerbaijan.

25 September 2021

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic warned today that Pristina has seriously jeopardised local and regional stability after sending heavily armed special units to the north of Kosovo who are exerting ` against the peaceful Serbian population.

Brnabic spoke at the general debate of world leaders, as part of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

We bring the Prime Minister's speech in its entirety:

Mr. President,

Mr. Secretary General,

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

I have the great honor to address you today on behalf of the citizens of the Republic of Serbia.

Esteemed Excellencies Mr. Abdulla Shahid, Mr. Volkan Bozkir and Mr. António Guterres,

I would like thank you for the active engagement, dedication, and leadership you have shown during these difficult times for the United Nations and all of humanity.

Serbia shares your conviction and we remain fully committed to supporting your efforts.

This year, we come together at a decisive moment in our history. Covid-19 has shaken our foundations to the core. At the same time, we are increasingly witnessing and experiencing effects of climate change. And, finally, we are seeing significant shifts in global partnerships and alliances, trade wars between traditional partners and allies, protectionism instead of openness and free market, and overall uncertainty at an unprecedented scale.

Some of the pressing and extremely emotional issues that we have locally, in the Balkans, are still unresolved and while we are trying – and Serbia is especially dedicated to this – to change the future by working together and creating alliances, through initiatives such as the Berlin process or Open Balkan, others are trying to disrupt these processes, and instead of focusing on the future, they want to recreate the past – whatever the cost of that may be.

But, let me start with COVID: COVID-19 pandemic has exposed critical weaknesses in the architecture of global governance. It has threatened to erase the progress many nations have achieved in recent years. It has placed nations at a junction between isolation and collaboration, between panic and hope, between chaos and order.

The pandemic questioned some of the basic tenets of the open and cooperative international order. Global exchanges, international communication, cross-border trade have all seen a vast decrease. Curfews, restrictions on freedom and lockdowns of entire societies have created uncertainty in many segments of the individual lives of our citizens or – for that matter – our own individual perception of what freedom in today’s world even means.

For Serbia, this pandemic threatened to undermine everything we have been doing for the past 7 years, to crush all of the results and accomplishments of difficult reforms we initiated in 2014, and to propel us back to the times of high unemployment, rising public debt, uncontrollable deficit, and overall desperation.

Much as in any other country, COVID-19 has tested our nations’ resiliency and, this time, unlike during the global financial crisis – which was of much more limited scope and incomparable in consequences to COVID-19 pandemic – Serbia stood strong. The reforms we undertook in the pre-COVID times made us more resilient than ever.

The fiscal consolidation, the budget surplus we had, efficient and predictable investment environment, became a lifeline that saved us from a recession during the pandemic and one that ensured we could support our citizens and our economy during these, most difficult of times.

Despite the effects of the crisis, Serbia has managed to preserve financial and economic stability. In 2020, we recorded a decline in GDP of only 0.9% – one of the best results in Europe. Our public debt remained below 60% of our GDP, average salary continued to grow by almost 10%, while despite the pandemic the number of people employed increased by over 3%.

The recovery in this year has been stronger than expected – our GDP will grow approximately 7%, and perhaps even stronger.

Prior to the pandemic, we have opened our borders to investment, technology, and ideas, and we managed to create peaceful and stable environment that allowed us to pursue rapid domestic transformation, with innovation and knowledge-based economy as the foundation. T

he innovative advances we had made allowed us to diversify our capabilities when the virus hit – through e-Government, online education and digital textbooks, or central software system for a successful vaccination rollout.

We invested heavily in health infrastructure and strengthened the health system in order to respond to the current crisis, eternally grateful to the health care workers for their dedicated struggle.

Our decision to put geopolitics aside, and people at the center of our policies, is the reason we were able to acquire vaccines quicker than most other nations. We did not discriminate between manufacturers, did not care whether vaccines are from the East or from the West, but chose to negotiate with all vaccine manufacturers deemed safe by regulators.

This openness gave us the ability to purchase vaccines from around the world, giving our citizens the unique freedom to choose which vaccine they prefer.

Excellencies,

Serbia believes in solidarity between nations, multilateralism and helping others when in need. Since the beginning of this year, we have made it our mission to support our neighbors, and all those in need, with COVID-19 vaccines and we have also allowed foreign nationals to come to Serbia to receive the vaccine which will protect their lives.

In total, Serbia has donated or allocated over a million doses of vaccines – of which 230.000 doses to the region; 300.000 doses for foreign nationals which came to Serbia to get vaccinated; and additional 570.000 doses to countries of Africa and Asia.

We will keep doing so, to the greatest extent possible, and until COVID-19 is behind all of us. That is why we have also taken steps to acquire the technology to produce at least two types of COVID-19 vaccines to help improve global access so we can all be safe and victorious.

However, as stated by dignitaries of some of the largest nations during this General Assembly, there are other pressing issues that all of us need to keep addressing without any delay and in a bold manner – and that is climate change.

Serbia has redoubled its efforts to make our country safer and cleaner for its citizens, and by doing so, contribute to the fight against climate change and for environmental protection. We are strongly committed to the implementation of the sustainable development goals and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. We are committed to global efforts and will continue to work actively to meet our obligations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. We are about to submit our revised Nationally Determined Contributions to contribute to this critical global effort.

We have already announced our intention to reduce greenhouse gasses for at least 33.3% compared to 1990, and 13.2% compared to 2010, which we are currently incorporating into our energy and climate strategic documents. We work strategically on planning and investments in this sector. These investments are extremely expensive, requiring years and decades of commitment and a systemic approach - but we are clearly set on the path of this transformation.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Of all the challenges we face, the most worrisome for Serbia is the maintenance of peace and stability in the southern Serbian province of Kosovo and Metohija. For more than two decades, we have been constantly drawing international attention to the problems that non-Albanian population is facing in Kosovo and Metohija.

Physical safety, respect for and protection of human rights, especially of minority communities, are far from satisfactory. We are now witnessing a constant increase in the number of attacks targeting Serbs, their property and religious heritage in Kosovo and Metohija.

To illustrate, there were 55 such incidents in 2014, 62 in 2016, 71 in 2020, and 100 since the beginning of this year. The total number of attacks in 2020 has already been surpassed by June of this year.

According to the UN, Kosovo and Metohija is still the territory with the least number of returnees (internally displaced Serbs) of all post-conflict areas in the entire world! I will give you just a few examples to depict how life of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija looks like.

On the 11th of May the house of Radoje Pumpalović, 81-years old returnee to Kosovo in the village of Dubrava, in Istok municipality, was attacked. This was the 5th attack on him in the same year. Again… he is 81 years old.

Since June 2021, multiple attacks were carried out against Dragica Gašić, 59-years old woman, the first Serb returnee in Đakovica after 22 years since the end of the conflict. Attacks include stoning of her apartment, banning her from shopping for food in the local store and petitions by civil society organization demanding her eviction from the city.

On 2nd of July, in the village of Gobulji near Vučitrn, a group of Albanians attacked 13-year old Nikola Perić. The attack occurred when he was returning home from the school playground with three friends.

Attacks on Serbian medieval churches, monasteries and monuments in Kosovo and Metohija, make them some of the most endangered cultural heritage sites in Europe.

onastery Visoki Dečani was recently listed, by Europa Nostra, as one of the 7 Most Endangered Heritage Sites in Europe in 2021. The Advisory Panel of Europa Nostra noted that Dečani is the only monument in Europe under robust military protection for a continuous period of 20 years, although it constitutes a monument of ultimate historical and cultural importance for Europe and the world.

This spiral of violence occurring in Kosovo and Metohija culminated at the beginning of this week. On the pretext of enforcing new license plate rules, Priština dispatched heavily armed special units to the north of the province.

This is yet another brutal violation of the Brussels Agreement, and this irrational show of force has ignited a major crisis. It disrupted the supply of food and medication to Serb communities in the north of the province.

Local Serbs who peacefully gathered to protest this measure were met with tear gas and police brutality, thus seriously threatening local and regional stability.

Despite of all the challenges and daily provocations, Serbia remains strongly committed to finding a compromise-based solution that will ensure lasting peace and stability.

Dialogue and the implementation of the agreements reached – are the only proper way to resolve all open issues. However, almost 9 years after reaching the Brussels Agreement, as the 1st agreement on normalization between Belgrade and Priština, the establishment of the Community of Serb Municipalities – the backbone of this agreement – has not yet even begun.

I would like to appeal, once again, to the international community, and especially the European Union, as the guarantor of the Brussels Agreement, to firmly insist that the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government in Priština start implementing all of the agreements reached.

The Republic of Serbia, by defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity, at the same time defends international law, the UN Charter, legally binding UN Security Council Resolution 1244, and the supreme authority of the Security Council when it comes to the preservation of international peace and security.

We attach special importance to the activity of the UN mission in Kosovo and Metohija and expect it to continue to implement its mandate in the Province in accordance with this resolution.

Dear friends,

Our generation shares the common destiny of the modern world, which is becoming increasingly complex in terms of geopolitics, technology, health, climate.

In the face of these challenges, Serbia will continue nurturing international partnerships, on a predictable and transparent basis.

e will continue pursuing the rule of law reforms on our EU path, which is our strategic foreign policy goal. We see this as inseparable from achieving sustainable peace, stability and prosperity.

We will host, together with the Republic of Azerbaijan as the current chair of the Non-Aligned Movement, a commemorative high-level event marking the 60th anniversary of the First Non-Aligned Movement Conference, which was held in Belgrade in 1961.

We are very much looking forward to hosting our friends from all parts of the world in Belgrade in October this year.

We will further enhance cooperation across the Balkans, through the Open Balkan initiative and Berlin process, by opening borders, harmonizing differences, and further integrating our region.

In conclusion,

Over the past 7 years, Serbia has been transformed: we sparked an economic revival, created opportunities for young people, cultivated a tech boom, and improved Serbia’s position abroad.

The progress we have made has allowed Serbia to better face and survive the pandemic.

The world now faces a turning point. The recovery from COVID-19 and sustainable reconstruction will not proceed if issues, new and old, are not handled by joint forces and collaborative international actions.

This pandemic taught us one important lesson: unless all of us are safe, no one is safe – so we can either win together, all of us – regardless of how rich or poor, large or small, from Europe, Asia, Africa, America or Australia, or fail together.

But, if anything, the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the issue of climate change, should have taught us to stand together.

Thank you.

Source: www.srbija.gov.rs

23 September 2021

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikola Selaković, has discussed in New York today with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Barbados, Jerome Walcott.

On this occasion Selaković said that Serbia was interested in the establishment of a positive dynamics in the political dialog of the two countries and that visits of the top and high-level officials would greatly contribute to that.

The Minister expressed hope that Barbados would participate at the gathering in the capital of Serbia on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the First conference of the Non-Allied Movement in Belgrade.

According to words of Minister Selaković, Serbia is committed to the improvement of the economic cooperation with Barbados and he introduced his interlocutor to economic and infrastructural potentials and success of Serbia.

The Serbian Foreign Minister informed the Minister of Barbados on the current situation in K&M and most recent activities of Priština. He stated that Serbia was committed to the dialog and search for a compromised solution while the other side was the one who did not want a constructive conversation and persistently refused what had been agreed by the Brussels Agreement.

Selaković said that within the program “World in Serbia” one scholarship had been offered to Barbados citizens for studying in Serbia, but we were ready to offer more scholarships if there was interest in this.

The interlocutors exchanged information also on the situation caused by coronavirus in both countries and Selaković introduced the Minister to the beginning of the production of Covid-19 vaccine in Serbia.

Further activities of Serbia in the organizations of this region where our country has the status of the observer, such as the Organization of American States, Caribbean community – CARICOM, Association of Caribbean states were also discussed.

The meeting was also attended by the Ambassador of Serbia in the USA, who covers Barbados on a non-residential basis.

23 September 2021

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikola Selaković, has met in New York today with the President of the American Jewish Committee, David Harris.

The interlocutors stated that the friendship of the Jewish and Serbian people was honest and traditional.

Selaković emphasized that Serbia was the first European country to adopt the Law on Remedying Consequences of Seizure of Assets from Holocaust Victims. Moreover, he reminded that Serbia was the first country to support Balfour Declaration from 1917.

The Minister said that he was pleased with the fact that the Israel business community was present in Serbia at a very high level.

The Serbian Foreign Minister stated that the USA was one of the most important foreign trade partner of Serbia and that the engagement of Ambassador Đurić strengthened those connection in the year when we celebrated 140th anniversary of bilateral relations of our two countries.

The Minister emphasized that Serbia wanted to have the best relations with the USA as well as their improvement, especially in the field of economy and increase of US investments in Serbia.

Selaković introduced his interlocutor to the success of economic reforms of Serbia in the past seven years emphasizing that Serbia was the promoter of a positive agenda in the region.

According to his words, it primarily referred to “Open Balkans” initiative. Selaković said that economy might relax political relations and highlighted the gratitude of Serbia to the USA for the support to this initiative.

The meeting was also attended by the Ambassador of Serbia in the USA Marko Đurić.

22 September 2021

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikola Selaković, has met in New York today American Congressman Eric Swalwell.

Minister Selaković informed Congressman Swalwell on the dedication of Serbia to European integrations and reform process of our country emphasizing the results of economic reforms achieved in the previous seven years.

Selaković thanked Congressman Swalwell for the positive standpoint, dedication and true friendship.

The interlocutors discussed also the investments in Serbia and partnership of Serbia and the USA.

The Serbian ForeignMinister introduced the Congressman on the current situation in Kosovo and Metohija emphasizing the dedication of Serbia to the dialog and peaceful and compromised solution to open issues.

Selaković added that the regional stability is the key interest of Serbia.

The Minister informed the interlocutor on the “Open Balkans” initiative and promotion of the freedom of movement of people, goods and capital in the region.

The meeting at the building of the Serbian Mission at the UN was also attended by the Ambassador of Serbia in the USA, Marko Đurić, Head of the Serbian Mission at the UN, Nemanja Stevanović and the General Consul of Serbia in Chicago, Damjan Jović.

22 September 2021

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic participated today at the Global COVID-19 summit, organised by the White House, which was opened by US President Joseph Biden.

The video messages are attended by a large number of world leaders and officials of international organizations, including UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, British and Canadian Prime Ministers, Boris Johnson and Justin Trudeau, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and many others.

In the message, the Prime Minister pointed out that Serbia was among the first European countries to procure a covid vaccine, and that she was the first European Prime Minister to receive the vaccine.

Thanks to years of investment in digitalisation and development of eGovernment, we have managed to organise a complicated and complex vaccination process very efficiently and in a way that it is focused on citizens, she explained.

However, as she added, from the very beginning we were aware that this is not just a matter of our citizens and only our struggle. In the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, we are all safe or no one is safe.

That is why, in addition to procuring vaccines for our citizens, we donated vaccines to the citizens of the Western Balkans, but also to other countries, she reminded and specified that Serbia donated 230,000 doses of vaccines to the region, we vaccinated foreign citizens in Serbia with approximately 300,000 doses and set aside we have 570,000 doses of vaccines for countries in Africa and Asia.

Brnabic mentioned that Serbia has already started the production of covid vaccine from one manufacturer, and that it will start production from another by the end of the year, because in that way we want to help and support all people and countries that need vaccines.

This is a pandemic in which we will either win together or lose together, but we must fight together, the Prime Minister repeated.

That is why Serbia supports the goals of this global summit, she emphasised, and expressed her gratitude to the United States of America and President Biden for organising the summit and supporting joint efforts in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vaccines are the only way out in the fight against the pandemic, concluded Brnabic.

5 August 2021

The President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, met with the Congressmen of the United States of America, Eric Swalwell and Sean Maloney today, with whom he discussed the development of bilateral relations, as well as stability in the Western Balkans region.

President Vučić pointed out the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation and improving overall relations with the United States, and especially the importance of improving economic cooperation between the two countries.

"Serbia wants to establish better relations with the United States", said President Vučić. The two congressmen said that they came to visit Serbia encouraged by the economic results, with the intention of encouraging American investors to invest more in our country.

Congressmen Swalwell and Maloney expressed support for the "Open Balkans" regional initiative, which they saw as a great opportunity for the progress of the Western Balkans.

President Vučić said that the initiative was open to others in the region and that regional economic cooperation and interconnection were the basis for peace and stability.

President Vučić informed the American congressmen about the results that Serbia has achieved in terms of vaccination.

The delegation of the US Congress welcomed the solidarity that Serbia has shown by helping the citizens of the region, as a responsible neighbor, with donations of vaccines. He thanked for the help of the USA so far in the fight against the pandemic, especially having in mind the fact that the USA is currently one of the countries most affected by this virus in the world.

President Vučić reminded his interlocutors that this year marks the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Serbia and the United States, expressing hope that we will have the opportunity to adequately mark this important jubilee, despite the restrictive circumstances caused by the pandemic.

Source: www.predsednik.rs

Photo: www.predsednik.rs

5 August 2021

The President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, attended the marking of Remembrance Day of all the victims and expelled Serbs in the armed operation "Storm" and said that Serbia remembers!

"Today, when we remind ourselves again of what happened in August 1995, the terrible pogrom, the expulsion of more than 250,000 Serbs, the exodus and ethnic cleansing, we, at the same time, and finally, remind ourselves of who we are, what we are, where we come from and where we are going. Thank you all for being here together tonight and for showing how much we love our people", said President Vučić, adding that we will not forget any of the things that the Krajina people had to go through.

"For us, these are not just terrible numbers of victims", said President Vučić and emphasized that Serbia will not forget.

"History has never been rewritten like today. That is why I want to remind us all not only of what others have done to us, not wanting us to exist, but also of what we have done to ourselves, just as if we ourselves did not want to exist", said the President, noting that we must never again allow Serbia to forget its silent heroes.

President Vučić emphasized that we must never again cover our eyes, ears, and mouths in front of something that truly was a pogrom and the downfall of all humanity.

"Pretending that this is not true, avoiding saying it, is a crime not only against the victims, but also against ourselves, every living Serb, people from Krajina, as well as Serbia and its future", said President Vučić and underlined that people can stand up straight and live with themselves and the others without hesitation, fear and doubt, only if they remember.

President Vučić pointed out that Serbia must fight for peace and cradles with children, as well as that not remembering annuls and erases us from the history and the future, depriving us of the right to tomorrow.

"Our mission is a happy future for us and for the new generations! Today's Serbia is based on a clear identity and a culture of remembrance", said President Vučić and reminded that everything that had been neglected for decades had been done, and that a strong Serbia has become the master of its own destiny.

"Eternal glory to you, Serbian martyrs who perished in the "Storm" and all other pogroms. Your children are in their Serbia, taken care of, loved and successful. Sleep peacefully, Serbian falcons, the future of your children is our vow", concluded President Vučić and thanked everyone who showed that night how much they love their country and that Serbia remembers.

Source: www.predsednik.rs

Photo: www.predsednik.rs

Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Selaković made a decision on announcing a competition for co-financing of projects that contribute to the preservation and strengthening of ties between the home country and the diaspora, as well as the home country and Serbs in the region.

For information on the announced competitions, see the following links:

https://mfa.gov.rs/

https://www.dijaspora.gov.rs/uprava-za-dijasporu-konkursi/

2 August 2021

The President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, met today with the representatives of the company UGT Renewables LLC, after which an Agreement on Cooperation was signed between the Ministry of Mining and Energy of the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the representatives of this company.

President Vučić said that this Agreement is the beginning of a new era and an important step into the future for the energy security of our country, but also one of the projects of crucial importance for economic development and success within the green agenda of Serbia.

After the signing of the Agreement, the President emphasized that it is important to have as many renewable energy sources as possible and that talks on the conditions are now to follow, and he expressed confidence that "the best possible agreement will be reached, which is crucial for the success of our country within the framework of the green agenda".

The President said that the construction of solar panels on an area of about 2,000 hectares and a dozen locations throughout Serbia was being negotiated with the American company, which would provide an additional gigawatt of electricity and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1.9 million tons per year.

"A big and important thing for Serbia, I believe that this will contribute to the further interest of energy and innovative companies to invest in our country", the president pointed out, adding that after the signing of the contract, the construction would take about two years.

"This is a great investment, that contributes to the economic growth of Serbia", President Vučić emphasized and added that in this way, Serbia will reform and modernize the energy sector.

The President pointed out that this project creates new opportunities for attracting other investors, who see the arrival of American investors as a positive signal.

The agreement was signed by Zorana Mihajlović, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Mining and Energy, and Peter Goodall, CFO at UGT Renewables LLC.

The signing was also attended by US Ambassador Anthony Godfrey.

Source: www.predsednik.rs

Photo: Tanjug/Zoran Žestić

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia is co-financing projects which contribute to preserving and strengthening ties between the Republic of Serbia and the Serbian diaspora.

All relevant information concerning the abovementioned projects is available on the following web sites:

https://www.mfa.gov.rs/

https://www.dijaspora.gov.rs/lat/uprava-za-dijasporu-konkursi/

21 July 2021

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic stated today in New York that our country has been given the opportunity to cooperate with one of the most powerful investment groups in the world, Goldman Sachs, which it will use.

Brnabic, who talked with Goldman Sachs President David Solomon, during her working visit to the USA, emphasised that the presence of Goldman Sachs gives a completely different level of respect and credibility of the country.

We tried to bring Goldman Sachs to Serbia, it seems that we have succeeded for now, on a small scale, they do not come just like that, they are not present in the region. We managed to agree to have a small joint project to make sure that everything we talk about is really like that, and when you open the door and show yourself, it is a different perspective, she explained.

The Prime Minister noted that she could not give details of the talks on the project that were discussed at the meeting. She pointed out that the meeting was at a completely different level than in 2014. Namely, this group will now be present as Goldman Sachs and develop some segment of its business in Serbia. It was an excellent, but difficult meeting, said Brnabic and added that this group knows everything about Serbia – how much we have changed, how serious and credible we are, they appreciate all that.

According to her, Serbia will continue to fight for the cooperation with Goldman Sachs to move to an even higher level.

The Prime Minister also expressed satisfaction with the results of the talks she had with entrepreneurs in the field of IT gathered in the organisation "Serbian Entrepreneurs", which helped her to have numerous meetings in the USA.

She said that she expects three or four new investments from the working meetings during her visit to the United States, which will bring at least 120 new jobs that will be created in the next year.

The Prime Minister emphasized that from the most important centre of the world, she received confirmation that everything we are doing and planning is on the right path, noting that all those who have already invested in Serbia have stated that we are another country compared to what they saw six years ago, and that it is an incredible step forward.

Source: www.srbija.gov.rs

Photo: www.srbija.gov.rs

20 July 2021

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia, Ana Brnabić, stated at a gathering dedicated to digitalization and the IT sector, which was held in New York, that since she became Prime Minister, she is most proud of Serbia's success in the field of digitalization.

Brnabić, who is on a two-day visit to the United States, said that when she was elected Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government in August 2016, she wanted to do everything to change the public administration and what bothered her as a citizen.

She stated that, when she took office as Prime Minister, she knew what her priorities were and that first of all, digitalization needed to be raised to a higher level, that the education reform was supposed to begin, as well as work on strengthening the economy. I believed in a country that believes in its people, because the Serbian people are creative.

From 1 June 2017, we started working as an e-Government, i.e. we started exchanging data electronically, said the Prime Minister. According to her, our citizens no longer had to go to, say, the Tax Administration, and since then, the public administration has exchanged 50 million documents, which means that citizens did not have to go from office to office for 50 million papers.

Brnabić pointed out that she is proud of what has been done in the field of education since she became the head of the Government, specifying that in September 2017, programming was introduced as a compulsory subject in primary schools. Nobody believed that we could do that, but we cooperated with the private sector and some social organizations and we succeeded. At the moment, we are far ahead of numerous countries in Europe and the world, said the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister pointed out that she was most proud when the cornerstone was laid for the science and technology park in southern Serbia, noting that so far, our country has four science and technology parks. She pointed out that Serbia has since become one of the most successful countries in the world in the field of technology, and that according to some parameters, it is among the ten countries in the world, or among the five, assessing that this is proof that the country can change quickly.

Answering the question about vaccination, the Prime Minister emphasized that our country has never seen it as a geopolitical issue, but as a health issue. According to her, Serbia talked with producers from both the East and the West and was among the first European countries to sign agreements with the company Pfizer-BioNTech and Sinopharm. Unfortunately, many countries have viewed this issue as geopolitical. It did not matter to us, as long as the vaccines were safe, the Prime Minister emphasized and added that this was not the end of Serbia's success, because good organization was also needed.

Brnabić explained that the organization is another important thing in vaccination, because it is a logistically very difficult process, adding that, with the help of digitalization, success has been achieved and that everything we did in the previous years has paid off. She stated that Serbia quickly established a system through which citizens could express interest in vaccination against the coronavirus and choose which vaccine they wanted to receive, as well as to be informed by a message when to go and get vaccinated.

Now I can log in on my phone, to see how many people have received the vaccine, how many more have registered, so that the effects of digitalization are obvious. We have made everything very efficient and easy for our citizens, the Prime Minister explained.

Answering the question of what she can tell other countries of the world about how to progress faster, Brnabić said that it is important to invest as much as possible in digitalization and education. You need to teach children how to think, not what to think. Not all children will become IT experts, but what they can learn is an algorithmic way of thinking and how to make decisions, she said.

The Prime Minister mentioned investing in high-speed internet and providing infrastructure for start-ups as an important thing for progress, because more and more economies will be based on start-ups and innovations, emphasizing that people should be helped to start companies and implement their ideas.

Speaking about social networks, she pointed out that fake news has become the biggest problem on these networks and that it will remain so for some time. This is the biggest challenge I face as Prime Minister, especially during the corona virus pandemic, she said, adding that social networks are also a great opportunity for politicians to communicate with citizens.

Source: www.srbija.gov.rs

Photo: www.srbija.gov.rs

20 July 2021

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic stated today that the result of the first day of talks with the representatives of American companies in New York was the announcement of three or four new investments in Serbia.

Brnabic, who is on a two-day visit to the United States, said after a meeting with more than 50 members of the New York branch of Young Presidents Organisations, that she is extremely pleased with the meetings in New York, where investments or investment funds were announced for our companies and for our young talents.

The Prime Minister pointed out that she was very well received and that the participants in the meeting announced that they would come to Serbia and that they would redirect the investments they planned to other parts of the world, such as India, to our country.

Brnabic pointed out that they are interested in investing in the IT sector, startup companies, biotechnology and biomedicine, explaining that these investments are not classic, but investment funds.

She expressed satisfaction that the leaders of the blockchain company Guilded, with whom she had previously talked, expressed interest in Serbia and its position in the field of blockchain – the latest technology that provides a high level of data protection and guarantees transactions without the possibility of abuse. In the years to come, Guilded will be one of the largest and most advanced companies.

If we bring them to Serbia, we will succeed in positioning ourselves on the world market in financial technologies, gold trade and the digital sphere, the Prime Minister emphasised. As she pointed out, representatives Guilded were impressed by what Serbia has done in the field of e-government, but also by the position in the field of blockchain.

The Prime Minister stated that they expressed interest in our data storage capacities and our Data Centre in Kragujevac.

If we finish everything started today, they will come to Serbia or keep their data in our country, said Brnabic, emphasizing that it would be of great importance for our country.

The Prime Minister expressed her gratitude to our diaspora and the organisation "Serbian Entrepreneurs", which helped organize the meetings.

Today, the Prime Minister continues talks with representatives of American companies, and one of the most important will be with the leaders of the largest investment bank, not only in the United States but also in the world, Goldman Sachs.

Source: www.srbija.gov.rs

Photo: www.srbija.gov.rs

13 July 2021

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, Nikola Selaković, spoke at the Ministerial Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) today and on that occasion sent an invitation to the representatives of the members to gather in Belgrade on 11 and 12 October, when the 60th anniversary of the first Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement held in Belgrade in 1961 will be marked.

Selaković informed the participants of the conference that Serbia would organize this important jubilee of non-aligned countries together with Azerbaijan – which is currently chairing the NAM.

In his address, Selaković reminded that the former Yugoslavia and President Tito, as co-founders of the Movement, gave their contribution to creating a vision of a different world, and that Serbia, as one of the successors of Yugoslavia, is proud of that part of its history.

"The spirit of non-alignment is based on equality, freedom, lasting peace, sovereign equality of states and peaceful cooperation of all peoples, and these values are also woven into the state-building foundations of Serbia", the minister said.

Selaković said that the Non-Aligned Movement throughout its history has been a beacon of freedom to all those who sought the right to existence and prosperity in a world that was often ruled, not by the force of law, but by the law of force.

He assessed that even today we find ourselves in times of serious global challenges in which the Movement has the opportunity to reaffirm its libertarian traditions and commitment to a world of equals.

"Serbia, as a militarily neutral and politically independent state, will give its most sincere contribution to such goals of the Movement. We hope that by strengthening mutual ties and cooperation, as a group of states and peoples that share the same values and interests, we will strengthen our common capacity to face the challenges of tomorrow. And the challenges are already before us", Selaković pointed out.

The Minister emphasized that international law should be a pillar of political and security architecture of the world, and added that Serbia respects the commitment of the members of the Movement towards the goals and principles of the UN Charter.

"Many members of this movement are aware that by insisting on international law, they are working in their own favor and in favor of preserving regional and global stability," the minister pointed out.

Selaković also said that the COVID-19 pandemic clearly showed that inequality, lack of solidarity and empathy in the world have become very obvious in the roughest way.

"Serbia is eternally grateful to all the countries which, such as Azerbaijan, helped us in difficult times. We later extended that chain of solidarity by making vaccines available, not only to our citizens, but also to others in the region. We supported our neighbors with the belief that solidarity is the best investment in a common future", the minister concluded.

July 12, 2021

The President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, and the Prime Minister, Ana Brnabić, received today, at separate meetings, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Diplomacy Kurt Donnelly, with whom they discussed cooperation between the two countries in the field of energy.

President Vučić pointed out that it is important for Serbia to ensure energy security, i.e. a continuous supply of energy sources, for which the needs are growing.

American diplomat Donnelly said that for President Biden's administration, energy is one of the key issues in the economy, but also in foreign policy, considering that the United States want to be a global leader in the fight against climate change and encourage Serbia to be ambitious on this issue.

In this regard, President Vučić said that four laws in the field of mining and energy have been passed, which enable energy transition and contribute to achieving the goal of climate neutrality by 2050. He also stated that Serbia is commited to diversifying the sources and directions of gas supply.

The two interlocutors also discussed possible joint projects in the field of energy, as well as other issues of bilateral cooperation.

At the meeting with the Prime Minister of Serbia Ana Brnabić, energy efficiency was discussed, as well as energy security and the transition to a green economy.

Brnabić pointed out that Serbia has adopted important laws in the field of mining and energy, which will significantly affect the "green transition", as well as that significant funds are being invested in the installation of filters in Serbian factories, which should reduce air and environmental pollution, given that citizens care about their living environment.

Donnelly pointed out that the new US administration has set the field of energy among its main goals, and that the focus is on energy security and the concept of energy justice, in order for the citizens around the world to have enough energy and to create conditions for creating new and better jobs and job positions.

04 July 2021

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, Nikola Selaković, congratulated US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Independence Day, emphasizing that the improvement of all forms of cooperation with the United States is one of the foreign policy priorities of the Republic of Serbia.

"On the occasion of the United States Independence Day, on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia and on my own behalf, I would like to send you my most sincere congratulations and best wishes for the prosperity of your country and the well-being of American citizens", Selaković said in his congratulatory message.

Minister Selaković reminded that this year, Serbia and the United States of America mark the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, and that our two countries were allies in crucial moments in history, guided by faith in truth, justice and progress.

Selaković pointed out that more than a century ago, the Serbian flag fluttered over the White House and that many American citizens, in the difficult days that Serbia went through during and after the Great War, expressed support for the Serbian people worthy of admiration, which is why their charities remained deeply rooted in the memory of our people.

"I use this opportunity to express my high gratitude to the United States for supporting the process of European integration of the Republic of Serbia, as well as for the fact that we are recognized by your country as the economic engine of the Western Balkans", Selaković said.

The Minister also expressed satisfaction with the fact that in the previous period, concrete steps were taken to strengthen and deepen our bilateral cooperation, emphasizing the fact that the regional office of the International Development Finance Corporation was opened in Belgrade, which will contribute to a stronger economic presence of the United States in our country, as well as in the region.

29th June 2021

President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić participated today via a video link in the conference "Mini Schengen" with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania, Edi Rama, and the Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia, Zoran Zaev.

The officials discussed further steps in regional cooperation, as a process vital to the progress of the Western Balkans and the European path as a whole.

The interlocutors agreed that the countries of the Western Balkans need membership in the European Union, but also that the European Union needs the Western Balkans just as much since the region is surrounded by EU borders and the countries aspiring to membership share common European values.

The President of Serbia and the Prime Ministers of Albania and North Macedonia have expressed the wish that the four European freedoms - the movement of people, goods, services and capital, begin to be implemented as soon as possible throughout the region, and that in this context they will provide full support to the regional common market at the Berlin Process Summit to be held on the 5th July.

"We are aware that only by working together and accepting regional cooperation within various regional initiatives such as the common market, regional Schengen, green corridors or the Berlin Process, can we bring our economies closer, increase the well-being of our people and bring in large investments that would otherwise not be possible for any of us individually", is one of the joint conclusions of this video conference.

The interlocutors agreed to meet in Skopje on July 29th to review the progress in the implementation of existing initiatives and projects and to sign additional agreements between the three countries related to the implementation of the Berlin Process commitments, as well as cooperation and assistance in the event of natural disasters and relief measures for trade, export and import.

"We call on and encourage our colleagues from the region to sign and implement similar agreements, so that the vision of a common political and economic space across the Western Balkans would soon, through the single market, become an important part of our citizens' daily lives," said the Serbian President and Prime Ministers of Albania and North Macedonia.

The interlocutors pointed out that despite the delays in the enlargement process, they will continue to try to identify new ways, policy areas and financial instruments for all three countries to increase their contribution to Europe, strengthen ties with the European Union and gradually integrate the region into the single European market.

Speaking on the Green Agenda, the interlocutors issued a joint call to the European Union and the United States to join countries across the region to support the development of projects that could be invested as soon as possible to improve environmental protection and increase the widespread use of renewables as part of the EU Economic and Investment Plan implementation and the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans.

"Our countries have a huge potential for sustainable growth and development of this sector. We will ask for practical support to find out which projects can improve our region in terms of renewable energy sources for our citizens and for the green energy future of the EU ", said the interlocutors during the "Mini Schengen" video conference and concluded that only regional connecting, with the EU support, can contribute to the overall stability and progress of the entire region and Europe.

Source: www.predsednik.rs

Photo: www.predsednik.rs

3 June 2021

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic spoke today with Special Representative for the Western Balkans and Deputy Assistant Secretary at the US Department of State Matthew Palmer about the state of bilateral relations, the continuation of Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, the relations in the Western Balkans region and the economic cooperation between the two countries.

The meeting was also attended by US Ambassador to Serbia Anthony Godfrey.

Brnabic pointed out that one of Serbia's foreign policy priorities is the improvement of all areas of cooperation and more intensive bilateral relations with the United States.

Our interest is to intensify the political dialogue and visits at the highest level, and I hope that this year we will have the opportunity to mark the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, the Prime Minister said.

Brnabic pointed out that the dialogue with the temporary institutions in Pristina is in the focus of the government, but that it is necessary to implement the things that were previously agreed within the dialogue, primarily to establish the Community of Serb Municipalities.

Belgrade has fulfilled all its obligations and we expect to see that from the other side as well, so that the dialogue makes sense.

One of them is the issue of finding and identifying missing persons, and we are fully committed to a complete solution to that issue, said the Prime Minister.

Palmer pointed out that the United States strongly supports the dialogue conducted under the auspices of the EU and the role of EU Special Envoy Miroslav Lajcak, and praised the commitment of Belgrade and President Aleksandar Vucic to the talks with Pristina.

Belgrade will continue to advocate achieving a sustainable compromise in the dialogue with Pristina, while protecting the interests of the Serbs there, as well as preserving the state and national interests of our country, the Prime Minister pointed out.

Brnabic and Palmer also discussed the overall regional situation and agreed that peace and stability in the Western Balkans are essential for the political and economic progress of the entire region.

Palmer underlined that one of the priority interests of the United States is the stability and security of the Western Balkans, and praised Serbia's role in regional initiatives, which will significantly raise the quality of life of all citizens in the region, but also further improve regional empowerment.

It was also pointed out that the focus of US activities in Serbia will be on investments in infrastructure and investments in renewable energy sources.

Palmer also highlighted the need to ensure that the media environment allows different opinions to be heard.

Source: www.srbija.gov.rs

Photo: www.srbija.gov.rs

26 May 2021

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic talked today via video call with Deputy Assistant Secretary for Europe and Eurasia at the US Department of Commerce David de Falco about the improvement of bilateral economic cooperation, as well as cooperation with American companies and institutes in the field of energy diversification and renewable energy sources, digital economy, development and research.

Explaining that the development of an integrated national plan for energy and climate is of strategic importance for Serbia, the Prime Minister stated that legal frameworks have been created for a favourable business environment and opening the market for new investments in this area.

According to the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce, Serbia has proven to be a good investment market and one of the leading economies in the region.

It is necessary to strengthen economic cooperation in sectors where there are mutual benefits, De Falco explained, stating that American companies in Serbia operate with the same intensity in the current epidemiological conditions.

The digital economy and the IT sector are recognised as the bearers of future cooperation between Serbia and the United States, and significant project cooperation with American companies could be achieved in the digitalisation of the health care system in Serbia.

The Prime Minister mentioned the good results of the work of the company NCR, which has been operating in Serbia for many years, and pointed out that it is extremely important that investors like this are satisfied with doing business in Serbia and ready to cooperate with educational institutions, given that the economic reform is based on knowledge and innovation.

The meeting was attended by Serbian Ambassador to the US Marko Djuric and US Ambassador to Serbia Anthony Godfrey.

Source: www.srbija.gov.rs

Photo: www.srbija.gov.rs

20 May 2021

A new service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs "e-Consulate" was presented in Belgrade today, intended for foreign citizens who apply for a visa and aspire to come to Serbia to work.

On that occasion, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Nikola Selakovic said that this service was one of the indicators of good development of our country, which, as he pointed out, was becoming a magnet for serious foreign companies, which brought a large number of workers from other countries to work in Serbia.

"Not to be pretentious, but completely realistic, this service represents a turning point in the functioning of our system. E-Consulate and digitalization of the procedure for issuing work visas for foreign citizens who want to work in Serbia, is the first electronic service offered by the Foreign Ministry, and I can promise you that this is indeed our first, but by no means the last e-service", Selakovic emphasized.

The Head of Serbian diplomacy pointed out that "e-Consulate" reflected the modernization of an extremely important segment of the activities of diplomatic and consular missions of Serbia, and that we were actually talking about something that was essential for the further development processes of our country.

The Minister recalled that, when the President of the Republic visited the construction site of the Moravian Corridor, he was told that some construction works were delayed because Bechtel company was not issued work visas on time.

“The moment we saw that and heard the President, I alerted the services in the Ministry. We were surprised, as we knew that the issuance of visas in Turkey had a good dynamic, and then we determined that it was actually workers from Bangladesh who applied for a visa through our Embassy in India, where we have a problem with staff shortage”, the Minister explained.

As he added, this is a demanding and laborious task, each of our employees had to receive the documentation on paper, check it, then request additional information, and only then forward it.

"Today, this has been fantastically perfected for our consular officers, all that documentation is submitted in electronic form. We used to have two filters to check the documentation, now we actually have three. And the work is significantly more efficient", Selakovic pointed out.

As he emphasized, this is a service which was promised less than four months ago and it becomes available on Monday, in 95 diplomatic and consular missions of Serbia, i.e. in all our embassies and consulates general.

The biggest result of that endeavor, the Minister pointed out, apart from the advantage it would bring in the future work, was the fact that it was not a project of one state body, but a joint endeavor of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, IT and eGovernment Office, General Secretariat of the Government, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Labor, Employment, Veterans and Social Affairs, National Employment Service.

“We did an extremely good job in record time. This is to the pride of our Ministry, to the pride of the entire state. I am convinced that in the period ahead, we will further modernize our affairs and make Serbia one of the few countries that has such mechanisms and such state-of-the-art provision of consular services", Selakovic said.

Speaking about the "e-Consulate" portal itself, the Minister explained that there is a cartoon of Nikola Tesla and the building of the old railway station with one crane, which actually symbolizes a historical fact - that Tesla was in Belgrade in the year when it was built.

"Today it is the place behind which the Belgrade of the future is rising, and what we managed to do together is an indicator of something that is the future of Serbia, the development of artificial intelligence, IT and creating conditions for more people to live and arrive here in Serbia in the future seeking good life and employment", concluded the Minister.

The Director of the Office for IT and eGovernment, Mihailo Jovanovic, said that this was the first time that e-services were focused on foreign citizens, which was the case with our citizens so far.

In the period from 1 January 2019 to 17 May this year, the most applications for Serbian visas were submitted at the Embassy in Beijing, 6,766 applications, then in New Delhi - 2,973, Shanghai 2,115, Tokyo 1,798, and Cairo 1,756.

In that period, 1,270 requests were submitted in Algiers, 1,095 in Jakarta, and 1,077 in Beirut.

In terms of their nationality, Serbian D visa for employment is most requested by citizens of China - 9,516 applications, followed by India 1,955, and Ukraine - 673.

19 May 2021

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic attended today the signing of a cooperation agreement between the companies Millennium Resorts and Marriott International on the construction of a hotel complex in Vranjska Banja.

Brnabic stated that this investment will revive the south of central Serbia, and it will also bring new investors, jobs for citizens, higher wages and a better standard of living.

She underlined that this is the largest project of Marriott International in the Balkans and the biggest investment in the Serbian tourism at the moment.

According to her, it is difficult to bring projects to certain parts of the country that are far from Belgrade and where there are not many investors, and who do not see those places on the map of investment destinations, even though they are. But, when you attract one investment, another comes, a third starts, and that area begins to develop on its own. That is sustainable development, said the Prime Minister.

Brnabic assessed that the moment when this biggest investment in Serbian tourism is being realised is not at all easy, because everyone is still struggling with the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. Some of the biggest consequences are suffered by private companies and that is why I thank the Millennium team for not giving up on this project or postponing it, but going ahead with it so that Vranjska Banja could have such a pearl as soon as possible, the Prime Minister underlined.

US Ambassador to Serbia Anthony Godfrey said that the project of building this complex in cooperation with Millennium Resorts and Marriott International is important for both Serbia and the USA, not only in the economic, but also in the cultural sense.

He stated that one of the most beautiful hotel complexes in this part of Europe will be built in Vranjska Banja.

Source: www.srbija.gov.rs

Photo: www.srbija.gov.rs

29th April 2021

President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić met today the Ambassador of the United States of America, Anthony Godfrey, to discuss the continuation of the Washington Agreement implementation and European integration, as well as bilateral cooperation, especially in light of the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

President Vučić said that the agreement on the normalisation of economic relations reached in Washington was complementary to the activities of the EU and a step towards the normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Priština.

"Serbia is always ready for an open dialogue with Priština", President Vučić pointed out.

President Vučić expressed gratitude for Washington's continuous support on the path to Serbia's full membership in the EU, which is one of its priority foreign policy goals.

"American support in the process of European integration of our country is of great importance to us. The United States could suggest to its European partners that the progress of the Western Balkans in the field of European integration is necessary, primarily because of the possibility that the candidate countries will at some point feel the fatigue of the constant lack of progress. The reform of our societies is a goal in itself, but the outcome also needs to be known and clear", President Vučić emphasised.

President Vučić said that strengthening cooperation with the United States is one of the foreign policy priorities for Serbia and that he believes that the desire for stronger ties is mutual. Therefore, the President pointed out that more frequent high-level visits would confirm such a commitment of the two countries, and at the same time, he expressed hope that the American president could visit our country.

President Vučić and Ambassador Godfrey agreed that more projects of mutual interest are needed and, in this regard, pointed out the importance of engaging the regional office of the International Development Finance Corporation DFC in Belgrade.

Source: www.predsednik.rs

Photo: www.predsednik.rs

22nd April 2021

resident of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić talked today via a video link with the representatives of the Atlantic Council about the situation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as about regional issues and foreign policy priorities of the country.

President Vučić emphasised that in the procurement of vaccines, Serbia did not act geopolitically, but having in mind the saving of human lives only.

He said he did not believe that what his team did was something hugely historical, even though Serbia with its efforts managed to obtain more vaccines than the others.

President Vučić pointed out that Serbia's success in the procurement of vaccines is related to its success in the economy and stated that Serbia is second in Europe in terms of growth and that the IMF forecasts Serbia to grow by 5% for the current year, while domestic projections range between 6 and 6.5 per cent of GDP growth.

He added that direct foreign investments also contributed to the strengthening of the Serbian economy, and reminded that last year Serbia attracted almost 70% of all investments in the region, which is the most important pillar of our economic growth, in addition to higher public spending.

"These good results were achieved with the reforms initiated in 2014 and 2015", President Vučić explained, adding he was proud that Serbia was able to help the region.

President Vučić expressed the expectation that the EU will open a cluster with Serbia in the accession negotiations in June.

"We have started to achieve results on many issues in the field of rule of law. I think we are making good progress in the fight against organised crime. Of course, there are issues we have to face. We have to make huge efforts to overcome all these problems. We are ready to hear all the criticism. If we can achieve results in the economy and vaccination, I do not doubt that we can improve the state of human rights and democracy", concluded President Vučić.

He stressed that the most important thing is to preserve peace and stability in the region and that the Western Balkans could be the engine of development of entire Europe if a single market within the "mini Schengen" initiative would be formed.

Speaking about the situation in Kosovo and Metohija, President Vučić said that both sides must fulfil what was signed in Brussels.

"You do not hear any blackmail from Belgrade. We do not threaten with war damages and lawsuits, but we hear that every day from Priština and there is no reaction from the USA and the EU", the President said, emphasising that it is important to increase trust between the two sides and that hostile atmosphere must not be created.

He pointed out that Serbia must invest more in the relationship with the United States and increase the trust of the American side.

"We need the United States as a friend of Serbia because we can do something good. We can progress with the support of the United States. That is a precondition for economic progress.

The United States may not be our best friend, but it is a friend with whom we have a common interest and common future", President Vučić said, adding that Serbia aspires to have as much support as possible.

He noted the military-technical cooperation, but also cooperation in other fields.

"The interest of American companies ready to invest - is growing", concluded President Vučić.

Speaking about the green agenda, President Vučić stated that it is not an easy issue for the region, and Serbia alike, although everyone agrees that a green transformation is necessary.

"Nowadays, jobs and living standard are no longer the main topic, because citizens know that everything is going well, but they are talking about ecology. Environmental protection is an important topic, to which we will dedicate ourselves, but we should not go to extremes," said President Vučić and pointed out that he was proud of the development of Serbia.

Source: www.predsednik.rs

Photo: www.predsednik.rs

21st April 2021

President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić talked today via a video link with the representatives of the delegation of the International Monetary Fund led by the Head of the Mission, Jan Kees Martijn.

The interlocutors concluded that Serbia's main goal remains to preserve the hard-earned reputation of a fiscally secure country, as well as to continue with a responsible fiscal policy so that public debt does not exceed 60 per cent of GDP, whereby Serbia continues to work on further economic growth.

During the conversation, President Vučić and Jan Kees Martijn especially referred to the incentive measures and adopted three packages of measures to help the economy and citizens, which preserved macroeconomic stability and even achieved a higher employment rate.

Martijn commended the responsible economic policy of Serbia and the successful crisis management during the pandemic.

"Serbia achieved one of the best results last year despite the challenges of the pandemic", Martijn said, noting that Serbia was one of the few countries to which the IMF did not adjust the initial projection of the 5% growth rate it gave last year.

President Vučić added that following the first quarter of 2021, Serbia is well on its way to achieving the planned growth of 6% as planned, since one of the main focuses of the Government is investing in large infrastructure projects and intensifying work on attracting foreign direct investments.

"In 2020, Serbia was at the very top in terms of economic growth in Europe, and I am convinced that this year we can enter the first three or four countries in terms of growth", said President Vučić, adding that he was satisfied that Serbia still, despite the pandemic situation, has an extremely strong inflow of investment.

President Vučić and Jan Kees Martijn also discussed a new advisory arrangement, which is of special importance in light of the improvement of the general investment climate in Serbia, as well as in the context of even greater investor assurance.

"Given Serbia's tremendous progress over the past eight years, the priority goal of this arrangement will be to preserve the results achieved, but also to provide support for further implementation of structural reforms aimed at even faster, stronger and more sustainable growth", said President Vučić and thanked the IMF and the personal engagement of Jan Kees Martijn in the professional and expert support that Serbia is counting on.

President Vučić pointed out that Serbia will pay special attention to reforms in public companies, and that priorities will continue to be investments in infrastructure, creating an even better climate for investments, greater investments in the environment, science and capital projects, which will further contribute to the long term stable financial growth in the coming years.

Source: www.predsednik.rs

Photo: www.predsednik.rs

20th April 2021

President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić met today with the Regional Director of the World Health Organisation for Europe Hans Kluge, to discuss cooperation in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as cooperation in improving health care in our country and other joint activities.

President Vučić thanked Dr Kluge for his personal engagement and support during the current pandemic, especially for technical assistance and expertise.

On this occasion, he informed the WHO official about the results of immunisation in Serbia and plans on how to provide the vaccine to all citizens who want to get it.

Dr Kluge congratulated President Vučić on his leadership and personal commitment to provide vaccines. He emphasised that Serbia, with its good immunisation strategy, ranked among the global leaders, thus becoming an example of humanity and solidarity by enabling vaccination of elderly people in rural areas, foreign citizens and donating vaccines to other countries.

"Serbia has accepted the vaccine as a life-saving product and has not looked at it geopolitically", said Dr Kluge.

The two interlocutors agreed that the world should increase production capacities for vaccines, as well as develop new adequate therapies for the fight against COVID-19, and, in this regard, work on increasing the level of citizens' trust in science.

President Vučić informed Dr Kluge about the plans for improving the work of the Institute for Virology, Vaccines and Sera "Torlak".

"We want to make 'Torlak' one of the best vaccine factories in Europe", said President Vučić.

Source: www.predsednik.rs

Photo: www.predsednik.rs

Belgrade, 19 April 2021 - Prime Minister Ana Brnabic talked today with World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge about the epidemiological situation and the course of immunisation of citizens in Serbia.

Brnabic expressed gratitude for the cooperation in the fight against the pandemic, technical assistance and expertise, emphasising that the support of this organisation is very important for our country.

She informed the WHO Regional Director for Europe about the course of immunisation of citizens in Serbia, expressing her belief that, thanks to the large number of vaccinated people, we will be able to create collective immunity and return to normal life.

Kluge assessed the immunisation process in Serbia as impressive, and added that Serbia has made a good decision to offer citizens all available vaccines used in the fight against coronavirus.

Expressing concern over the emergence of new strains of the virus, he stressed the need to speed up the immunisation process and show mutual solidarity.

The WHO Regional Director for Europe praised Serbia for the humanity it has shown by donating vaccines to the countries of the region and enabling vaccination for those who do not have a sufficient number of vaccines for their citizens.

The Prime Minister said that Serbia will continue to cooperate with the countries of the region and help in accordance with its capabilities.

When it comes to the project "Roadmap for Health in the Western Balkans 2021-2025", it was stated that, if epidemiological conditions allow, a regional meeting will be held in Belgrade at the end of the year, important for future improvement of cooperation between countries in the field of health challenges.

Source: www.srbija.gov.rs

Photo: www.srbija.gov.rs

April 19, 2021, Washington, D.C. - March 26, 2018, is a day Marko Đurić, Serbia’s new ambassador to the United States, will never forget. On that Monday, Đurić—at the time chief negotiator for Serbia’s Office for Kosovo and Metohija—was meeting with local Serbs in the town of North Mitrovica when he was violently detained for having crossed into Kosovar territory illegally. A rather shocking video of the incident, which has been shared on YouTube more than 370,000 times, speaks for itself.

“Authorities were duly notified that I was coming. So was the EU,” Đurić said in a recent phone interview, insisting that Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and his Kosovar counterpart, Hashim Thaçi, specifically discussed the upcoming negotiations over a dinner in Brussels three days before the confrontation took place.

“Nevertheless,” he said, “they sent 250 heavily armed special unit members accompanied by 17 armored vehicles, basically stormed the roundtable venue and brutally beat up the democratically elected president of the Serbian community. They arrested and kidnapped me, brought me to Prishtinë and paraded me on the main streets while filming with cellphones. It was quite traumatic. They put a knife to my throat.”

Vučić condemned the incident, as did the European Broadcasting Union and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), though Kosovo’s then-deputy prime minister, Enver Hoxhaj, justified Đurić’s arrest on the grounds that his “unauthorized presence” in Kosovo had breached EU agreements between the two sides. Looking back three years later, Đurić (pronounced DJOO-rich) said he never wanted to put himself in the spotlight—and that he prefers to bear the ordeal with dignity.

“But it is unprecedented to treat an envoy like this,” he complained. “Since the time of the ancient Persians, envoys have been treated with respect. They violated something that has been sacrosanct for millennia.”

Even so, said the 37-year-old ambassador, “I don’t possess a single grain of hatred or resentment toward the Albanians or any nation. Of course, I do not forget and do not appreciate those political leaders who, by doing such a thing, did a disservice not only to myself but to their own cause.”

Đurić aims to ‘increase trust’ between Washington, Belgrade

Đurić’s great-grand uncle is Nikola Pašić, who served as prime minister of both Serbia and Yugoslavia in the early 20th century.

Đurić arrived in Washington last December with his wife and three daughters, presenting his credentials as ambassador in a Jan. 18 virtual ceremony.

Born and raised in Belgrade when it was still the capital of Yugoslavia, he also lived for a time in Israel; his maternal grandmother was interned in Auschwitz during World War II and was one of the few members of her family to survive the Holocaust.

“During the 140 years of diplomatic relations between Serbia and the United States, we’ve been allies in both world wars,” Đurić said. “Serbia lost one-third of its population in World War I fighting against the Axis powers. During World War II, we also fought side-by-side against the Nazis. And the first uprising in occupied Europe against the Nazis happened in Serbia.”

Đurić is vice-president of the Serbian Progressive Party, which has 750,000 members—making it Europe’s largest political party by membership. At present, it holds 157 seats in the National Assembly, while the ruling coalition (of which it forms a part) occupies 188 of 250 seats.

As ambassador, says Đurić, one of his priorities is to deepen Serbia’s ties with the United States and “increase the level of trust” between Washington and Belgrade.

“We would love to see a US president visit Serbia,” he said, noting that the last president to set foot in Belgrade was Jimmy Carter in 1980, shortly after the state funeral of Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito.

Đurić has met three presidents already: Donald Trump last September, Barack Obama in 2013, when the ambassador was serving as Vučić’s foreign policy advisor, and Joe Biden when he was vice president in 2013, and again in 2016 when he visited Belgrade.

From an economic point of view, Serbia—with a population of 6.9 million—has fared well despite the difficulties caused by Europe’s coronavirus crisis. Unemployment has fallen from 26% to 8% in the past seven years, while foreign debt is down from 79% of GDP to 56%—though that’s still not enough to satisfy the requirements of European Union membership.

“For the last three years in a row, we have had more foreign direct investment than all the surrounding countries combined. This is the result of serious incentives we offer, and a generally favorable investment climate,” Đurić said, naming Germany and Italy as Serbia’s top sources of FDI.

“We would love the US to be one of the pillars of Serbia’s future economic growth, and we believe this could also create a more fertile ground for political relations to flourish.” To that end, Đurić wants to make the Serbian Embassy in Washington “an entry point for businesses on both sides,” and to see the elimination of all artificial barriers and borders that prevent the free flow of goods, services and capital throughout the Balkans.

“It’s extremely frustrating to have people waiting for hours at border crossings every 80 to 100 kilometers,” he said. “We want to create a regional Balkan mini-Schengen Zone that would replicate what was done in Western Europe.”

A permanent solution to the Kosovo question?

But economic progress is unlikely to happen until resolution of the political impasse between Serbia and Kosovo, a once-autonomous province that unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008. As of mid-April, 117 countries have recognized Kosovo as a sovereign nation, including the United States; the latest to do so was Israel, on Feb. 1.

“We were very disappointed with this decision,” Đurić said. “Historically, Serbia and Israel have always been on the same side. This is a huge emotional and political wound for us.”

On March 22, Kosovo’s parliament named Albin Kurti prime minister, more than a month after the country’s snap elections. Đurić said that’s going to make progress even more unlikely.

“I expect it will be difficult to work with the new government because Kurti, immediately upon his election, said that dialogue with Serbia will not be among his priority. I think this is a big mistake, because Kosovo needs a solution to this conflict even more than we do. We have a growing economy, while in Kosovo the unemployment rate is 30%. Unfortunately, this new government has set their red lines at an impossibly high level. They just want to have it all.”

In our interview, Đurić dismissed suggestions that Kosovo will eventually prevail and win the backing of countries that have still withheld diplomatic recognition—a list that includes China, Cyprus, Greece, India, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Spain and Ukraine.

“For Serbs, Kosovo is the cradle of our identity. It is the place where our medieval kings and saints are buried. It is also a place where very resilient Serbian communities still survive as a minority. Serbs consider Kosovo part of our territory,” he said.

“At the same time, Serbia is very much aware of the realities we face. We are open for discussion on a compromise to resolve the Kosovo issue and bring lasting peace and stability to the region.”

Quoting Martin Luther King Jr., Đurić urges a “just solution” in which both sides will come out equally satisfied.”

“We want to do this in a way that won’t leave wounds on both sides, at least partly satisfying our mutual ambitions,” he said. “This will definitely not be an easy task. But we need to start talking. It’s better to talk a thousand days than be in conflict for one single day.”

by Larry Luxner

Belgrade, 13 April 2021 - Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia Nikola Selakovic warned, at the United Nations Security Council meeting, that the political extremism among Albanians in Kosovo and Metohija was not decreasing, but on the contrary, was becoming stronger.

At the meeting discussing the Report of the UN Secretary-General on the work of UNMIK, Minister Selakovic recalled that the obligation to form the Community of Serb Municipalities remained unfulfilled for 2,917 days now and that, in fact, 19 April marked eight full years since the agreement was reached in Brussels, while Pristina still refused to follow up on its commitment and enable the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities.

The Minister reminded that the current Prime Minister of the provisional institutions of self-government in Pristina repeatedly threatened to unite the self-proclaimed Kosovo and Albania, and that he also stated that the dialogue with Belgrade was low on the list of his priorities.

Minister Selakovic pointed out that it was high time for Albanian leaders in Pristina to show responsibility in fulfilling their commitments, but also a sincere commitment to reaching a compromise solution and building mutual trust.

"Serbia is determined and will not give up on identifying a compromise solution, which will be sustainable for future generations as well. The only way to build lasting peace and stability in our region is by working to build trust and insisting on positive political agendas", Selakovic concluded.

According to the Minister, lasting peace and stability can only be achieved if none of the participants in the dialogue pursued maximalist demands and insisted on the complete humiliation of the other.

He pointed out that the Serbian and Albanian peoples, as the two most numerous peoples in the Western Balkans, needed to find a way to reach reconciliation and a basis for cooperation, both in terms of the economy and in achieving shared prospects for membership of the European Union.

"Belgrade has made sincere steps in that direction, by being one of the initiators of the idea of relaxing the flow of people, goods, capital and services, popularly referred to as "mini-Schengen", the Minister underlined. Pointing out that Serbia had time and time again demonstrated its commitment to dialogue as the only way towards a peaceful, political solution to the problem in Kosovo and Metohija, Selakovic underscored that the recent elections in the Province confirmed that political extremism among Albanians in Kosovo and Metohija was not decreasing, but on the contrary, was becoming stronger, which could be seen during the recent pre-election process.

Minister stressed that political pressures on Serbs continued even after the election process was completed, by denying Serbs fair representation in provisional institutions as the new so-called government in Pristina decided to assign only one ministry to the Serb community.

"Serb returnees represent a particularly vulnerable category, who spend their every day in fear of being attacked. I remind you that the southern Serbian province is still an area with the lowest return rate of displaced persons in the world", the Minister said and emphasized that, in the last year alone, more than 80 attacks and incidents took place in our southern province, targeting Serbs, their property and religious sites.

It is particularly worrying for the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija, Selakovic noted, that in the previous period, and especially in March this year, there were frequent physical attacks on the property of the Serbian Orthodox Church. "A striking example of the disrespectful attitude towards Serbian cultural and religious monuments in the Province, whose exceptional universal value UNESCO confirmed by inscribing them on the World Heritage List, is the case of the Visoki Decani Monastery", the Minister underlined.

Furthermore, the Serbian Foreign Minister assessed as concerning the breaking into the Health Center in Strpce by police inspectors and officers, in January this year, who conducted a search aiming to discover Covid-19 vaccines there, originating from central Serbia.

"Although we consider this to be an intrusion into a health care institution, our reaction was restrained this time as well. We did not want our decisions to cause escalation and politicization of activities that are solely aimed at protecting public health. We organized the vaccination of citizens from Kosovo and Metohija at three locations in central Serbia and thus clearly demonstrated that people's lives are the top priority to us", the Minister stressed.

Minister Selakovic stated that Serbia highly valued the activities of UNMIK mission in Kosovo and Metohija and that it supported it in carrying out its work as efficiently as possible and undiminished in scope, aiming to build and preserve security in the Province.

Selakovic said that the international missions in Kosovo and Metohija - UNMIK, KFOR, EULEX and the OSCE mission, under the administration of the United Nations and in line with UNSC Resolution 1244, played a key role in the preservation of peace and protection of the population.

"We support and respect their engagement and efforts made in the framework of their mandates, with the common goal of creating conditions for a peaceful and safe coexistence of the inhabitants of Kosovo and Metohija. The Serb and other non-Albanian population in Kosovo and Metohija have the utmost confidence in the international presence and consider it a guarantor of security and a barrier against the arbitrariness of the provisional institutions in Pristina", the Minister emphasized.

He said that this demonstrated the need that international missions remain engaged in an undiminished scope, in order to consistently implement UNSC Resolution 1244. Selakovic further emphasized the importance of KFOR international forces and pointed out that any unilateral attempt to assign to someone else or that someone else assumes a part of KFOR's mandate and responsibilities constitutes a violation of UNSC Resolution 1244.

The Minister also noted as unacceptable the unilateral decisions on the formation of the Pristina "Ministry of Defence" and launching the process of transforming the so-called "Kosovo Security Forces" (KSF) into the so-called "Kosovo Army".

At the beginning of his statement, Minister Selakovic lodged a protest against the abuse of the video format of the session by the representative of Pristina as she had a flag of the self-proclaimed "Kosovo" placed behind her, and the representative of Russia did the same.

Belgrade, 13 April 2021 - Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia Nikola Selakovic stated today that Pristina further persisted in its campaign of hatred against the Serbian people, which was most drastically seen in the unfounded accusations of mass rapes and genocide.

At the UN Security Council meeting discussing the Report of the UN Secretary-General on the work of UNMIK, Selakovic emphasized that the efforts of the provisional institutions in Kosovo and Metohija to create a narrative about mass rapes of Albanian women were obvious, and that propaganda methods and lies were used for that purpose.

"It is clear that there were victims on all sides in the conflict, as well as that our side has evidence of numerous Serb victims. But the precondition for ensuring the protection of rights that belong to each individual victim is a rational and well-argued approach", Selakovic said responding to the slander of the Pristina representative.

Selakovic underlined that, contrary to the claims of politicians from Pristina about 20,000 raped Albanian women, the information provided by the Commission for the Verification and Recognition of Sexual Violence Victim Status indicates 912 raped persons, however, failing to include in this number the Serb women who were victims of violence.

"Let me emphasize that Serbia condemns every act of sexual violence in conflicts and is committed to achieving justice for all victims. The number of victims certainly does not diminish the horrific effect of this type of violence on each victim individually, but also, speculating on numbers does not contribute to justice being served and leads to politicization and slowing down the reconciliation process", Selakovic said.

Regarding the genocide accusations, Minister Selakovic stated that they only went to prove that Pristina further persisted in its campaign of hatred, propaganda and open hostility towards the Serbian people.

"Through statements given on a daily basis, they attempt to paint a picture that Serbia is to blame for everything and that genocide was committed against Albanians, all in order to hide their own responsibility for the committed crimes", the Serbian Foreign Minister said.

He underlined that anyone who knew what the definition of genocide implied would understand that it was not Serbia that committed something, but that the Serbian people was instead a victim of the "state-building" project of the Kosovo Albanians, based on the dangerous idea of ethnically clean territories, as evidenced by more than 200,000 expelled Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija.

"We are convinced that the civilized world will not agree to be their accomplice in concealing and covering up their crimes, and that a clear message will be sent to them that they must take responsibility for their actions", Selakovic said.

He reminded that until 1999, around 40,000 Serbs lived in Pristina, and that today there were only about twenty of them, that around 17,000 Serbs lived in Pec, and that today there were only the Serbian nuns in the Patriarchate of Pec, that around 12,000 Serbs lived in Prizren before the war, and that today only 17 families remained there, and that in Urosevac, out of 10,000 Serbs who lived there before the war, only the family of a Serbian priest remained.

During the upcoming Easter and May 1st holidays, the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Washington DC, will be closed to the public from April 30th until May 5th. For emergencies, use the following phone number: (202) 706-0209

Belgrade, March 31, 2021 - President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić gave an interview to CNN News and spoke about Serbia's successful vaccination campaign and about helping neighbors and other foreigners get COVID-19 jabs for free in our country. 

"For us, it's not a matter of geopolitics, it's a matter of saving people's lives", said President Vučić.

The interview is available here.

Belgrade, 24 March 2021 – President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic made a statement on the occasion of marking the Day of Remembrance of the victims of the NATO aggression.

"Your Holiness, distinguished Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, distinguished Speakers of the National Assemblies of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Srpska, distinguished Prime Ministers of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Srpska, distinguished Ministers of both Governments, dear guests and friends, representatives of the Serbian People from Montenegro, North Macedonia, Croatia, thank you for the fact that we are all together tonight and that the Serbian spirit is unbreakable and invincible.

One child a day and a little more than that. That is the most difficult, sickening and painful number of the NATO aggression from 1999. Killed, stopped, guilty of nothing, having committed no sin, without the right to defence, without the right to justice and without the right to life.

No one has ever been held accountable for this crime, a crime greater than a crime. No one, for the 2,500 killed civilians, but also soldiers and policemen who were only guilty of guarding, protecting themselves and their homes. No one has ever been held accountable for more than 6,000 persons injured.

La République de Serbie en qualité de membre associé à l'OIF, de concert avec toute la communauté francophone dans le monde entier, célèbre le Mois de la Francophonie.

Pour tous les amateurs de la culture serbe et de la langue française, le Ministère de la Culture et de l'Information de la République de Serbie a préparé un vaste programme et L’Ambassade de la République de Serbie aux États-Unis vous invite à découvrir la diversité et la richesse de la culture serbe en français.

The Republic of Serbia, as an Associate Member of the International Organization of Francophonie (OIF), together with the entire French-speaking community around the world, celebrates the Month of Francophonie.

For all lovers of Serbian culture and the French language, the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Serbia has prepared an extensive program and the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in the USA invites you to discover the diversity and richness of Serbian culture in French.

President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic participated today in the commemoration of the Remembrance Day of 17 March 2004 - Pogrom in Kosovo and Metohija. He said that exactly 17 years ago, a pogrom took place in Kosovo and Metohija, and that pogrom surpassed all other crimes.

"There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest, these words of Elie Wiesel, a camp survivor and Nobel laureate, make it forever incumbent upon us not to remain silent against crime, regardless of who and for what reason committed it", President Vucic stated and added that we remembered and learned every lesson in which we were losers, each one in which we were silent to our own victims, and each one when we were ready to forget.

"Serbia is no longer weak today, nor is it a country of losers, it does not threaten, but it does not forget either, it is ready for talks, but not for humiliation. Serbia, just like everyone else, has the right to take care of its people, their safety and well-being. The right to life is a fundamental human right and we will always defend it", President Vucic said.

President Vucic said that pogrom surpasses all other crimes, because it is not only an act, but an intention, a policy, a premediated attempt to forcibly cleanse persons belonging to other peoples and faiths from a region or a country.

"We have no right to remain silent to that", said the President of Serbia, emphasizing that we have an obligation to be winners without blood spilled and war, to be the best in the economy, healthcare, sports, education and everything else that implies development and progress.

"We also wish others to work on themselves and be successful, because we are aware that crime is a tool for losers that winners do not need, as they remember, but forgive and move on, while the losers keep spinning in the same vicious circle. We Serbs do not want to be that anymore, we want a future in which we will remember, but from which we will not return. We know what happened and we call it by its real name", President Vucic concluded.

Photo: Dimitrije Goll

Belgrade, 15th March 2021 - President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić spoke today via video link with the US State Department's Special Representative for the Western Balkans, Matthew Palmer, with whom he discussed numerous regional issues, the general situation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, economic recovery measures and continuation of dialogue with Priština.

The interlocutors primarily discussed the current situation regarding the pandemic, which left serious consequences for the health and lives of people around the world, as well as the global economy. President Vučić informed Special Representative Palmer about the measures taken by Serbia to protect the population, as well as about the course of vaccination of Serbian citizens.

Palmer congratulated Serbia on the exceptional success in vaccination, as well as on the help in vaccines that were delivered to the countries in the region. He particularly pointed out the importance of such a regional policy aimed at solidarity and connection, emphasising that in challenging times countries should find an opportunity to express their readiness for cooperation.

Belgrade, 12 March 2021 - Prime Minister Ana Brnabic held an online meeting today with Special Representative for the Western Balkans and Deputy Assistant Secretary at the US Department of State Matthew Palmer.

Palmer and Brnabic discussed bilateral relations between the two countries, the situation in the region and the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, as well as economic relations and American investments in Serbia.

Brnabic underlined that one of the foreign policy priorities of Serbia is the improvement of all areas of cooperation with the United States (US), noting that the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries is marked this year.

The House of Jevrem Grujic from Belgrade prepared an online theatre performance titled “Two Women One War” with Serbian actresses Marija Bergam and Vjera Mujovic in leading roles.

This performance is about friendship between two nations, the Serbian and the American, during the Great War, in the most horrific moments of our history, as reflected in the intertwined fates of two women, who spent years striving, promoting and representing Serbia, serving the country in such a diplomatic mission throughout the world.

One of these two women was American, Mabel Dunlop Grujić, who married Serbian diplomat Slavko Grujić, and the other was Serbian, Jelena Lozanić, who later married John Frothingham, the greatest American benefactor of the Serbian people. Both of these women had two homelands – Serbia and the U.S.

The performance is with English subtitles, and the tickets can be purchased here.

Your оnline tickets' purchase supports the work of The House of Jevrem Grujic, Museum of Art, History and Diplomacy in Belgrade, and further development of the project "Heroines of Serbian History". 

Belgrade, 8 March 2021 - Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia Nikola Selakovic said today that the fight against all forms of crime was a top priority of the Serbian Government and an integral part of the EU accession process.

"It is also our moral duty, in order to leave a better world for the generations to come", Selakovic said participating via video-link at the 14th UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, held in Kyoto.

Minister Selakovic emphasized that Serbia, in its Second Serious and Organized Crime Threat Assessment from 2019, identified as its goal to eliminate cybercrime, human trafficking, terrorism and irregular migration.

The Serbian Foreign Minister pointed out that our country had established in a timely manner a normative and institutional framework that regulates prevention of abuse in this area, as well as that the Office of the Special Prosecutor for Cybercrime, a special court department and a special police unit were established.

The Minister underlined that, in the field of the fight against corruption, Serbia was guided by the postulates set out in the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the UN Convention against Corruption.

Selakovic pointed out the efforts made by the Anti-Corruption Agency, as an independent state body, to protect the public interest, build individual and institutional integrity, strengthen transparency and accountability of the public administration.

"We strongly condemn all forms of terrorism, including extremism and radicalism, and call for them to be fully eradicated, while implementing the relevant UN resolutions and conventions and the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy", the Head of Serbian diplomacy underscored.

In order to combat these complex phenomena efficiently and successfully, Selakovic said, it was of vital importance to build capacities of our societies and states, while exchanging experiences at the regional and global levels.

Minister Selakovic thanked Japanese Ambassador Hikihara for the skill he showed in conducting the talks on harmonizing and adopting the Kyoto Declaration, which, as he stressed, was an important indicator of the commitment to creating and maintaining the institutional framework for crime prevention as one of the main preconditions for promoting sustainable development goals.

"Back in 1970 when Japan hosted this event for the first time, we demonstrated strong political will to draw attention to the problem. Today, it is incumbent upon us to reaffirm this willingness and resolve and translate it into concrete steps", the Serbian Foreign Minister said.

Washington D.C, March 5, 2021 - Two pieces of artwork from Wayland Baptist University art professor Dejan Mraovic, MFA, were selected for a retrospective show “REACH: 50+ year of Works by Ohio Graphic Design Alumni” at the Ohio University.

The first poster features six banknotes designed for the National Bank of Serbia in Belgrade. The front and back of each dinar bill show “the greatest sons and daughters of Serbia” such as Nikola Tesla.

Mraovic’s second poster shows examples of Serbiana, a sans-serif font he designed with Latin and Cyrillic characters.

Mraovic’s works were done in collaboration with the National Bank of Serbia and will be submitted for consideration for implementation.

The posters will be on display at the Ohio University art show until March 11, 2021.

The exhibition showcases typography, complex communication systems, and the diversity of graphic design in contemporary culture by 20 alumni. It can be viewed online at https://www.ohio.edu/fine-arts/reach.

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic held an online meeting today with Special Representative for the Western Balkans and Deputy Assistant Secretary at the US Department of State Matthew Palmer.

Palmer and Brnabic discussed bilateral relations between the two countries, the situation in the region and the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, as well as economic relations and American investments in Serbia.

Brnabic underlined that one of the foreign policy priorities of Serbia is the improvement of all areas of cooperation with the United States (US), noting that the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries is marked this year.

Speaking about the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, she said that Belgrade will remain committed to the dialogue and ready for its continuation, but, as she explained, it will also continue to insist on the full implementation of the previous agreements.

The US Deputy Assistant Secretary said that the US supports the process conducted by the EU and added that he expects the dialogue to resume soon.

He highlighted the importance of the implementation of the Brussels Agreement, noting that it is not starting from the beginning, but that many segments of the agreement, which refer to the improvement of the lives of citizens, have already been implemented.

According to him, the compromise is the basis not only of dialogue, but also of the future agreement between the two sides.

Palmer stated that the overriding interest of the US is the stability and security of the Western Balkans region, and praised the constructive role of Serbia in regional initiatives such as the Mini Schengen.

The Prime Minister reiterated that Serbia is committed to improving relations with its neighbours, and that during the pandemic, the contribution to cooperation with countries in the region has been especially visible through the provision of vaccines, humanitarian and medical aid.

Serbia can count on the support of the US on its European path, Palmer emphasised and pointed out that progress has been made in European integration and reforms, primarily in the field of the economy.

When it comes to European integration, Brnabic pointed out that Serbia has accepted the new methodology of the European Union and that it expects positive signals from the Union in the coming period.

The interlocutors also discussed the possibilities of increasing economic cooperation and American investments on our market, adding that American companies that already operate in Serbia are satisfied with the existing conditions.

The Special Representative of the State Department used the opportunity to praise the positive trend of immunisation of the population in Serbia, but also to thank for the successful vaccination of the staff of the American Embassy to Serbia.

Belgrade,
12 March 2021
 

Washington, D.C, March 1, 2021 - H.E. Ambassador Marko Djuric was pleased to join fellow Ambassadors and Chiefs of Diplomatic Missions in welcoming us all to another month of celebrating the Francophonie Cultural Festival here in Washington D.C. in a special video message. 

Joyeuse Francophonie à tous!

The Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church elected His Eminence Metropolitan Porfirije of Zagreb-Ljubljana, PhD, as the new Serbian Patriarch, in its convocation in Memorial Cathedral of Saint Sava in Belgrade on 18 February 2021.

Immediately after the election a thanksgiving service was officiated and Many Years was chanted to the Archbishop of Pec, Metropolitan of Belgrade-Karlovci and Serbian Patriarch Porfirije. Bells at Saint Sava Cathedral in the Vracar district of Belgrade rang a few minutes before 4:00 pm indicating that the 46th Patriarch of Serbia was elected.

Newly-elected Archbishop of Pec, Metropolitan of Belgrade-Karlovci and Serbian Patriarch Porfirije (Peric) was born on 22 July 1961 in Becej, to father Radivoje and Mother Radojka. He was baptized as Prvoslav. He finished primary school in Curug, and the “Jovan Jovanovic Zmaj” Grammar School in Novi Sad. He was ordained a monk according to the rite of small schime by his spiritual father, then hieromonk Dr. Irinej (Bulovic), at Decani Monastery on Sunday of St. Thomas in 1985.

He graduated from the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Belgrade in 1986, when the then Bishop of Raska-Prizren Diocese, future Serbian Patriarch Pavle of blessed memory, ordained him a hierodeacon at the monastery of Holy Trinity in Musutiste.

He attended postgraduate studies in Athens from 1986 until 1990. That year, upon the blessing of Bishop Dr. Irinej of Backa, he joined the monastery of Holy Archangels in Kovilj, where he was ordained as hieromonk and became its abbot.

Many young monks and novices came to the monastery following him. These were the years when the Kovilj Monastery became a spiritual center for many young people: intellectuals, artists, popular actors and rock musicians, especially from Novi Sad and Belgrade. Since then abbot Porfirije has particularly dealt with drug-addicted patients. In 2005, he formed for this purpose a therapeutic community called “The Land of the Living”, which is recognized as the most successful drug-addiction therapy project and, under the leadership of Bishop Porfirije, it has more than a hundred residents in camps throughout Serbia today.

During the ordinary meeting of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Belgrade on 14 May 1999 he was elected as Bishop of Jegar, Vicar of the Diocese of Backa.

He defended his PhD thesis Possibility of knowability of God in St. Paul’s understanding according to the interpretation of Saint John Chrysostom at the Faculty of Theology of the University of Athens in 2004.

He became a lecturer at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology - Department of Pastoral Psychology - succeeding famous psychiatrist, academician Dr. Vladeta Jerotic. His lectures have been attended not only by students of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, but other Belgrade faculties as well.

Together with a group of experts: psychologists, doctors, criminologists, sociologists, Bishop Porfirije founded a civic association that deals with the resocialization of victims of destructive religious sects and cults.

Bishop Porfirije has not been just president of the Steering Board for a decade, but a real spiritus movens of the Humanitarian Fund “Privrednik”, which has provided scholarships for a great number of gifted, but poor pupils and students, regardless of their nationality or religious affiliation.

In 2005, the National Assembly elected him as representative of all Churches and religious communities, to be a member of the Council of the Republic Broadcasting Agency, and in 2008 the RBA elected him its president. As President of the Council of the Republic Broadcasting Agency, Bishop Porfirije supported the long-term interests of society and citizens, unaffected by political influences.

Since then, church radio stations have been heard in the broadcasting spectrum of Serbia. He has made a key contribution to launching of a series of radio and television shows dealing with religious topics.

In 2010, The Holy Assembly of Bishops entrusted him to establish military chaplaincy in the Serbian Armed Forces. The fruits of his labour in that field include not only the suitable legal regulations, but also the selection of military chaplains, the organization and equipping of churches at barracks and performance of the first religious services.

His expert theological works Bishop Porfirije published in magazines both in Serbia and abroad. He participated in a large number of scientific conferences and symposia across the globe.

Bishop Porfirije, as one of the most prominent contemporary Serbian clergymen and intellectuals, has an extremely wide circle of friends, not only in the Homeland, and he fosters personal friendship and close cooperation with priests and representatives of other Churches and religious communities.

He speaks Greek, English, German and uses the Russian language, while his style of communication is always adapted to his interlocutors.

He was enthroned as the Metropolitan of Zagreb and Ljubljana on 13 July 2014 in the Cathedral Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord in Zagreb. The solemn Hierarchal Liturgy was served by Serbian Patriarch Irinej, accompanied by a large number of archbishops of the Serbian Church and other sister Churches, as well as priests and monks, and pious people.

18 February 2021

Source: SPC/Serbian Orthodox Church

Washington, D.C, February 15, 2021 - This year, the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in the United States of America celebrates Sretenje - the Statehood Day of the Republic of Serbia in a virtual manner. The program we prepared on this occasion is available on our Embassy’s official YouTube channel:

Serbia Statehood Day Program

On the occasion of the Statehood Day of the Republic of Serbia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs prepared a video available on the following link:

Statehood Day of the Republic of Serbia

Belgrade, 7 February 2021 - President of the Republic and Supreme Commander of the Serbian Army Aleksandar Vucic attended a demonstration of capabilities of one part of Serbian Army units in the "Rastko Nemanjić" barracks in Pancevo. On this occasion, President Vucic stated that Serbia was ready to continue the EU-facilitated dialogue with Pristina at any point, while respecting also the position of the United States as well as the positions of Russia and China.

Belgrade, 7th February 2021 - President of the United States of America Josef Biden conveyed a letter of congratulation on the Statehood Day of Serbia to the President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić. The congratulation reads as follows:

"On behalf of the American people, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to you and your fellow citizens as you celebrate Serbia's national day on February 15.

As we commemorate 140 years of partnership between our two countries, the United States maintains its enduring commitment to promoting economic cooperation, regional stability, and democratic values. We remain steadfast in our support for Serbia's goal of European integration and encourage you to continue taking the hard steps forward to reach that aim - including instituting necessary reforms and reaching a comprehensive normalization agreement with Kosovo centered on mutual recognition. The strength of our relationship is built on a deep history of people-to-people ties, fighting as allies in both World Wars, and we celebrate the great contributions Serbians have made to American society across many fields. We also value our close cooperation in combatting the COVID-19 pandemic as we jointly confront this unprecedented global challenge.

I look forward to working with you to deepen the bonds of friendship between our countries and to strengthen the relationship between Serbia and the United States. I wish you and the people of the Serbia a joyful celebration", reads the congratulation of the U.S. President Biden. 

Belgrade, 26 January 2021 - Serbia's foreign policy positions are naturally being adjusted to the new developments at the international level, but our foreign policy priorities have not changed in a long time. Our top and most important interest is to preserve good-neighbourly relations and stability and peace in the region and, in the same context, to find a peaceful and just solution to the problems in Kosovo and Metohija, Serbian Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic said in an interview with Politika daily.

Another lasting interest of ours is full membership of the European Union, because this is the type of society we strive for. At the bilateral level, our goal is to strengthen ties with traditional friends, the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China, but also to build new partner relations with the United States. One of the most important tasks of our foreign policy is to improve the position and protect the rights and identity of our people in the region, as well as to provide various types of support to Serbs in the diaspora. All these are very important and more often than not complementary goals, Nikola Selakovic pointed out.

Belgrade, 26 January 2021 - The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia Nikola Selaković expressed his congratulations tonight to Antony Blinken on his appointment as the new United States Secretary of State.

“Warm congratulations to Antony Blinken on his appointment - we look forward to celebrating 140th anniversary of Serbian-US relations this year by intensifying our cooperation," Selakovic said on the Ministry's Twitter account.

Washington D.C, 25 January 2021 – Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the US Marko Djuric had a meeting with Mr. Stuart Jones, President for Regions and Corporate Affairs at Bechtel who is in charge of monitoring the construction of Morava Corridor Motorway Project connecting central Serbia and Pan-European Corridors 10 and 11.

Djuric and Jones expressed mutual satisfaction over the current dynamics of the construction works at the Morava Corridor which shall connect Western and Eastern Serbia, ie. all major cities in Central Serbia between Cacak and Pojate – Krusevac, Kraljevo, Trstenik, Vrnjacka Banja.

Jones conveyed thankfulness of the Bechtel management for the excellent cooperation with Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, as well as with other competent authorities in our country. The interlocutors also discussed the possibility of Bechtel’s participation in construction of the “peace highway” between Nis and Pristina.

Ambassador Djuric remarked that projects such as the Morava Corridor send a clear signal to investors that Serbia is a safe destination for business and project implementation. As he pointed out, the opening of the Regional Office of the International Development Financial Corporation (DFC) in Belgrade speaks in favor of that. DFC represents a significant incentive not only for Serbia, its citizens and our further economic growth, but also for the economy of the entire region.

The US company Bechtel is one of the world leaders in the field of engineering, construction and project management.

The contract on the construction of the Morava Corridor, i.e. the E-761 highway, the Pojate-Preljina section, was concluded on December 5, 2019 between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Bechtel-Enka Joint Venture in the presence of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

The Morava Corridor’s planned length is 112 kilometers, and, as the first digital highway in our country, it will encompass the area of roughly 500,000 population.

Washington D.C, 22 January 2021 – Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the US Marko Djuric gave a lecture and engaged in a discussion with students attending Conflict Management Program at SAIS (School of Advanced International Studies), Johns Hopkins University.

The topic was Belgrade – Pristina Dialogue in the broader context of security, political, economic, social, rule of law and international relation issues.

Ambassador Djuric shared his experience and views on the key challenges of the Belgrade – Pristina Dialogue. He emphasized the need for retaining stability in the region as a precondition for further economic recovery and growth of Serbia. Therefore, Ambassador Djuric underlined the importance of joint efforts towards a more comprehensive political resolution.

He shared a view of the region based on European model without boundaries with free flow of people and goods and greater connections in every sense.

The introductory note made by the Ambassador was followed by a fruitful interaction with students in which the Ambassador addressed a set of questions posed by the students.

Additionally, Ambassador Djuric noted the importance of maintaining and fostering relations between Serbia and the US that will let for discovering new areas of cooperation in promoting peace and stability in the Balkans and that will provide new economic opportunities.

Washington, D.C, 21 January 2021 - Serbian Ambassador to Washington Marko Djuric says exclusively for B92.net that the inauguration of US President Joe Biden was very dignified.

"The inauguration itself was very dignified and completely peaceful. Considering that it took place only two weeks after the scenes of violence in the Congress, the inauguration was marked by an incomparably larger presence of representatives of practically all security forces," Djurić, who represented Serbia at the ceremony, told our portal.

Belgrade, 21 January 2021 - Prime Minister Ana Brnabić talked today with the ambassadors of the Quint countries and the Head of the European Union Delegation about the continuation of reforms on Serbia's path to membership in the European Union.

Brnabić confirmed that full membership in the EU remains a key foreign policy priority of Serbia, emphasizing that reforms in the area of the rule of law are in the focus of the government of Serbia.

She pointed out that Serbia is sincerely committed to the implementation of radical reforms in the field of justice, the fight against corruption, the strengthening of independent institutions and the freedom of the media, and added that much has already been done in practice.

Belgrade, 20 January 2021 - President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić conveyed congratulations to the newly elected President of the United States of America, Joseph Biden, which reads as follows:

"Please accept my sincere congratulations on the occasion of taking the office of the President of the United States of America, as well as my best wishes for your good health and every success, to the benefit of your country and all its citizens.

I deeply believe that you will perform your duties with true devotion, endless energy and clear vision, typical for your long political career and rich experience of a statesman. There is nothing more honorable than serving your country, not slowing down in front of big challenges brought by uncertain times the world is unwillingly facing.

Dear President,

This year we celebrate the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Serbia and the USA. In the previous period, we marked important jubilees from our common history, remembering the bright examples of our alliance on the side of truth and justice. Precisely those examples were a strong incentive for us in Serbia to strive to bring back relations with the USA to the level of true partnership, the way they used to and should be, despite scars left by times of lack of understanding and disagreements. I am convinced that, with mutual respect and common values, you will be our partner in strengthening political dialogue and economic cooperation.

Allow me, therefore, to extend to you the invitation to visit Serbia, now as the President of the USA, with a hope that you have fond memories of a visit in 2016 and that a wish for richer Serbian-American ties is mutual", reads the congratulation of President Vučić. 

Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Serbia has announced an Open Call for the Co-Financing of Projects for the Translation of Representative Works of Serbian Literature into Foreign Languages in 2021. The Open Call is valid from January 19 to March 9, 2021. 

More information on the Open Call, aimed at encouraging the translation of representative works of Serbian literature into foreign languages, along with the Submission Form and other related documents, is available in both Serbian and English on the official website of the Ministry:

https://www.kultura.gov.rs/konkurs/30/600690372a8d5

Washington D.C, 19 January 2021 - Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the US Marko Djuric spoke today with the representatives of Every Woman Treaty, an umbrella organization gathering more than 1,700 women’s rights advocates, including 840 organizations in 128 countries.

Ambassador Djuric expressed his support for the work of this significant organization in their efforts to prevent gender-based violence.

„Through direct implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, better known as the Istanbul Convention, Serbia has become one of the European leaders in ending gender-based violence", said Djuric.

According to the Ambassador, Serbia implemented 42,900 urgent measures expelling the violators from their homes, and passed 35,834 individual protection plans by 2019 inclusive.

Ambassador Djuric also pointed out that Serbian society strongly supports any initiative aimed at ending gender-based violence.

„By continuously advancing national legislation during the governments of Aleksandar Vucic and Ana Brnabic, as well as by implementing relevant international regulations in this field, Serbia has demonstrated a responsible and serious approach in opposing any form of violence against women and domestic violence", Djuric concluded.

Washington, D.C, 18 January 2021 - Serbia joins the United States in celebrating Martin Luther King’s Day, the occasion of which was the topic of Ambassador Marko Djuric’s post on Twitter.

“On this day, we remember and honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. which continues in our hearts, minds, and souls, for his words, values, and his dream are everlasting and universal for all mankind.“, he wrote in his Tweet.

He also cited a quote by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

Today, the United States of America is celebrating the Day of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a Baptist minister who was one of the most prominent civil rights leaders. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1964.

In his fight for the equality of African Americans, King advocated the use of nonviolent means and civil disobedience.

He was assassinated in Memphis, on April 4, 1968, right before his speech within the Poor People's Campaign, which he had initiated earlier that year.

Dr. Martin Luther King is considered to be one of the most eloquent speakers in US history. Today, his sermons and speeches, such as “Loving Your Enemies” and “I Have a Dream”, represent not only the American legacy but the legacy of the entire mankind.

In an exclusive column for the Pavlovic Today (read full article here), new Serbian Ambassador to the US, Marko Djuric, writes about Serbia’s strong partnership with the US.

Washington, D.C, 14 January 2021 - This year marks an important anniversary for The United States and Serbia: 140 years have passed since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two great countries.

In 1881, when just a handful of modern countries even existed (slightly more than two dozen, at the time), our two nations were already exchanging envoys, trading, and signing international treaties, some of which are still in place to this very day.

Through both World Wars, relations between Serbia and The United States remained steadfast, as millions of Serbs fought alongside Americans for values held in common by the two peoples.

Belgrade, 12 January 2021 - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic pointed out that Serbia is the first in Europe in terms of economic growth, which will be officially confirmed at the end of March, and that this was possible owing to the reform measures taken since 2014 and the rapid opening of the country after the first wave of corona virus.

The President pointed out that Serbia had a growth of 5.2 percent in the first quarter, while the Eurozone was at minus 3.2 percent, in the second quarter Serbia had a minus of 6.3 percent, while the Eurozone was at minus 14.7 percent, and in the third quarter, when the Eurozone was at minus 4.3 percent, Serbia's figure was only minus 1.4 percent. Vucic stated that Montenegro, for example, recorded as much as 26 percent minus in the third quarter.

Belgrade, 10 January 2021 - Prime Minister Ana Brnabic stated today that Serbia's desire is to build better relations with the United States and that she will try to do so.

Answering the question of the journalists, during the visit to the University Children's Clinic "Tirsova", Brnabic reminded that the arrival of Joseph Biden to the position of the President of the USA will affect relations with Serbia, reminded that America is one of the most important partners of our country.

The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction that Serbia managed to do a lot to improve relations during the mandate of Donald Trump.

I would also like to thank US Ambassador Anthony Godfrey. We want to continue to build even better relations between the United States and Serbia, the Prime Minister emphasised.

Washington, D.C, 7 January 2021 - I hope that we have passed a critical point in our relations with the United States, where Serbia has confirmed itself as a constructive international factor, a responsible state, a guardian of regional stability and a growing economy - said Serbian Ambassador to the United States Marko Djuric

Could the change of the US administration shake relations between Belgrade and Washington, which had taken an upward path in recent months, how will Biden's victory reflect on the Kosovo issue, what is happening with the Washington agreement and how will friendly ties and cooperation between Serbia and the US be strengthened? We spoke about these and other current topics with the ambassador of Serbia to the United States Marko Djuric who, in an interview with Telegraf.rs, summarized the year behind us and revealed the plans for the coming period.

Belgrade, 3 January 2021 - Our compatriots living abroad are one of the great potentials that the state has not recognized in the right way so far, which is why a different approach is needed to the issue of how to strengthen our diaspora and use the good will of people who are potential lobbyists for the interests of Serbia and the Serbian people, Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic said.

"When it comes to Serbs in the diaspora, and especially in the region, this issue has been a kind of an unattended crop which requires a lot of work, and even when a lot is done at once this is not apparent immediately ", Minister Selakovic stated in an interview with Tanjug.

Belgrade, 2 January 2021 - This year, Serbia could finally have Ambassadors and Consuls General appointed to about a third of the currently vacant positions in the country's diplomatic and consular missions in the world, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Selakovic is convinced that most of these positions will be filled, as he points out, by the best possible people.

"In the next year, I am convinced that the majority of these vacancies will be filled", Selakovic told Tanjug, emphasizing that the work is being done gradually, because the state wants to show that is has a quality staff who will represent Serbia's interests in the best possible way.

Belgrade, 29 December 2020 - Preservation of peace, taking care of the health and better living standard are key for Serbia in 2021, underlined President of the Republic Aleksandar Vucic, convinced that even though the completion of this ambitious and by no means easy task will be anything but straightforward, best results can be achieved by working in concert with the Government, while ensuring security and a future of certainty for the citizens.

The President said that Serbia has set for itself great and ambitious goals for the next year, notwithstanding the complex international and regional circumstances, and that it will endeavour to fully preserve peace and stability in the region and the country, while safeguarding the vital national and state interests.

Washington, D.C, 28 December 2020 - Serbia is sincerely committed to opening an entirely new chapter in the relations with the United States and that commitment of ours is not determined by specific appointments in the White House. I hope that we will have an excellent cooperation and partner relations with the administration of the new President of the United States of America Joseph Biden.

Serbia is sincerely committed to opening an entirely new chapter in the relations with the United States and that commitment of ours is not determined by specific appointments in the White House or political composition of the key U.S. institutions, the newly-appointed Serbian Ambassador to the United States Marko Djuric said in an interview for Politika.

Belgrade, 24 December 2020 - Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia Ana Brnabic received today the first vaccine against the coronavirus made by Pfizer company, at the Torlak Institute of Virology, Vaccines and Sera.

Brnabic, who is the first European Prime Minister to receive the vaccine, pointed out that this day may be the first since 6 March that we have a reason for a smile on our faces as it marks the beginning of the end of the coronavirus pandemic in Serbia, but also in Europe and the world.

For all information regarding COVID 19 entry requirements into The Republic of Serbia, please follow the link below:

https://www.mfa.gov.rs/en/citizens/travel-serbia/covid-19-entry-requirements

In light of the upcoming Serbian federal holiday Statehood Day, The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Washington DC will be closed to the public on Monday February 15th and Tuesday February 16th.
For emergencies contact our emergcy telephone number: (202) 706-0209

We would like to inform you that the Association of Journalists of Serbia (UNS), with the support of the Directorate for Cooperation with the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will organize the Tenth Media Conference of the Diaspora and Serbs in the region on December 29, 2020.
Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, the conference will be held via ZOOM application.
The topic of the Tenth Conference will be the work of the media, organizations and associations of Serbs from the region and the diaspora during the pandemic caused by the COVID 19 virus, as well as whether and how the pandemic affected the quality of work and economic sustainability of media activities of Serbs in the diaspora and region.
In the second part of the Conference, the UNS website www.umrezavanje.rs will be presented, launched on the occasion of the tenth jubilee Conference with the idea of representing a platform for networking media and organizations of Serbs from the region and the diaspora with the home country.
Interested representatives of the media, associations and organizations can send applications for participation in the conference to the e-mail address ana.petronijevic@uns.rs until December 17, 2020.

On the occasion of 10 December, the International Human Rights Day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia reaffirms its commitment to the principles and values of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted on this day in 1948.

The principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights have been the foundation for the development of international law in this field, and of the international system for the promotion and protection of human rights, as a unique achievement of modern civilization. It is incumbent upon us today to safeguard and strengthen the international system ensuring respect for human rights, to develop human rights standards, control the implementation of commitments, and also to continue cooperating with international and regional institutions on the protection of human rights.

Serbia is fully committed to the universal values of human rights and implementing in practice the international legal instruments relating to human rights. Our continued cooperation with the Human Rights Council mechanisms in the framework of the United Nations, with the Council of Europe and the mechanisms of the OSCE human dimension, represents an important segment of activities carried out by all state authorities, thus demonstrating our consistent commitment to the implementation of international human rights standards.

The international Human Rights Day is an opportunity to point out once again that Serb and other non-Albanian population is being deprived of its rights in Kosovo and Metohija and to call again on the international community to ensure the respect for the guaranteed international human rights norms and contribute to creating conditions for the return of internally displaced persons and giving them back their usurped property.

The consular section of The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Washington DC will resume work with the public beginning Tuesday, December 8th. In order to schedule an appointment, please call the consular section by phone. 

Due to a confirmed COVID-19 infection of one of the employees, The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Washington DC, as well as the consular section, in accordance to the CDC recommendation, will be closed to the public until at least December 4th, 2020. For all urgent matters please call the emergency telephone number: +(202) 706 - 0209

Washington, D.C, November 20, 2020 - Following the repose of His Holiness Irinej, Archbishop of Peć, Metropolitan of Belgrade-Karlovci and Serbian Patriarch, and bearing in mind the current COVID-19 pandemic, the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia to the United States opened a virtual Book of Condolences.
Statements and letters of condolence will be received via the following email address: info@serbiaembusa.org.

In order to promote the Republic of Serbia as a favorable destination for business and investment in research and development and new technologies, the Government of the Republic of Serbia prepared a brochure titled "SERBIA - Emerging tech development hub" which is downloadable at: https://innovations.serbiacreates.rs/.

 Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Washington D.C. in observance of the US National Holliday Labor Day will be closed on Monday, September 7, 2020.

In accordance with the Decision of the Government of the Republic of Serbia on the termination of the Decision on closing all border crossings for entry into the Republic of Serbia, i.e. the possibility of entry of all foreign nationals into the Republic of Serbia without permits, conditions have been created for issuing visas for foreign nationals in all diplomatic-consular missions of the Republic of Serbia, with the application of preventive measures in order to prevent the spread of the COVID - 19 disease (wearing masks and gloves, keeping a distance, making an appointment for visits, etc.).

We would like to inform you that the Government of the Republic of Serbia, at its session on 21 May 2020, passed the Decision on termination of the Decision on closing all border crossings for entry into the Republic of Serbia - which terminated that decision passed on 19 March 2020,  the Decision on termination of the Decision on closing border crossings - which terminated that decision, as well as the Decision on amendments to the Decision on declaring COVID-19 disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus a contagious disease, which entered into force on 22 May 2020.
By all these decisions, all border crossings of the Republic of Serbia have been opened and they are functioning in the usual regime as of today.
Amendments to the Decision on declaring the COVID-19 disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus a contagious disease lifted the ban on entering the Republic of Serbia, as well as epidemiological measures for all categories of domestic and foreign nationals. (without consent / permission, isolation measures and mandatory possession of a negative PCR test).

The Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government has published a statement regarding the fake website for applying for voting from abroad, which can be downloaded at the link:
http://mduls.gov.rs/saopstenja/vazno-upozorenje-lazan-sajt-za-prijavu-za-glasanje-iz-inostranstva/

We would like to inform you that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia - Directorate for Cooperation with the Diaspora and Serbs in the region (MSP - USDSR), has closed the Competition for co-financing projects that will, by their quality, contribute to preserving and strengthening the ties between the homeland and the diaspora and the homeland and the Serbs in the region.

The competition will be open again once the state of emergency ends.

Washington D.C., March 16, 2020
President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic announced yesterday, on Marh 15th, that due to the coronavirus situation, a decision was made to declare a state of emergency throughout the Republic of Serbia.

President Vučić said at a press conference that the decision was made after meeting of the Covid-19 crisis response team and the crisis team for eliminating the possible and harmful effects of the coronavirus on the economy at the Palace of Serbia, which he chaired.

The state of emergency came into force immediately after the decision is published in the Official Gazette, after which a government session was held to adopt a decree on emergency measures.

Accordingly, the borders of the Republic of Serbia are closed to all foreign nationals, with the exception of diplomats accredited in Serbia and foreigners with a residence permit or permanently resident in Serbia. Citizens of the Republic of Serbia, as well as accredited diplomats and foreign nationals residing in the Republic of Serbia, who enter the Republic of Serbia, are under criminal responsibility for at least 14 days in self-isolation. This measure will be strictly controlled and its violation will be most severely sanctioned. Citizens will be provided with a legally binding solution upon entering the country. Imprisonment for violation of this provision is up to three years in prison. This is very important to reduce the movement of citizens, which is one of the main reasons for introducing a state of emergency in order to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

For citizens of the Republic of Serbia and foreign nationals residing in the Republic of Serbia who come from the Swiss Confederation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Romania, the Kingdom of Spain, the Federal Republic of Germany, the French Republic, the Republic of Austria, the Republic of Slovenia and the Republic of Greece isolation for 28 days.

These measures do not apply to:

Crews of freight motor vehicles when performing international road transport. In the case of international road traffic burden, the stay is limited to a period of no longer than 12 hours from the moment of entry into the territory of the Republic of Serbia;

Crew of freight ships carrying goods into one of the domestic ports. In the case of transit sailing on the international water road on the territory of the Republic of Serbia, it is limited to a period of no longer than 90 hours for ship's supply and 60 hours for self-propelled vessels from the moment of entering the territory of the Republic of Serbia in the event of water sailing. In the case of downwater, the stay in the waters of the Republic of Serbia is limited to the period not longer than 72 hours for ship's supply and 54 hours for self-guiding vessels from the moment of entry into the territory of the Republic of Serbia;

Driving staff of railway vehicles entering the zone of border stations established by intergovernmental agreements;
Crew and cabin staff of aircraft whose ultimate destination is the Republic of Serbia or in transit through international airports of the Republic of Serbia;

Persons who received the consent to enter the Republic of Serbia from the government's working body, consisting of representatives of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Interior Affairs and the Ministry of Construction, Transport and infrastructure.

The humanitarian convoys contracted by diplomatic way (under compulsory escort).
  

The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia would like to announce that the Serbian Parliamentary elections will be held on the 26th of April 2020.

For more information regarding the upcoming elections, please visit the Serbian version of our website by clicking one of the links in the top right corner labeled “ћирилица” or “latinica”.

February 18th, 2020 - Students representing Warwick Middle School Future City team from Lititz, Pennsylvania chose the city of Belgrade as their project in the Future City Competition held from February 15-19, 2020 in Washington D.C.

During their stay, they visited our Embassy with their parents and teachers, and held a special presentation for H.E. Ambassador Djerdj Matkovic and the Embassy staff, sharing their vision of Belgrade in the future.

February 11th, 2020 - H.E. Ambassador Djerdj Matkovic addressed the Guild of Professional Tour Guides of Washington D.C. at the National Portrait Gallery and presented the beauties of Serbia within the promotional activities for the 19th World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations Convention to be hosted by Novi Sad from February 3-7, 2021.

On behalf of our colleagues from the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Ottawa and the Consulate General of the Republic of Serbia in Toronto, we invite you to attend the central celebration of the Statehood Day of the Republic of Serbia in Canada with the illumination of the Niagara Falls with the colors of the Serbian flag. This special event can also be viewed from the American side of the waterfalls.

The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Washington DC, informs that we will be closed on Tuesday , February 11,  2020 due to technical reasons, and on Monday February 17, 2020 for the celebration of the National day of the Republic of Serbia. 

By decisions no. 20/30-2020/01 and no. 21/30-2020/01 od 16 January 2020, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - The Office for Cooperation with the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region has launched calls for proposals for the co-financing of projects that, through their quality, contribute to the preservation and strengthening of ties between the home country and the Serbs of the region and the home country and the Diaspora. The competition is open from 20 January to 10 February 2020. All information about the competition and the application procedure can be found at MoFA-OCDSR site (currently in Serbian only)

January 20th, 2020, Washington D.C - H.E. Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the US Djerdj Matkovic had the pleasure of hosting more than 30 tourist guides from The Guild of Professional Tour Guides of Washington D.C. and taking them on a virtual journey through Serbia. The event was meant to kick off a series of promotional events leading to the 19th Convention of World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations to be held in Novi Sad, Serbia on February 3-7, 2021.

During the upcoming holidays, New Year and Christmas, The Embassy of The Republic of Serbia will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday on January  1st and 2nd, and  Tuesday, January 7th 2020.

During the upcoming holiday, Christmas Day, The Embassy of The Republic of Serbia will be closed on Wednesday, December 24th.

Washington, December 12, 2019 - Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia, Djerdj Matković and his wife Vera, attended the annual State Department holiday reception hosted by Secretary Pompeo.

Dear citizens,
The National Bank of Serbia has created a Financial guide for returning citizens, in order to further inform our citizens who wish to return to Serbia,  concerning monetary regulations, to help them achieve simpler, more efficient integration, as well as managing their funds.
The Financial guide may be accessed using the following links:
https://www.nbs.rs/internet/latinica/20/plp/finansijski_vodic_za_povratnike.pdf
English version
https://www.nbs.rs/internet/english/20/dev/finansijski_vodic_za_povratnike_e.pdf

The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia to the US and the Alliance Française de Washington DC are jointly organizing a free screening of a 2013 documentary titled "Milunka Savic - the great war heroine" at the Alliance Française on October 16th, 2019 at 7 PM.

Milunka Savic was the most decorated woman of World War I, who fought on the front side-by-side with Serbian soldiers. The filming of the story was preceded by several months of research and shooting in Serbia and France, given that Milunka Savic had been awarded the highest decorations of the armies of both countries: the gold Karageorge Star with Swords, the Legion of Honor of Fifth Degree, the French War Cross, and the Oblich Medal for Bravery.

The film is not only the testimony of an admirable female fighter, but also a story about the woman who raised three adopted girls together with her daughter, and who provided for the education of 30 more children. Milunka Savic’s quotations, photos from the family album, and the only preserved video recordings of her were used in the film. The documentary is supplemented with reconstructions of scenes from Milunka’s life.

The reason for my stay in Washington D.C. is the participation at the Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom. The U.S. is organizing this Conference for the second time. Representatives from more than 100 countries took part in the event this year, with more than 20 Foreign Ministers in attendance.

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke at the conference.

I took the opportunity to point to the difficult position of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Serbian believers in Kosovo and Metohija, and to all crimes committed in Kosovo and Metohija against Christian worshippers and religious sites of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

I also had talks with U.S. senior officials. I spoke with National Security Adviser John Bolton, Assistant Secretary of State Philip Reeker and Senator Ron Johnson.

The topic of all these talks was the situation in the region and the talks were extremely good. It has been reasserted that the position of Serbia concerning the dialogue with Pristina is being highly valued. It was clearly indicated who was responsible for interrupting the dialogue and what was the way forward, meaning that the tariffs must go in order for the dialog to continue. In that context, all talks were very useful and we presented our views once again, i.e. that we stand ready to continue the dialog but do not accept unilateral acts by Pristina, demonstrating that they don't want any compromise.

U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton underlined that finding a peaceful and lasting solution to the Kosovo issue figured high on the list of U.S. foreign policy priorities. We expect even greater engagement by the United States in the coming period in order to exert additional pressure to lift tariffs and create conditions for the continuation of the dialog", the Head of Serbian diplomacy said after the meetings in Washington D.C.

Washington, D.C, July 18th, 2019 - First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic met today in Washington D.C, on the sidelines of the Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom, with Mr. John Bolton, National Security Adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump.

In the talks, Minister Dacic expressed interest of the Republic of Serbia to further enhance bilateral relations with the United States and raise it to a higher level, especially bearing in mind the alliance of the two countries in both World Wars.

Concurring with the assessment made by Minister Dacic about the necessity for further improving bilateral relations at all levels, National Security Adviser John Bolton specifically emphasized the resolve of the incumbent U.S. Administration to support as early as possible continuation of the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, facilitated by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

The Head of Serbian diplomacy voiced determination of the Republic of Serbia, as a guarantor of regional security and stability, to further advance security and stability in the region and conveyed readiness of Serbia for an open cooperation with the United States.

The Orfelin Circle is organizing its tenth Movie Festival titled "Best of the Orfelin Circle's 10 years of Serbian Docs & Shorts" in the Avalon Theater, Washington D.C, on June 13th and 16th, 2019. The entrance is free, and all movies are with English subtitles.

For more information, please visit: http://www.orfelin.org/10festival_e.html

INVITATION FOR BIDS

EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA

Disassembly of Iron bars, French balcony, and main entrance overhang

BID # 01/2019

BID DUE DATE: February 08, 2019

BID DUE TIME: 5:00 P.M.

Receive bids for disassembly of 3 Iron bars (1st floor), 3 French balconies (2nd floor) and 1 Overhang (main entrance, 1st floor), and loading into the container for shipment. Bids will be opened by the Embassy committee. Bids received after closing time will be declined. Notice of the award of contract shall be given by the Embassy within seven days from received approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia.Bids shall be guaranteed for a period of thirty (30) days after the opening of bids.

I. GENERAL INTENT, REQUIREMENTS AND CONDITIONS 1.0 GENERAL INTENT – It is the intent of the Embassy of Serbia to solicit competitive bids for disassembling and loading of above mentioned things.All interesting parties can see scope of work at the embassy premises: 2221 R STREET,NW WASHINGTON DC,20008

For any clarifications, detailed or additional description of the bid, please contact the Embassy liaison officer, Mr. Nebojsa Lukovic, via e-mail: lukaja@yahoo.com or cveze@serbiaembusa.org All bids can be sent by fax no: 202 332-3933 or via e-mail at: info@serbiaembusa.org and lukaja@yahoo.com or cveze@serbiaembusa.org

Washington D.C, December 4, 2018 - David Vuich, Chairman Emeritus of the Tesla Science Foundation presented Ted Poe with an engraved trophy in appreciation of the Congressman's valued support to the Tesla Science Foundation.

During the past several years, Mr. Vuich has interfaced with the Congressman and his professional staff in an attempt to submit a formal request to the Director of the Smithsonian to recognize and consider a dedicated Tesla exhibit at the Museum. As a result of a Congressional Dear Colleague letter, the Smithsonian has agreed to establish a dialogue with the Tesla Museum in Belgrade in order to determine available artifacts that may be available for display.

At its meeting on Ocober/8/2018, the Government of the Republic of Serbia adopted the Decision on the termination of the Decision on visa exemption for the nationals of the Islamic Republic of Iran, holding ordinary passports.The decision is published in the "Official Gazette of the Republc of Serbia" No. 75/2018 on October/9/2018 and enters in force on October/17/2018. From that date, citzens of the Isamic Republic of Iran, holders of ordinary passports, for entry, transit and stay on the teritory of the Republic of Serbia, need a visa.

Washington D.C, August 11th, 2018 – Washington D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation organized a soccer tournament called “DC Embassy World Cup” that took place concurrently with the World Cup in the Russian Federation. The tournament was supported by the Embassy of the Russian Federation and Washington D.C. Mayor Ms. Muriel Bowser.

Our team, which consisted of the players from Serbian diaspora and from the Embassy of Serbia, won the first place.

Sixteen different embassies participated in this football tournament in which groups were formed in accordance with the World Cup in the Russian Federation. During the group phase, the Serbian team won two and lost one game. Nevertheless, one loss in the group phase did not prevent our team to be dominant in the playoff stage and beat Peru, Uruguay, and Brazil before reaching the finals of this prestigious tournament.

Due to the poor weather conditions, the finals were postponed a few times until finally scheduled to be played in the Jellef Recreation Center on Sunday, August 11.

In the third place game, Brazil was able to beat France and finish as third in the tournament.

In the final game, Serbian team faced Argentina. During an uncertain and exciting game, Serbia was able to win with the final score of 4-1.

The winning trophy was handed by one of the Washington D.C. officials. Other awards and recognitions were also handed during the final ceremony.

The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia would hereby like to thank and congratulate all the players who contributed to this enormous success. With that being said, the Embassy would also like to thank Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Football Association of Serbia for providing national jerseys for the Serbian team.

Belgrade, 28th July 2018 - The address of the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic at the ceremony in the residence of the U.S. Ambassador Kyle Scott on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the flying of the Serbian flag above the White House

Washington, D.C, 27th July 2018 - First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic was on a two-day visit to the U.S., to attend the Ministerial Conference dedicated to religious freedoms and the ceremony marking the hundredth anniversary of flying the Serbian flag over the White House.

Washington, D.C, 26th July 2018 - Following is a statement by H.E. Mr. Ivica Dacic, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, at the Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom

Washington, D.C, 26th July 2018 - During his two-day visit to the United States to attend the Ministerial conference dedicated to religious freedom and on the occasion of the ceremony marking the hundredth anniversary of flying the Serbian flag over the White House, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic met with John Bolton, Assistant for National Security Affairs to U.S. President Donald Trump.

In the talks, Minister Dacic expressed the interest of the Republic of Serbia to further promote and upgrade bilateral relations with the U.S., especially taking into account the alliance between the two countries in the First and the Second World War.

Expressing his agreement with the Minister's assessment that the bilateral relations between Serbia and the U.S. need to be further promoted on all levels, National Security Advisor Bolton stressed in particular the readiness of the U.S. Administration for close cooperation with the Army and the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Serbia.

The Serbian Foreign Minister took this opportunity to stress the commitment of the Republic of Serbia, a guarantor of regional security and stability, to further strengthen them. In that context, he expressed Serbia's readiness to engage in open cooperation with the United States of America.

Washington, D.C, 25th July 2018 - First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic, together with Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic and Prime Minister of the Republic of Srpska Zeljka Cvijanovic, participated in a ceremony held at the United States Congress to mark the 100th anniversary since the Serbian flag flew over the White House.

Washington, D.C, 24th July 2018 - First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic, who is on a two-day visit to the United States, met in Washington, D.C. with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Wess Mitchell.

In the talks, both sides confirmed their readiness to strengthen bilateral relations.

The collocutors also noted the readiness to work jointly on regional stability, as well as the need for a negotiated settlement of the Kosovo and Metohija issue.

Washington D.C, Jun 30, 2018 – Concurrently with the World Cup in the Russian Federation, the DC Department of Parks and Recreation is organizing a football tournament called “DC Embassy World Cup”. The tournament hosts those foreign embassies in Washington DC area that represent countries participating in the World Cup. In the third game played on Saturday, June 30, 2018, the Embassy of Serbia team, strengthened by representatives of Serbian diaspora from Washington D.C. and the surrounding areas, was able to beat the Embassy of Brazil with the score of 5-2, thus qualifying for the final round of the tournament, which will symbolically end on July 14, 2018.

Visual-literary exhibit "Тамо далеко: 1918-2018" / "Over There, So Far Away: 1918-2018” will be on display on Thursday, July 26, 2018 between 12:30 pm - 5 pm at the National Press Club, Washington DC.

Thе event is free and open to the public. Due to limited space, registration is required on the event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/2080186138917757/

This year's Festival titled "The Orfelin Circle Presents: Serbian Contemporary Short and Documentary Film - Washington 2018" will be held at The Avalon Theater, 5612 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Chevy Chase, Washington, D.C. on June 10th, 2018 at 8 pm.

Movies are with English sub-titles. Detailed information about the program can be found at the website: www.orfelin.org.

Belgrade, May 24th, 2018 - Defence Minister Aleksandar Vulin has met today with US Congressman Brigadier General Steven Stivers from the Ohio National Guard, who is visiting the Republic of Serbia. The two interlocutors discussed the continuation of the development of bilateral military cooperation, with emphasis on cooperation within the framework of the Serbia–Ohio National Guard State Partnership Program, which lasts more than 11 years.

S E R B I A N A

Vocal chamber ensemble

P r e s e n t s

“An Evening of Serbian Music”

Saturday, May 12, 2018 at 7:30pm

Music Department Concert Hall, Montgomery College, Rockville

Los Angeles, 23rd April 2018 - In the presence of State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Nemanja Stevanovic, the Consulate of the Republic of Serbia headed by Honorary Consul Mr. Ryan F. Osborne, M.D. was formally launched in Los Angeles on 21 April 2018. The Consulate of the Republic of Serbia in Los Angeles will have consular jurisdiction in the territory of the federal state of California.

New Orleans, 20th April 2018 – At the invitation of the Mayor of New Orleans Mitch Landrieu, the Ambassador Djerdj Matkovic attended the City’s Tricentennial celebration.

During his visit, the Ambassador met with Louisiana Governor John Bell Edward, the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Serbia Greg Rusovich, and the representatives of the Serbian diaspora.

Belgrade, 20th April 2018 - State Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Toncev had talks today with U.S. Ambassador to Serbia Kyle Scott and U.S. Ambassador to Croatia Robert Kohorst.

During the talks, the State Secretary emphasized that the relations between Serbia and the United States were of extreme importance to our country. He underlined that Serbia was firmly committed to EU membership and that it was investing efforts towards regional stability and development.

U.S. Ambassadors were interested in the bilateral relations between Serbia and Croatia and the State Secretary provided a detailed account thereof, pointing out that a number of joint commissions and committees had been established to deal with the bilateral issues.

State Secretary Ivica Toncev told his collocutors that Serbia's primary goal was to maintain peace, stability and safety of the Western Balkan region to which we contributed by our constructive approach and would continue to do so in the future as well. He emphasized that the relations between Serbia and Croatia were of crucial importance to the regional stability and that incidents such as the one during the visit of the Members of the Croatian Parliament to the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia should not be heeded. He said that during his recent visit to Zagreb President Vucic was also exposed to even more offensive acts but still did not cut short his visit which was surely good since it invigorated the dialogue between the two neighboring countries.

The collocutors agreed that good relations between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Croatia were of particular importance to the lasting stability of the Western Balkans.

Belgrade, 13th April 2018 - Address delivered by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic on the occasion of 100th anniversary of allied relations between the Serbs and Jews and between the Serbs and Americans in the First World War:

Belgrade, 5th April 2018 - State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Nemanja Stevanovic has met today with Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State of the United States Matthew Palmer and with US Ambassador to Belgrade Kyle Scott.

State Secretary Stevanovic criticized attacks by the Pristina police against Serbian officials and civilians in northern Kosovo and Metohija, saying they were unacceptable.

He recalled the constructive role that the Republic of Serbia had played in the dialogue so far, as well as non-fulfillment of the commitment by Pristina concerning the establishment of the Community of Serb Municipalities.

Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Palmer condemned the rise in tensions and assessed that the continuation of the Brussels dialogue and the implementation of the agreed was of key importance, being a proper way of securing stability and peace, which was in the interest of all sides.

The two interlocutors also discussed the current situation in the Western Balkan region. In that context, they emphasized the importance of continued dialogue aimed at solving all outstanding issues, as the road leading to prosperity of the countries in the region.

The US collocutor reiterated strong US support to the process as well as to the continuation of Serbia's path towards full EU membership.

Pittsburgh, 24th March 2018 - The Serb National Federation, the Center for Russian and East European Studies at the University of Pittsburgh and the Radio Television of Serbia successfully organized the Serbian Movie Festival at the University of Pittsburgh for the third consecutive time. 

Three films were shown at the Festival: "The Promise," "Serbs on Corfu" and "Santa Maria della Salute."

At the formal reception, the president of the Serb National Federation John Martich, co-chair of the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures at the University of Pitssburgh Nancy Condee and the cultural outreach coordinator of the Serb National Federation Milos Rastovic addressed the audience, which included representatives from the film industry, academic community and the Serbian diaspora.

Washington, D.C, 23rd March 2018 – The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Washington D.C. participated in the Francophonie Cultural Festival in Washington, D.C. The Festival traditionally takes place in March since 2001. Collector of traditional Serbian folklore objects Biljana Regan presented Serbian national costumes, artefacts and handicrafts in the final ceremony held at the French Embassy’s Cultural Centre on 23 March 2018. Promotional and tourist brochures about Serbia were shown and distributed to the visitors, who were also served rakija (plum brandy), wine and traditional desserts.

Young Serbian entrepreneur Dejan Zivanovic displayed the skills of dough and phyllo preparation, which the visitors had the opportunity to master on-site. The demonstration was followed by specialty tasting.

More than 40 Member States and Observers of the International Organization of La Francophonie, including around 1,200 visitors, took part in the event co-hosted by the Embassy of France, a branch of the Smithsonian Institution, and the Alliance Française Foundation. Like in other world cities, this festival celebrates the diversity and richness of the French language, culture and Francophone communities through a number of cultural events and programs.

Washington, D.C, 13th March 2018 - First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic met today with US Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Euro-Asia Wess Mitchell, who is visiting Belgrade as part of his first tour of the region since taking office.

The talks focused on regional stability, Serbia's European path and continuation of the Brussels dialogue.

Wess Mitchell said that the US considered Serbia one of the most important countries in the region and the linchpin of the Balkan stability.

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic said that we appreciated the US support and expressed an interest in continuing positive dynamics in the development of bilateral relations in the future as well, especially in the context of 100th anniversary of flying the Serbian flag over the White House to commemorate US alliance with Serbia.

Assistant Secretary of State Mitchell pointed out that the United States was consistently supporting Serbia's European path and the progress made within the Brussels dialogue.

In order to renew traditional ties of alliance and friendly relations and further step up cooperation and mutual understanding, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic presented Assistant Secretary of State Wess Mitchell with the message of US President Woodrow Wilson, on the occasion of St. Vitus Day (Vidovdan), entitled "Celebrate Kosovo as a day of honor", published in the New York Times on June 19, 1918.

Washinton, D.C, 18th February 2018 - First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic talked today with US Senator Ron Johnson, who is paying a visit to Belgrade. 

The Serbian Foreign Minister and Senator Johnson talked about the time-honoured friendship between the United States of America and Serbia, and about the importance of the relations for both countries and for the region, too.

Today's meeting also discussed possibilities for strengthening bilateral ties, especially in the light of marking 100th anniversary since the then President Woodrow Wilson ordered that the Serbian flag be hoisted over the White House.

Interlocutors also exchanged views on the situation in the region and on the importance of the role played by the Republic of Serbia in the promotion of peace and security, for the region and Europe alike.

Senator Johnson expressed an interest on the part of the United States to assist Belgrade in finding a long-term solution in relations with Pristina. The Senator suggested that the past should not be forgotten but forgiven and left to the past, and that the focus be on the future. He called on both sides to seize an historic opportunity for progress in the normalization of their relations.

Minister Dacic reaffirmed Serbia's readiness to invest efforts in finding a lasting solution that would be in the interest of both sides and aimed at regional stability.

Washington, D.C, 15th February 2018 – The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia and the Defense Attaché Office in Washington organized a formal reception in honor of the Statehood Day and the Armed Forces Day of the Republic of Serbia. The reception took place in the Member’s Room of the Library of Congress with the support of Congressional Serbian Caucus, and its co-presidents Congressmen Ted Poe and Emanuel Cleaver.

The reception was attended by nearly 250 guests, among whom were the representatives of the U.S. administration, diplomatic and military corps and the Serbian diaspora.

Formal addresses were given by the Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia Djerdj Matkovic, congressman Ted Poe, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Palmer, the Assistant Adjutant General of the Ohio Army National Guard Major General John Harris, and the Deputy Secretary of State of Maryland Luis Borunda. On this occasion, Mr. Borunda, while congratulating the Serbia’s Statehood Day, handed a special charter to Ambassador Matkovic on behalf of the governor and the people of Maryland, expressing “their respect, admiration and honor” to the Republic of Serbia.

Washington, D.C, 8th February 2018 - "Within the preparations for the meeting with the United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, I had talks with the US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Wess Mitchell. We had a thorough conversation with the aim of finding common interests shared by the United States and Serbia, to the benefit of stability, peace and future of the entire region and resolution of open issues.

Washinton, D.C, 8th February 2018 - During his visit to Washington, D.C., First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic had a separate meeting with Republican Congressman from Florida Gus Bilirakis.

Minister Dacic and Congressman Bilirakis exchanged views on current bilateral topics.

The Serbian Foreign Minister expressed his gratitude to Congressman Bilirakis for his active contribution to the activities of the Congressional Serbian Caucus in the United States Congress.

A movie by Boris Malagurski "Kosovo: A Moment in Civilization" will be shown in the Avalon Theater,

5612 Connecticut Av. NW, Washington, DC 20015,

on Tuesday, February 20th, 2018.

Tickets can be purchased at: https://bpt.me/3327339.

Washington, D.C, 26th January, 2018 – Ambassador Djerdj Matkovic was a guest at the “This is America and the World” TV show. In a 30-minute interview conducted by the famous American host and reporter Dennis Wholey, a multitude of current and topics from the rich history of Serbia were discussed. Also, Ambassador talked about the tourist and economic potential of Serbia, his goals during his service in the U.S, and the history of bilateral relations between Serbia and the U.S.

The link to the interview is available here. 

Permanent Mission of the Republic of Serbia to the United Nations

is honoured to invite you to the exhibition

"Jasenovac – Right to Remembrance"

at the United Nations Headquarters - New York

26 January – 2 February, from 3pm to 5:30pm (weekend days excluded)

The exhibition is dedicated to the International Holocaust Remembrance Day and is aimed at contributing to the maintenance of universal values of humanity and efforts to preserve the memory of the victims of Jasenovac concentration and extermination camp. 

Mandatory R.S.V.P. to sandra.pejic@serbiamissionun.org at least one day prior to the planned visit in order to obtain access pass to the UN Headquarters

Washington, D.C, 12th December 2017 – The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia and The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts organized a concert of prominent young Serbian artists, soprano Biljana Soldo and pianist Milena Gligic on the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage. The guest of honor at the concert was the famous Peruvian baritone Jose Sasin.

The one-hour program entitled “Celebrate the Holidays with Opera from Around the World” included solo and duet performances of famous works by Serbian, Italian, Austrian, French, Hungarian, Spanish and Mexican composers.

The concert was attended by more than 200 classical music admirers from the diplomatic corps, public and academic life, as well as from the Serbian diaspora.

The link to the conert is available here. 

Washington, D.C, 6th December 2017 – The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Washington, D.C. organized a formal reception for the members of the Women’s Diplomatic Series.

This non-profit, invitation-only organization was founded in 2009, with an aim of enabling its members to acquire knowledge about diverse countries and cultures through dialogue, education and interaction with the Washington diplomatic community.

During the reception, Ambassador Djerdj Matkovic greeted the guests and presented Serbia’s cultural, turist and trade potentials, as well as a brief overview of Serbia’s history and its relations with the U.S.

Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Washington, D.C. 

has the pleasure to cordially invite you to a special performance entitled

“Celebrate the Holidays with Opera from Around the World”

featuring two prominent Serbian artists Biljana Soldo (soprano) and Milena Gligic (pianist),

as well as a special guest Jose Sacín (baritone) from Peru,

to be held on the Millennium Stage of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

on December 12th, 2017 at 6 PM.

This performance is featured as part of the Kennedy Center’s free daily performance series on its Millennium Stage in the Grand Foyer: http://www.kennedy-center.org/video/performance/64265.

We regret that, as the theater reaches capacity, seats cannot be saved for patrons who have not arrived or are not next in line.

No free parking is provided for this event.

DIRECTIONS: http://www.kennedy-center.org/pages/visitor/directions

We look forward to welcoming you!

Washington, D.C. 29 Nov 2017 - First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic participated today in Washington D.C. at the Conference of the Atlantic Council on the Western Balkans.

During the panel discussion entitled "Investing in the Future: Can Entrepreneurs "Fix" the Balkans?" the Serbian Foreign Minister conveyed that the stabilization of the Western Balkans was key to the development of economy in the region. "Economy can have a positive role to play in the context of stabilization of the entire region, but the two are entirely interdependent, meaning there can be no development of the economy without the stabilization of the region." 

"I want to say that in the Western Balkans, we are all major economic partners to each other", noted the Minister pointing to joint infrastructure projects of regional importance such as the construction of motorways and the enhancement of rail transport networks within the region. "Important steps were made by mutual agreement to remove barriers to cooperation and boost the GDP, increase investment and employment in our region." 

Minister Dacic underscored in particular that the Republic of Serbia had also promoted its economic relations with the United States of America. He thanked the U.S. partners for their readiness and engagement in the context of joint efforts towards the promotion of U.S.-Serbia economic cooperation.

Belgrade, November 16th, 2017 – Prime Minister Ana Brnabic announced today in a video message marking the completion of the USAID Business Enabling Project (BEP) that this project fulfilled the role and provided great support to Serbia in its European integration. The US Agency for International Development and the government of Serbia marked the success of the USAID project for better business conditions - a seven-year initiative worth $ 19.5 million, which helped Serbia become a better place for business. Brnabic pointed out that this USAID project has contributed a lot to Serbia through the promotion of cooperation between the public and private sectors.

Belgrade, October 31st, 2017 - First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic said today, at an extraordinary press conference held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, that the Government of the Republic of Suriname had revoked its recognition of Kosovo and Metohija as an independent state. The Head of Serbian diplomacy conveyed that Suriname's diplomatic note on the revocation of the recognition had arrived during the night.

"On 8 July 2016, they recognized the independence of Kosovo", said Minister Dacic, adding that only five states had recognized Kosovo during his term of office, while one had reversed its decision. He noted that Kosovo's independence was so far recognized by 106 states.

"This is a historic event for us – we haven't achieved this with money since we don't have it, nor by exerting pressure since we are not able to do so – but through our dedication instead", emphasized the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia.

Belgrade, October 16th, 2017 - First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic received today a trade and political delegation of the U.S. Federal State of Maryland, led by Secretary of State of Maryland John C. Wobensmith, which is visiting Belgrade. Minister Dacic highlighted Serbia's interest to intensify all types of cooperation with the United States of America, particularly in the area of economy and further attraction of U.S. investments in the Serbian economy. Interlocutors from Maryland expressed satisfaction over their visit to Serbia which would include, in addition to Belgrade, visits to Novi Sad and Nis. It was noted that the interest of this Federal State was involvement of its companies in business and investments in the area of environmental protection in Serbia. On the Serbian side, the meeting was also attended by Ministers in charge of environmental protection, and of state administration and local self-government, Messrs. Goran Trivan and Branko Ruzic, respectively.

Bogota, October 10th, 2017 – Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Serbia on a non-resident basis to the Republic of Colombia Djerdj Matkovic presented his letter of credentials to the President of the Republic of Colombia Juan Manuel Santos and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Colombia María Ángela Holguín at an official ceremony held in the Presidential Palace Nariño on October 10th, 2017.

Belgrade, October 9th, 2017 - First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic met today with U.S. Congressman Ted Poe, Co-Chair of the Congressional Serbian Caucus, who is on a visit to Belgrade. The Serbian Foreign Minister expressed his gratitude to Congressman Poe for the efforts he had made so far within the Congressional Serbian Caucus, aiming for the promotion of relations between the two countries and for a better public understanding in the United States of the policy pursued by Serbia, as demonstrated by his address in the House of Representatives on the occasion of the anniversary commemoration of the Halyard Mission, as well as by the congressional letter of support sent to Secretary of State Tillerson, on 3 October. The collocutors expressed mutual satisfaction over the promotion of overall bilateral relations, from the progress made in the political dialogue to the development of economic relations. In the talks, Serbia's aspiration towards membership of the EU was encouraged, as well as the constructive role it played in maintaining stability in the Western Balkans region. As the thanked the Minister for the warm welcome, Congressman Poe conveyed his readiness to continue his endeavours towards the further improvement of bilateral relations, recalling that the friendship between our two peoples dated back to the Allied Powers and World War I.

On July 18, 2017 the Embassy of Serbia in Washington, D.C. and the Co-Chairs  of the Serbian Congressional Caucus, Congressman Ted Poe and Congressman Emanuel Cleaver hosted at the US House of Representatives an exhibition and evening reception in honor of the anniversary of the "Halyard" mission, the biggest aerial rescue operation in World War II that saved lives of almost 500 US pilots.

The exhibition featuring the original photographs from the military operation was provided by the Halyard Foundation.

Ambassador of Serbia H.E: Mr. Djerdj Matkovic with the Co-Chairs of the Serbian Congressional Caucus, Honorable Ted Poe and Honorable Emanuel Cleaver

On June 7, The Embassy of Serbia had a pleasure to welcome to Washington DC Ms. Vida Ognjenovic, prominent Serbian writer, playwright, and theater director. The event was hosted by the Delegation of the European Union in partnership with the Embassy of Serbia and the Orfelin Circle.
In a lively conversation with the audience Ms. Ognjenovic discussed her viewpoints on literature, science, and the impact of modern technology, marketing and the internet. The event was moderated by Mrs. Milena Trobozic Garfield.

The Secretariat for Culture of the City of Belgrade has announced a public international two-phase competition for the design of a conceptual solution for the Zoran Djindjic memorial at the Students Square in Belgrade". The aim of the competition is to select the best conceptual solution for the Zoran Djindjic Memorial at the Students Square in Belgrade in memory of his life, work, social and historic changes he initiated in Serbia, as well of his tragic death on March 12, 2003.

Biography

Competition for the design of Zoran Djindjic memorial - explanatory sheet

On Friday, March 10, 2017 Embassies of Serbia and France in Washington, D.C. organized a movie screening and a wine tasting event.  "The Promise" is a character driven feature documentary that follows an extraordinary experience of a French family who moved in a remote village of Rogljevo in Serbia to make wine.

The screening was followed by Q&A with author Mr. Dusan Gajic and director Mr. Zeljko Mirkovic and a wine tasting reception.

Washington, DC, Thursday 2, 2017 - First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic is in Washington today, attending the 65th National Prayer Breakfast.

During the Prayer Breakfast, the Serbian Foreign Minister talked with the new United States Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson. Minister Dacic invited the US Secretary of State to visit Serbia.
 

The Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Serbia, Department of Contemporary Artistic Production and Creative Industries, announced the OPEN CALL for the Co-Financing of Projects for the Translation of Representative Works of Serbian Literature into Foreign Languages in 2017.

The scope of the Open Call is co-financing of projects for the translation of representative works of Serbian literature into foreign languages. The overarching goal is the translation of representative works of Serbian literature into foreign languages. Submissions in the following literary fields are eligible under the Open Call for the translation of representative works of Serbian literature into foreign languages: poetry, prose, drama, children’s literature (other than picture books and textbooks), anthologies and thematic selections and theoretical works in the fields of culture and arts intended for the wider readership. 

The Open Call is valid through February 28, 2017. 

For more information please visit the website of the Ministry of Culture and Media 

On the occasion of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the 75th anniversary of the founding of Jasenovac concentration camp, a delegation of Serbia headed by Mr. Vladimir Bozovic, Advisor to the Serbian Prime Minister visited the United States. The Delegation composed of government officials, survivors and researchers took part the main commemoration at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City and attended an art exhibition "The Truth about Jasenovac – the Right to Remembrance", the biggest exhibition on Jasenovac ever displayed in a foreign country.           

On Tuesday, January 17, 2017, The Embassy of Serbia was pleased to host a presentation "Serbs on the Military Frontier of Austro-Hungary and the Life of Field-Marshall Mihajlo Baron Mikasinovic" by Branko Mikasinovich, Ph.D. and Branko Terzic, Sc.D. (Hon.)

The presentation included a presentation of the book by Djuro Zatezalo "Baron Mihajlo Mikasinovic", a general of Serbian origin in the Austrian Army. The book provides an insight into the context of the mid-eighteen century lives of Serbs on the Military Frontier of Austro-Hungary and the many aspects of their struggle.

Washington, D.C. - On December 13, 2017, a prominent Serbian ethno singer Bilja Krstic and the Bistrik Orchestra performed at the Kennedy Center Millennium stage. The concert was organized by the Kennedy Center and the Embassy of Serbia in Washington, D.C.

Bilja Krstic and the Bistrik Orchestra create music that is a fusion of traditional ethno music, a cappella songs and ethno grooves with original improvisation and a modern music approach. This year the ensemble is celebrating its 15th Anniversary. In January 2017 British world and folk music record label Arc Music will produce the group's new album, entitled SVOD.

INVITATION TO TENDER FOR PROVISION OF REAL ESTATE SALES 

THE SALE OF DIPLOMATIC REAL ESTATE IN NEW YORK (USA), TOKYO (JAPAN), BONN (GERMANY) AND BERNE (SWITZERLAND)

Belgrade, 16 Aug 2016 – Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said today after a meeting with US Vice President Joseph Biden that a significant US support is expected in maintaining peace and stability in the region, without which there is no better life for citizens, nor economic progress.

The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to the United States for endorsing Serbia's European path, adding that our country is making every effort to fulfill all of its obligations as. We also discussed bilateral relations between the United States and Serbia, the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and possible progress in the future, as well as regional relations and Serbia's European path, Vucic said.

"Congresswoman Bentley will be remembered for her invaluable contribution to the improvement of the state of affairs in the country she lived in, and for the fact that she had never forgotten her Serbian roots, as proven by actively promoting interests of the Republic of Serbia and its people. We will always remember both the support she lent to our country in the most precarious of times in its history and her contribution to the advancement of the overall relations between the Republic of Serbia and the United States of America.

On June 23, 2016, after a break of nearly a quarter of a century, a new direct flight from Belgrade to New York City has been re-established. The AirSerbia flights to New York will be operated five times a week under the numbers YU500 and YU501, the same ones which Air Serbia’s predecessor JAT Yugoslav Airlines used when it had direct flights to NYC. The Airbus A330 aircraft named after Nikola Tesla, the most famous Serbian-American, has capacity of 254 seats, economy and business class. The first wide-body aircraft for intercontinental regular traffic between the Balkans and the United States is currently the largest aircraft in the fleet of Air Serbia.The Serbian airline is now the only company in the region that has a direct flight to the United States.

On June 19, 2016 H.E. Djerdj Matkovic, Ambassador of Serbia, participated in the bust dedication ceremony honoring Mileva Maric at the Serbian Cultural Garden in Cleveland, Ohio. While Mileva Maric, the wife of Albert Einstein, a brilliant mind and physicist and mathematician herself is the first woman honored in this park, the Serbian Garden already features the busts of Bishop Petar Petrovic Njegos, Mihajlo Pupin, King Petar I, Nikola Tesla, Stevan Mokranjac and Vuk Karadzic.

H.E. Mr. Djerdj Matkovic, Ambassador of Serbia, attended the 46the session of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States in Santo Domingo, June 13-15. The main theme of the General Assembly this year was „Institutional strengthening for sustainable development in the Americas“. During this three day conference Ambassador Matkovic met with a number of heads of delegation of the OAS member states. In those meetings ambassador Matkovic presented a candidature of Serbia for the position of United Nations Secretary General and confirmed Serbia's interest in continuation of a fruitful political dialogue with countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.

March 10, Washington - Ambassador of Serbia H.E. Mr. Djerdj Matkovic participated in the 9th Global Infrastructure Leadership Forum, that is taking place in Washington DC, March 9th - 11th. The forum is designed to provide a unique marketplace by bringing high level executives from engineering, construction and  technology sectors together with key decision-makers from the public sector, multilateral development banks and project sponsors from around the world. Ambassador Matkovic presented "Nikola Tesla Airport" privatization potentional and met with companies interested in doing business in Serbia.

March 1, 2016 - US  Library of Congress,  Member's Room

Ambassador Matkovic with Colonel Dragan Galic, Defense Attaché, and Lieutenant Colonel Dejan Vujaklija, Assistant Defense Attaché 

The Embassy of Serbia in Washington DC and the Alliance Française de Washington are proud to present a screening of "We will be world Champions" (Bicemo prvaci sveta) on March 2 at 7 pm.

The Alliance Francaise is located at 2142 Wyoming Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008

This event is part of the DC Francophonie Festival.

"We Will Be the World Champions" is a story about four pioneers who fathered the Yugoslav school of basketball, and whose merit is the development of this sport in Europe. The central event is the crucial game at World Cup 1970 between Yugoslavia and the United States. From the point of view of the main character, Nebojša Popović, we follow the growth and life path of enthusiasts, whose professional work, ideas and efforts made their major dream come true, the first gold medal for Yugoslavia in world championships.

The movie will be in Serbian will English subtitles.

This is a FREE event but registration is required.

To get FREE tickets please go to Eventbrite

The Embassy of Serbia in Washington DC is pleased to be part of this year's the DC Francophonie Festival, that will take place from 1 to 18 March on various locations in DC.

D.C. Francophonie Cultural Festival celebrates the diversity and richness of the French language and francophone communities around the world through a series of cultural events and outreach programs presented every spring in the U.S. capital region. Celebrating the creative artistry of the French-speaking world, the Francophonie Cultural Festival is a voyage of exploration, discovery, and cultural sharing that highlights the diversity of the French language and cultures. Since 2001, more than 40 embassies and partners (including AFDC and The Smithsonian Associates) have collaborated each year to present an array of experiences all rooted in the Francophone culture — from Africa to the Americas to Asia to the Middle East–through concerts, cuisine, films, literary salons and lectures for all ages.

As an observer in the International Organization of the Francophonie Serbia is pleased to contribute to the program of the Festival in Washington DC.

Serbian Ambassador in Washington Đ. Matkovic headed the delegation of the Republic of Serbia at the 21st regular Ministerial Council of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) held in Petion-Ville, Haiti, January, 18 – 19, 2016.

In addition to a number of meetings with the countries of the Caribbean region, Ambassador Matkovic met with S. Honore, UN SRSG and Head of the UN stabilization mission in Haiti – MINUSTAH, in which Serbia is a participating state. On that occasion, the Ambassador visited the personnel of the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia who are part of MINUSTAH since July 2015. Since 2008 Serbia’s contingent has been providing training and monitoring support to the National Guard of Haiti.

Together with the Head of MINUSTAH and Members of the Serbian Delegation Ambassador Matkovic laid a wreath at the memorial dedicated to victims of the earthquake of January 12th, 2010, commemorating six years since the tragic event in which 220,000 civilians and around 100 members of MINUSTAH lost their lives.

On October 13, Ambassador of Serbia H.E. Djerdj Matkovic participated in a panel discussion „Responding to the Refugee Crisis in Southeast Europe”. The event explored the short- and long-term effects of the crisis on the legal systems and security within countries on the Western Balkan Route. The event was organized by American Bar Association ABA ROLI and the United Macedonian Diaspora. Speakers included Ambassador of the Republic of Macedonia V. Naumovski, President of the United Macedonian Diaspora M. Koloski, and N Dasarathy, Senior Advisor from ABA ROLI’s Middle East and North Africa division.

Ambassador of Serbia, H.E. Đerđ Matković will testify at the US Helsinki Commission Hearing

“Europe’s Refugee Crisis: How Should the US, EU, and OSCE Respond?”

Tuesday, October 20, 2015, at 2 p.m.

Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2200

Live webcast will be available on http://bit.ly/1VRaf3G

The hearing will have two pannels, which will be as follows

Panel One

• Anne C. Richard, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, U.S. Department of State

Panel Two

• Mr. Shelly Pitterman, Regional Representative to the United States and Caribbean, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
• His Excellency David O’Sullivan, Ambassador of the European Union to the United States
• His Excellency Djerdj Matkovic, Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the United States
• Mr. Sean Callahan, Chief Operating Officer, Catholic Relief Services

• Because the request for its membership is a serious breach of the international law, the Constitution of UNESCO' The legally binding UN Security Council resolution 1244 (1999) and the Charter of the UN whose Article 25 says that "The Members of the UN agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council in accordance with the present Charter". 

• Because according to the UN Security Council resolution 1244, which reaffirms the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (now Serbia), Kosovo and Metohija is an integral part of the Republic of Serbia, under the administration oBf the UN. Since Kosovo cannot be considered a State, it does not fulfill the basic requirement for membership set out by the UNESCO Constitution.

• Because unilateral attempts such as this one seriously harm and disrupt the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, under the auspices of the European Union in which mutually acceptable solutions for many complex issues  have been devised so far. The issue of the Serbian cultural heritage and the property of the Serbia Orthodox Church has not yet been discussed within the dialogue where it belongs.

• Because this is an unacceptable politicization of UNESCO which should not overtake the competences of the UN. Security Council as the highest authority for the preservation of the international peace and security. UNESCO should not serve as an instrument for the affirmation of an illegal and unilaterally declared independence of a part of the territory of one UN member state. The primary goal of UNESCO is to promote universal values of humanity through education, science and culture not to make political decisions with regard to the statehood.

• Because this would be a dangerous precedent, harmful for many states. This would open the door for other entities to follow the same path thus threatening territorial integrity and sovereignty of other member states.

Serbia's future: Challenges and opportunities for regional stability, reconciliation, and integration

September 16, 2015

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM EDT

Brookings Institution

Washington, DC

On September 16, the Center on the United States and Europe (CUSE) at Brookings will host Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić for a public address on Serbia’s outlook, and how the country can enhance political and economic stability and cooperation in the region and reaffirm its European perspective. In his remarks, the Prime Minister will explore challenges and opportunities for the country and the continent as a whole, including the rapidly-growing influx of migrants and refugees and the importance of regional reconciliation.

REGISTER TO ATTEND

Washington, 3 June 2015 – Prime Minister Alekandar Vucic stated that all the talks he had with representatives of large American companiesduring his visit to the United States were very good and that in all of them, the importance of preserving political and economic stability for Serbia was highlighted.

Washington, 2 June 2015 – Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic has arrived on an official visit to the United States of America where, at the invitation of Vice President Joe Biden, he will stay until 4 June.

Vucic told the Radio-Television Serbia (RTS) upon arrival in Washington that this visit is very important for our country, and expressed his satisfaction that he will meet with senior US officials and representatives of a large number of US companies.

American investors will not consider investments in one country if there is no political stability and if the US government does not approve it, he said.

The Prime Minister underlined the importance of the talks that he will have on the first day of his official visit with representatives of the three companies related to IT sector, General Electric, Microsoft and NCR.

After that, he will meet with US Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and later, with representatives of the Serbian diaspora in the United States.

Ten day soccer camp “Sport camps for children and Diaspora" for children from the Diaspora aged 8 to 14 years, starts on July 15 at the Zlatar Mountin. The camp is organized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports in cooperation with Office for Diaspora and Serbs in the region and the Sports Association of Serbia.

In addition to soccer training, participants will attend educational sessions, lectures on national history and the Serbian language classes. The total price of 350 euros includes daily sports training, ten days of room and board, all meals, transport by bus from Belgrade - Zlatar – Belgrade and a medical examination.

Parents need to provide a written consent for the participation of the child and a valid health card.

Payment instructions

For more information please contact:
 

1. Slobodan Hranisavljević
stručni saradnik
Tel : 011/ 3035-043, 011/3224-269, 063/ 441 238
Faks: 011/322 0079
I-mejl: slobodanh@eunet.rs

2. Slaven Radonić
stručni saradnik
Tel: 011/ 3035-043; 011/3224-269
Faks: 011/3220-079
I-mejl: slaven.radonic@eunet.rs

Chicago, May 16, 2015 - H.E. Mr. Đerđ Matkovic, Ambassador of Serbia, visited Chicago on 14 and 15 May 2015. During his stay Amb. Matkovic had meetings with Deputy Governor of the State of Illinois Ms. Evelyn Sanguinetti and Deputy Mayor Mr. Steve Koch on further cooperation between Serbia and Illinois, as well as between Sister Cities Belgrade and Chicago.

He also met with the representatives of the Academy of "Sveti Sava", paid a visit to the Serbian Parochial school in Chicago, the Holy Resurrection Orthodox Cathedral and Serbian-American Museum St. Sava.

The visit was specially focused on strengthening economic ties with the Serbian Diaspora. The Serbian-American Chamber of Commerce and  the Consulate General of Serbia in Chicago organized a meeting between the ambassador, business people and representatives of the Diaspora titled "The importance of the Diaspora in the economic cooperation with Serbia - Possibilities and Challenges". Ambassador Matkovic conveyed readiness of the Embassy and the Consulates General of Serbia in the US to assist all members of the Diaspora interested in investing in Serbia or doing business with Serbian companies.

Belgrade, 12 May 2015 – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Zorana Mihajlovic and US Ambassador to Serbia Michael Kirby today signed the Agreement on Air Transport between the governments of Serbia and the United States.

Mihajlovic said after the signing of the agreement that all technical requirements for direct flights between Serbia and the United States have been met, and expressed hope that they will start as soon as possible.

She said that the US Federal Aviation Administration ranked Serbia in the category of the first order, which in aviation means that the country is safe and that it can apply for direct flights.

The establishment of direct flights after 23 years will have great significance for the further economic development of Serbia, Mihajlovic assessed and reiterated that our country is ready as far as technical conditions are concerned.

The next step are talks between air authorities which will decide when to establish direct flights.

Kirby expressed the hope that this will be done in the near future, probably in a few months, noting that it largely depends on the companies that are to operate flights.

Belgrade, May 8, 2015 -  First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic met today with US Congressional Representative Dana Rohrabacher, Chairman of the House Europe, Eurasia Subcommittee, who is visiting the Republic of Serbia in the framework of his tour of the region.

During the meeting, the interlocutors exchanged views on regional topics, including on current bilateral and international issues. Minister Dacic expressed his satisfaction over the positive dynamic of the bilateral dialogue and indicated that Serbia’s foreign policy position today was much better, inter alia as a result of recognition of its commitment to the dialogue with Pristina and the constructive relations with neighbouring countries.

Rep. Rohrabacher said that the US appreciated the efforts of the Republic of Serbia aimed at establishing full regional stability, indicating that significant progress had been made in this context. He also underlined that Serbia enjoyed full US support in this process

Ambassador Djerdj Matković delivered remarks at the North Virginia Community College (NOVA) on April 23, 2015, as a part of NOVA’s multicultural week. Ambassador Matković presented fоreign policy priorities, economic potentials, tourist destinations and cultural heritage of Serbia.

Belgrade, 14 April 2015 – Minister of Education, Science and Technological Development Srdjan Verbic and US Ambassador to Serbia Michael Kirby today signed a Memorandum of understanding on the Fulbright academic exchange programme, which provides for an increase in the number of scholars and intensive cooperation of educational, scientific and research institutions of Serbia and the United States.

Verbic said that the Fulbright grants are intended for students, professors and researchers, and that there have been 150 Fulbright programme participants from Serbia in the last 15 years.

The Minister of Education also noted that this programme exists in more than 150 countries.

Kirby said that the Fulbright academic exchange programme is one of the most prestigious American exchange programmes and that it is good that the Ministry of Education wants to help young people get their education in the United States.

April 2, 2015 Washington – The Embassy of Serbia hosted a presentation of the book “Tesla: A Portrait with Masks” by a renowned Serbian writer Vladimir Pistalo. Since it was published in Serbia in 2008 it became a bestseller and was awarded with NIN Literary Prize for the best novel of the year. Since then tho book has been translated to 10 European languages.The first US edition was published in 2015 and has already received excellent literary reviews in the US.

Washington, D.C., March 17, 2015  – The Woodrow Wilson Center organized the OSCE Security Days Conference, first held outside of Vienna. It brought together foreign ministers, ambassadors and prominent leaders to discuss current challenges in the Euro-Atlantic security. The Conference was composed of four panels discussing topics of Ukraine and Euro-Atlantic Security, Afghanistan and Central Asia, Preventing Radicalization that leads to Terrorism and Strategies for Future. Prominent participants included OSCE Secretary General Amb. Lamberto Zannier, Amb. Dejan Sahovic, Head of Serbian Chairmanship Task Force, Deputy Foreign Ministers of Kazakhstan and Afghanistan, Ambassadors of the Russian Federation and Ukraine to US, Permanent Representative of Germany to the OSCE.

In his remarks Ambassador Dejan Sahovic, Head of the Serbian OSCE Chairmanship Task Force, laid out priorities of the Serbian Chairmanship in 2015 and highlighted the added value of the joint Swiss-Serbian cooperation that provided continuity and institutional stability. He stressed that Serbia will build upon the cooperative and inclusive nature of the OSCE that recently brought about the joint decision of 57 member states on a new 12 month mandate of the Special Monitoring Mission for Ukraine and resources for its operations. Regarding the upcoming activities of the Serbia OSCE Chairmanship he informed about the Panel of Eminent Persons, “Helsinki Plus 40“ Process and the Ministerial Meeting to be held in Belgrade later in December of this year.

Belgrade, 10 March 2015 – Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic and US Ambassador to Serbia Michael Kirby spoke today about concrete American investments in Serbia, investments of American companies and the speedy creation of a better investment environment in the country.

During the talks, it was underlined that it is necessary to invest in smaller places too so that the survival of local population could be ensured, as well as more even regional development of Serbia.

The Embassy of Serbia is pleased to announce its participation at the Smithsonian DC Francophonie Cultural Festival that is taking place every year during the month of March in Washington, D.C.

The D.C. Francophonie Festival celebrates the diversity and richness of the French language and francophone communities around the world through a series of cultural events and outreach programs presented every spring in the U.S. capital region. As part of this program the Embassy is pleased to invite you to the movie

"Professor Kosta Vujic's Hat"

The movie will be screened at the Alliance Francaise, on Saturday, March 21 at 3.30 pm.

Free entrance.                          

Location: Allaince Francaise, 2142 Wyoming Ave, NW            

Language: Serbian with English subtitles                                    

To attend please RSVP 

The Embassy wishes to invite you to the final closing celebration of the Smithsonian DC Francophonie Festival

"La Grande Fete"

The annual Francophonie Cultural Festival spotlights the music, art, literature, film, cuisine, and customs of French-speaking countries and regions from across the globe, and its closing celebration is always magnifique. This year’s bash will be no exception.

Belgrade/Washington, 26 Feb 2015 – First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic, who is also Chairman of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), met in Washington today with US Secretary of State John Kerry.

Dacic said at a joint press conference before the meeting that Serbia attaches great importance to bilateral relations with the United States, especially in times when it is chairing such an important international organisation as the OSCE.

As a chair country, we will be faithful and true to the principles on which the OSCE is based, since the former Yugoslavia was one of the founders, Dacic stated.

He said that the Serbian Chairmanship will make every effort to have good communication with the 57 OSCE member states on the area from Vladivostok to Vancouver and to coordinate its work with the most important political factors.

Dacic said that at the meeting with the US Secretary of State, they will not only discuss the work of the OSCE, but also bilateral relations between Serbia and the United States.

It is a great satisfaction for me that our bilateral relations in recent years have been moving upward. It is very important to restore the strategic partnership that the United States and Serbia had a long time ago, 100 years ago, Dacic underlined and recalled that our bilateral diplomatic relations were established more than 130 years ago.

Serbia’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Ivica Dačić, will testify before the Helsinki Commission in his capacity as Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE. He takes the helm to conclude the implementation of a joint leadership plan developed with Switzerland, which chaired the OSCE in 2014.

“Serbia’s Leadership of the OSCE”

Belgrade, 10 Feb 2015 – Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic spoke today with US Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Hoyt Yee and US Ambassador to Serbia Michael Kirby.

The American diplomats congratulated the Serbian Prime Minister on initialling the Judiciary Agreement yesterday in Brussels, and described it as a great success that confirms the dedication of the Serbian government to dialogue with Pristina.

PM Vucic underlined that it is his job to work the hardest and best for his people in Kosovo-Metohija and central Serbia.

The collocutors also examined the process of European integration, and Vucic said he expects the US support to Serbia's European path.

One of the topics discussed was the bilateral cooperation between Serbia and the United States, particularly in light of the meetings of the PM Vucic with US Vice President Joseph Biden and Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland during the Securiy Conference.

February 10, Washington D.C. - Embassies of Serbia and Switzerland co-hosted a reception at the Residence of the Swiss Ambassador to celebrate the close cooperation between the Serbian and the Swiss Chairmanships and thank for the support during Switzerland’s Chairmanship of the OSCE in 2014.

In his speech ambassador Dahinden of Switzerland stressed that “for the first time, two countries have agreed to work out a joint program for their two Chairmanships. That will create continuity for the OSCE and strengthen its capacity to serve as a relevant actor in the region.”

Ambassador of Serbia Matkovic highlighted the important role the OSCE plays in Europe adding that at the Munich Security Conference OSCE received this year’s Ewald von Kleist Award for the outstanding contribution to international peace, stability and security in Europe. Regarding the situation in Ukraine ambassador Matkovic said that although a small nation, as a current chair of OSCE Serbia will make the utmost efforts to contribute to the peaceful solution of the current crisis.  

February 4, 2015 - First Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dačić arrived to Washington DC for a three-day visit to the United States. On 5th of February he will attend the 63rd National Prayer Breakfast and meet with senior State Department officials and Serbian Caucus in the US Congress.

Minister Dacic will meet with the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Ms. Victoria Nuland, Co-Chairs of the Serbian Caucus, Congressman Emanuel Cleaver and Congressman Ted Poe, as well as with Senator Chris Murphy.

On February 6 Minister Dacic will participate in the session of the UN Security Council to discuss the new UNMIK report which covers the period from October 16, 2014 to January 15, 2015.

On January 29 the Wilson Center hosted the panel discussion “Security Challenges in Europe in 2015”. The panelists included Martin Dahinden, Ambassador of Switzerland to the US, John Milton Cooper, Senior Scholar Professor Emeritus, University of Wisconsin, Vladimir Jovičić, Charge d'Affaires, a.i. Embassy of Serbia to the US, Oleksandr Chalyi, Former First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and Maxim Trudolyubov, Fellow, Opinion Page Editor, Vedomosti Daily, Russia.

The discussion aimed at providing a broad view of European security challenges in 2015. Particular emphasis was placed on the priorities of the Swiss Chairmanship of the OSCE and what remains to be done following the transition to Serbian Chairmanship.

The Embassy of Serbia is pleased to invite you to the presentation of the book
"Serbian Medieval Cultural Heritage" by Vesna Petkovic.

The event will be held on Tuesday, February 3, 2015, 12 - 1 pm at the Library of Congress