It is with great sorrow and sadness to inform that a Book of Condolences will be opened at the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in The Hague on November 4 and 5 from 11:00 to 16:00 hours following the tragedy that occurred at the Railway station in Novi Sad on November 1, 2024, whereby fourteen citizens lost their lives. The Embassy expresses its deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a fast recovery to all injured.

On Saturday, October 5, 2024, the traditional annual Commemorative memorial service for Serbian soldiers who died in the Kingdom of the Netherlands during the First World War was held. A Commemorative gathering was held at the Monument located in the local Cemetery in Garderen, Barneveld Municipality.

Embassy of Republic of Serbia participated on September 7, 2024, at the Embassy Festival, which is held every year in the Center of The Hague and which gathers more than 50 thousand visitors. At our pagoda, we presented traditional Serbian products, specialties, as well as the tourist potential of Serbia, in cooperation with the Serbian Youth Friendship Association and the Kolo srpskih sestara  from Rotterdam. As part of the cultural program, Folklore group "Tamo daleko" from Rotterdam performed on the main stage and performed folk dances from Pasjan (Kosovo and Metohija). The Embassy’s Pagoda attracted many Festival visitors.

The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in the Kingdom of the Netherlands will take part in the traditional Embassy Festival, which will be held on September 7, 2024 from 12:00 to 8:00pm in the center of The Hague, Lange Voorhout. Free entry. More information on the website of the Festival organizer.

On Sunday, March 24, 2024, in the Serbian Orthodox Church "Holy Trinity" in Rotterdam, a Commemoration for the victims was held on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the NATO aggression in 1999 on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro).

After the Holy Liturgy and the Memorial service, an appropriate program was held in the premises of the Serbian Orthodox Church, in the presence of the Ambassador K. Milenković and Counsellor B. Grbić, representatives of the Office of Republic of Srpska from Brussels, numerous priests of the Serbian Orthodox Church and about 300 members of the Serbian community.

On Saturday, March 16, 2024, in the hall of the Parish house of the Serbian Orthodox Church  "Holy Trinity" in Rotterdam, the documentary-feature film "33 Angels" was shown, by the author and director of the film Branko Dimović Dimeski, directed by Goran Vukčević.

The film "33 Angels" is a poignant documentary about the suffering of more than two hundred minor Serbian children (239 to be exact) during the II World War in Norway, of which more than 44 were killed. The youngest among them was only 11 years old.

On Saturday, March 2, 2024, a special cocktail party was organized for members of the Serbian community in the Kingdom of the Netherlands on the occasion of celebrating the Statehood Day of the Republic of Serbia.

About 100 members of our diaspora attended the cocktail party. The cocktail began with the intonation of the hymn "Bože pravde" and the singing of the song "Tamo daleko", performed by the members of the “Holiday Choir of the Holy Trinity” from Rotterdam, after which Ambassador K. Milenkovic gave a speach.

On Sunday, February 11, 2024, Serbian Orthodox Church "Holy Trinity" in Rotterdam, a liturgy and ceremony were traditionally held in honor of the Statehood Day of the Republic of Serbia and the Day of the Republika Srpska, which was attended by Ambassador K. Milenković and Counsellor B. Grbić.

The Embassy has the pleasure to inform that Minister of Foreign Affairs I. Dačić, signed on January 19, 2024, a Decision no. 24/30-2024/01 to announce the Competition for co-financing of projects that, by their quality, contribute to the preservation and strengthening of ties between the home country and Serbs in the Region and the home country and the Diaspora, and which aim to: use, learn, preserve, and nurture the Serbian language and Cyrillic script, preserve and nurture Serbian cultural, ethnic, linguistic and religious identity and improve  economic cooperation between the home country and the Diaspora, as well as between the home country and the Serbs in the Region.

The contest will be openned from February 1, 2024 to February 12, 2024 until 3:30 p.m.

You can view the conditions for the projects at the following links:

www.mfa.gov.rs

www.dijaspora.gov.rs/konkursi.html 

The Eastern Neighbours Film Festival, which annually presents the best and most relevant films from Eastern and South-eastern Europe, is going on tour to KINO Rotterdam! On 5 November, it will present Milos Pusic’s Berlinale Panorama hit, the feature film Working Class Heroes.

On Monday, October 9, 2023, in the hall of the Parish house of the Serbian Orthodox Church "Holy Trinity" in Rotterdam, an Exhibition was opened dedicated to Serbian soldiers from the First World War who passed away in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which will be held until October 20.

The Exhibition was organized by the Museum of the Rudnička-Takovo Region from Gornji Milanovac, in cooperation with the Embassy of Republic of Serbia in The Hague, as well as representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Rotterdam and Dutch-Serbian researchers John M. Stinen, Fabian and Tatjana Vendrig, who published the book "Serbian soldiers died in the Netherlands 1917-1919".

On Sunday, October 8, 2023, upon a invitation of the Parish priest of the Serbian Orthodox Church "Saint Sava" in Nijmegen, Father Dušan Erdelj, and with the presence and blessing of the Bishop of the Eparchy of Western Europe of the Serbian Orthodox Church, His Eminence Justin, the thirty years of existence of the mentioned Parish was solemnly celebrated. Ambassador Ksenija Milenković responded to the invitation on behalf of the Embassy, as well as First Counsellor Dušan Vukić and Counsellor Branislav Grbić.

On Saturday, October 7, 2023, the traditional annual commemorative meeting, memorial service and consecration of the newly installed marble crosses (29 pcs.) to Serbian soldiers who died in K. Holland during the First World War. A commemorative meeting was held at the monument located in the local cemetery in Garderen.

Please be informed that on the occasion of a tragic event which happened at the Elementary School "Vladislav Ribnikar" in Belgrade, on May 3, 2023, in the Embassy of Republic of Serbia in The Hague, a Book of Condolences will be opened on Friday, May 5 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and on Monday, May 8 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

On Saturday, on January 28, 2023, near Nijmegen, the traditional Saint Sava Ball was held in the organization of Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC) "Sveti Sava" from Nijmegen, which was attended by around 300 members of the Serbian Community in the Netherlands.

In addition to numerous dignitaries and priests of the Diocese of the Western European SOC, led by the newly appointed Bishop Justin, the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in The Hague was represented by First Counselor Mr. D. Vukić and Counselor Mr. B. Grbić. Upon an invitation of the host, independent advisor Mr. B. Koturović from the Office for Cooperation with the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region, Ministry of Foreign of the Republic of Serbia, also attended.

The Saint Sava Ball was filled with a rich cultural and artistic program where the Folcloric Assemble "Tamo daleko" from Rotterdam, the "Ambassador" orchestra, and numerous singers led by the special guest singer Z. Brunclik took part.

11 November, 2022

On the occasion of Armistice Day in the First World War, Counsellor B. Grbić on November 11, 2022, at 11:00 a.m., laid an appropriate wreath at the Monument in Garderen which was erected in honor of Serbian soldiers who died on the territory of the Netherlands.

October 1, 2022

On Saturday, October 1, 2022, the traditional annual Commemorative gathering and Memorial service was held for Serbian soldiers who died in the Kingdom of the Netherlands during the  World War I. The Commemorative gathering was held at the monument located in the local cemetery in Garderen, Barneveld Municipality.

The Memorial service was served by the priests of the Eparchy of the Western European Serbian Orthodox Church.

Atending the Memorial Service on behalf of the Embassy Republic of Serbia in The Hague were Ambassador K. Milenković and Counsellor B. Grbić. An appropriate wreath was laid under the monument to the fallen Serbian soldiers.

The gathering was attended by dozens of Serbian and Dutch citizens.

17.09.2022.

The Dutch Government lifted up the entry ban into The Netherlands, starting from September 17, 2022, for citizens of countries outside the EU/Schengen zone. In this sense, starting from the mentioned date, no more restrictions or requirements related to COVID-19 apply to travelers entering the Netherlands from Serbia. This information can be downloaded via the following link: HERE

15.09.2022

On the occasion of September 15, the Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom and the National Flag, the Embassy and Residence of the Republic of Serbia in The Hague were decorated with the national flags of the Republic of Serbia. On this day in 1918, the Thessaloniki Front was broken through, and exactly 600 kilometers and 45 days later, the Serbian flag was waving again in the liberated Belgrade. Proud of our ancestors, we preserve our National identity. Happy holiday!

03.09.2022

On Saturday, March 3, 2022, the traditional Festival of Embassies was held in the centre of The Hague, whereby Republic of Serbia was presented with the Serbian Folkloric Ensemble "Tamo daleko", organized by the Embassy of Republic of Serbia in The Hague. 

After the performance of traditional folklore dances, lasting 15 minutes, the Ensemble received a standing ovation from the gathered festival visitors. 

In addition to the representatives of the Serbian community, Ambassador Mrs. K. Milenković and Counsellor Mr. B. Grbić attended the Festival on behalf of the Embassy. 

25 June 2022

On Saturday, 25 June, 2022 in the suburbs of Rotterdam, in Riderkerk, the Vidovdan Assembly was held, organized by the Serbian Orthodox Church "Holy Trinity" from Rotterdam, which was attended by about two hundred members of the Serbian community in the Netherlands.

In addition to numerous priests of the Diocese of the Western European Serbian Orthodox Church, led by Father Vojislav Bilbija, Ambassador Ksenija Milenković and Counselor Branislav Grbić were present on behalf of the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in The Hague.

04/06/2022

A traditional RTS Cross country running was held in Dordrecht, on June 4, 2022. It was organized by the Association "Serbian Youth Friendship" (Stichting SOP Rotterdam) from Rotterdam, Dozens of children aged 4-14 took part in the cross, including children attending the Serbian Supplementary School in Rotterdam.

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.

23.03.2022. 

A Commemoration for the victims of the 1999 NATO bombing of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was held in the "Holy Trinity" Church of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Rotterdam on March 23, 2022.

The Memorial service was served by the head of the church, Father Boris, from the Diocese of Western European SOC, in the presence of dozens of citizens.

In addition to the representatives of the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegowina, representing the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia was Mr. B.Grbić, Counsellor, who addressed the gathered citizens after the Memorial service.

After the Commemoration of the Victims of NATO Bombing, in cooperation with the organization "Serbs for Serbs", a documentary film about the suffering of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija "You go, I will not!" was shown in the church premises.

01. Mar 2022.

Foreign Minister Selaković meeting with the Head of the EU Delegation and the Ambassadors of the EU Member States

The Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Selaković met today with the Head of the EU Delegation Emanuel Giofre and the Ambassadors of the EU Member States accredited to Serbia.

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 16^th in the network of centres of the World Economic Forum in the world and the first in the region of the Western Balkans.

10. Jan 2022.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia Nikola Selakovic sent a congratulatory message to Wopke Hoekstra on the occasion of his appointment as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Minister Selakovic expressed his belief that the good bilateral relations between the two countries, which were further intensified in the previous period, would develop in the spirit of mutual respect and understanding.

“I would like to emphasize that the Republic of Serbia remains committed to the path aimed at full membership of the European Union, while highly appreciating the support extended by the Kingdom of the Netherlands in this regard, as well as its readiness to share invaluable experiences from this process", Selakovic said.

The Head of Serbian diplomacy expressed hope that, in the period ahead, he would have the opportunity to exchange views with his Dutch counterpart in person, on all issues of mutual interest.

14 December 2021

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic stated in Brussels today after the Intergovernmental conference on the accession of the Republic of Serbia to the European Union (EU) that today is a very important date and a turning point for Serbia.

Brnabic said that in line with the new methodology, Serbia has opened cluster 4 – Green Agenda and Sustainable Connectivity, and within cluster 4, four chapters have been opened.

The Prime Minister underlined that this is a great success on which she wants to congratulate all citizens of Serbia and she thanked President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic on the support and understanding he showed.

30 November 2021

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Nikola Selakovic had separate meetings in The Hague today with the President and the Chief Prosecutor of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, Carmel Agius and Serge Brammertz respectively.

Selakovic assessed as very important that he had the opportunity to discuss Serbia's cooperation with the Mechanism with the President and the Chief Prosecutor, especially bearing in mind that the UN Security Council session to discuss the six-month report of the Mechanism's President and Prosecutor would be held on 13 December.

29 November 2021

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Nikola Selakovic met today in The Hague with the representatives of some of the Dutch companies doing business in our country, as well as with the representative of The Netherlands Enterprise Agency, which operates within the system of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

After the meeting, Selakovic explained that this was one of the new practices that were introduced in the activity of the Serbian MFA, and that it implied organizing smaller business forums during bilateral visits, especially in countries which had a significant number of investors in our country.

Among the nine companies at the forum were important names of the Dutch economy, such as Heineken and Delhaize, but also some that are less familiar to our public, mostly export-oriented companies operating in Serbia.

29 November 2021

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Nikola Selakovic met today in The Hague with Dutch Foreign Minister Ben Knapen, with whom he discussed Serbia's European path, the "Open Balkan" initiative, the situation in the region, as well as deepening political and economic cooperation.

After the meeting, Minister Selakovic said that the significance of his visit to the Netherlands was multiple, considering not only that 14 years had passed since the last visit by a Serbian Foreign Minister to The Hague, but also the fact that 2021 was the year in which we marked 130 years of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Serbia.

The Head of Serbian diplomacy said that a lot had changed in those 130 years of our relations, and that he had discussed many issues of common interest with his Dutch counterpart at a meeting that lasted an hour and 40 minutes.

"We touched upon Serbia's European path, progress in the negotiation process. Of course, I presented in that context what Serbia has done so far in the field of economic reforms and reforms in the field of the rule of law, strengthening the state of law, which is evidenced by the number and volume of investments coming to Serbia. These investments would not be arriving to a country that is insecure, and if a stable and predictable legal system was not in place there", Minister Selakovic said.

18. Nov 2021.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Nikola Selaković, met with the Head of the Delegation of the European Union, Emanuele Giaufret, and the ambassadors of the EU member states accredited in our country.

Selaković emphasized that EU membership is an absolute priority of our foreign policy and strategic commitment, conveying that we are fully committed to the reform process and the improvement of all segments of our society.

12 November 2021

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic stated today in Paris that she expects positive news and support from France for opening one or two clusters at the intergovernmental conference to be held in December.

At the press conference, Brnabic stated that she talked with French President Emanuel Macron about the situation in Serbia, primarily in the context of European integration, i.e., whether we can count on the country's support for opening a cluster at the December intergovernmental conference.

November 11, 2021

On the occasion of the Armistice Day in the First World War, Counselor B. Grbić, on behalf of the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in The Hague, on November 11, 2021 at 11:00am, laid a wreath at the monument in Garderen erected in honor of Serbian soldiers who died in the Netherlands.

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.

9 November 2021

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Nikola Selaković, talked today with the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Joost Reintjes.

Selaković said that Serbia is determined to further strengthen bilateral relations, realize visits at the highest level and intensify cooperation in numerous areas of mutual interest.

In that regard, the minister emphasized the importance of his upcoming visit to the Netherlands at the end of November, especially referring to the fact that the last visit of the Serbian minister of foreign affairs was 14 years ago.

2nd November 2021

"Your Excellences,

distinguished delegates,

dear Sarah,

At the very beginning, I feel obliged to thank Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Her Majesty’s Government for exceptional hospitality.

I feel privileged to represent the Republic of Serbia at this important place and at the highest-level world forum, in working on the most important topic of today – promoting climate awareness.

We all agree that we must make investment into climate and environment. 

22 October 2021

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, together with Minister of European Integration and Chief Negotiator Jadranka Joksimovic, met today with Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Emanuele Giaufret and the ambassadors of the EU Member States.

The topics of the meeting were 2021 EU Enlargement Package and in particular the Report of the European Commission on Serbia for this year, as well as the next steps in the process of accession to the EU.

15th October 2021

Selaković in UNSC: Dialogue and the implementation of the agreements reached are the only right way to resolve all open issues

Distinguished President of the Security Council,

Esteemed members of the Security Council,

Distinguished Special Representative,

I would like to thank Secretary-General of the United Nations Mr. Guterres and Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNMIK Mr. Tanin for the report submitted and for their efforts made towards the implementation of the UNMIK mandate. I would also like to thank the members of the Security Council for the continued attention they have devoted to the issue of Kosovo and Metohija. The Republic of Serbia highly values the activities of the Mission of the United Nations in Kosovo and Metohija and supports it in carrying out its work as efficiently as possible, pursuant to the UN Security Council Resolution 1244, and undiminished in scope, aiming to build and preserve lasting peace, stability and security in the Province.

7 October 2021

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic spoke today with newly appointed Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Serbia Theodorus Antonius Reintjes about bilateral relations, economic cooperation and the support of the Netherlands to the European integration of Serbia.

Brnabic pointed out that the priority is to further strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries, bearing in mind a number of areas of mutual interest.

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.

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.

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:

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.

20th September 2021

President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić met today with the Chief Prosecutor of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, to discuss cooperation between the Mechanism and Serbia, regional judicial cooperation in war crimes proceedings and implementation of the national strategy for war crimes punishment.

President Vučić assessed that Serbia’s cooperation with the Office of the Prosecutor of International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals is satisfactory. He talked with Chief Prosecutor Brammertz about the possibilities for improving regional cooperation when it comes to indictments for war crimes, to contribute to reconciliation in the region in this way as well, twenty-six years after the war.

Both the President and the Chief Prosecutor agreed that one of the steps in that direction would be the transparent exchange of all war crimes indictments and information about investigations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia. The President confirmed that Serbia is ready to participate in that process, and expressed his desire to see the Chief Prosecutor facilitate it.

Source/Photo: www.predsednik.rs

Today we celebrate the Serbian Unity, Freedom and National Flag Day. On this day in 1918 the Thessaloniki front was broken through and 600 km and 45 days later, Serbian flag was fluttering again in liberated Belgrade. Proud on our ancestors, protecting our National identity. Happy Holiday!

5 August 2021

The President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, attended the marking of the 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

22 July 2021

We have decided – our goal was and remains the EU, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said in an interview with the German daily "Handelsblatt", adding that there is no alternative for Serbia, but also stressing that China is an important partner for Serbia, and that the task of the state is to take care about the interests of its citizens.

He thus answered the question of what Serbia will choose once it has to choose between close relations with Beijing or the EU. Vučić emphasized that Serbia wants to become a full member of the EU.

"We are connected by history, common culture, EU members are already undoubtedly our most important partners", he explained and added that the trade exchange between Germany and China is 3,000 times higher than between Serbia and China, and, as he noted, even despite that, Serbia's business operations with China are portrayed as a problem.

To the statement that the German Chancellor Angela Merkel did not congratulate the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of China, and that he did so, he replied that Serbia is not Germany, but a small country. On additional insistence on what Serbia will do if it has to choose between the EU and China, he underlined that Serbia has already decided, that its goal was and remains the EU membership.

"Our biggest investors are from the EU. The EU accounts for 67% of our trade while 17 percent of the trade is with countries of the region that are all on the way to the EU. We cannot survive without the EU", he added.

"But can we do a lot of good things with China – of course. And we do that, just like Germany does", Vučić pointed out, and to the remark that the quality of the Silk Road projects was being criticized, primarily because of Chinese workers, he answered that the quality of roads or bridges, which Serbia is building with China, is excellent.

"We give jobs to those who submit the best offer to us. That is why I tell Europeans who criticize Chinese projects in our country – offer us a project for one euro more and you will get it", he emphasized.

In that regard, he pointed out that Serbia is building a railway to Northern Macedonia with 600 million euros of EU aid, stating that that offer was better than China's.

"There is often talk of a 180-kilometer railway to Budapest through the territory of Serbia, which is financed by China. But the railway that is being built with the help of the EU from Belgrade to the northern Macedonian border is twice as long and no one is talking about it. It is all too political", he stated.

Asked whether he welcomes the plans of the EU and the USA regarding an alternative initiative to the Silk Road, Vučić said that he supports everything that brings advantages to our region.

"The Chinese want to expand their presence everywhere, but many processes in the West are, frankly, more efficient and without problems. We still have a lot to learn from the West, but we are getting there", Vučić said.

He pointed out that China was an important partner for Serbia and added that when the consolidation of state finances began in 2014, our country received good conditions from China for development projects.

He also stated that a competition for a copper mine was announced in eastern Serbia, at the request of the EU, that no European company had made an offer for six months, and that it had then been taken over by the Chinese.

"Our job is to take care of our people", he said.

He reminded that the Serbian economy grew by 52% in eight and a half years, which for the EU means that Serbia could be a strong member and engine for the entire region.

Explaining how Serbia is developing so well economically, he pointed out that Serbia has an excellent workforce, which speaks English, that society and administration are digitalized, and that it has the most flexible labor law in Europe, as well as consolidated public finances.

He reminded that previously the public debt was at 78% of GDP, and that today it has been reduced, thanks to the strong growth of the economy, to 52%.

"We can afford to give investors an incentive to come", he added, emphasizing that Serbia offers investment assistance, but that, for example, subsidies were not the motive for the arrival of the development center of the company Continental.

He pointed out that, five or six years ago, only Serbia started using the dual education system in this region, which Germany, Switzerland and Austria also use, that tens of thousands of people are in dual education, and that this is appreciated by foreign investors, who, in addition, can work closely with universities as well.

Germany, he stated, is the most important trade partner and the largest investor.

We started with the arrival of small textile companies from Turkey, and now primarily large German companies are coming. Today, 71,000 people work in German companies in Serbia", he explained.

Vučić said that the European perspective is very important for investors, stating that Nidek, Toyo Tires or Mitsubishi are coming from Japan to Serbia because our country is on a stable European path.

Asked if he believes that Serbia will become an EU member in the foreseeable future, he said that he does not complain.

"It is certain that if we had received 45 billion euros of EU aid, we would have been much further economically. Instead, we received 1.6 billion euros from the EU. We are used to achieving our successes on our own", said Vučić.

The President of Serbia reminded that in Croatia, salaries used to be 2.2 times higher than in Serbia, and today they are only 1.7 times higher.

"We are closing the gap with our own efforts. If we were to become a member of the EU, then we would certainly not ask for the biggest subsidies", he assures.

He said that the Serbian path follows the German path to Europe, and that Serbia wants a fair chance.

"I believe Merkel's words. She is at the end of her term and I would not have to praise her anymore. But she gave us stability, freedom of travel to the EU, helped us with the migrant crisis in 2015, and asked the Minister of Economy Altmeier and others to work closely with us", he reminded.

Asked if there were any indications that the new German government would support Serbia in the same way, Vučić expressed confidence that it would be the same.

"I know Armin Laschet, I talked to him while he was the Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia. He is very smart and understands the situation in the Balkans, and he will certainly continue Merkel's policy towards our region as the new chancellor", he added.

Vučić also expressed his belief that Russia, if Serbia's accession to the EU were concretized, would not react similarly as in the case of Ukraine, as this is a sovereign decision of Serbia.

To an additional question in this regard, Vučić pointed out that whenever he met with Vladimir Putin, and there were 18 or 19 meetings, he told him that he was grateful for the traditionally close friendship with Russia, but also that Serbia is on a clear course towards the EU.

"He asked if it was our choice and I answered that EU membership is indeed our goal", he added.

When it comes to "Kosovo", Vučić emphasized that a compromise is needed regarding this issue.

"Only in this way can there be sustainable peace. Serbia wants peace, me as well. Let's stop with the madness of the past. Only then can the whole region become the engine of new growth for Europe", said Vučić.

Source: Tanjug

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

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

On Sunday, June 27, 2021, a traditional RTS Race in the Netherlands was organized in Dordrecht.
The organizer of the race was Association of Serbian Youth Friendship from Rotterdam (Stichting SOP Rotterdam), and 80 kids of different ages participated in the race.
Event was opened by Mr. Milan Vukas, President of the Association of SOP Rotterdam and Mr. Ratko Nikolić, organizer of a first RTS race in the Netherlands. Ambassador Ksenija Milenković and Bojan Kljajić, greeted the guests on behalf of the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in The Hague and after the race they have presented medals, diplomas and gifts to all participants.

09. June 2021.

Dear Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, members of the delegations

I would point to a few ongoing issues in my speech that refer to the competences of the Mechanism, namely, the possibility of serving the sentences passed by the ICTY and Mechanism in the Republic of Serbia, with the current practice of disabling early release of the sentenced persons as well as obligation of the Mechanism regarding protection of sentenced persons.

The second part of the speech will be dedicated to issues that are opened by the six –month Report on the work of the Mechanism by Mechanism President Mr. Agius and Report by the Chief Prosecutor Mr. Serge Brammertz, especially regarding current cooperation of the Republic of Serbia and the Mechanism.

The third part of my speech, and I noticed that in many of your statements even today, is going to be the view of Serbia on everything that took place in The Hague Tribunal and what the Tribunal verdicts brought to people in the region of former Yugoslavia.

The Republic of Serbia has initiated before the Security Council, on several occasions, the issue of possibility of serving sentences passed by the ICTY and Mechanism in the Republic of Serbia. Beside the efforts to move this issue from “square one”, not a single response was obtained from the Security Council. The majority of persons that are serving their prison sentences are citizens of the Republic of Serbia, and it comes naturally that the Republic of Serbia is interested in enabling them to serve their prison sentences in the Republic of Serbia.

ICTY and the Mechanism are making references to the Security Council as an institution in charge of dealing with this issue.

I am ready to reiterate here the readiness of the Republic of Serbia to take over obligations and liability for executing prison sentences that the Tribunal or Mechanism passed on the citizens of the Republic of Serbia, under the monitoring of the Mechanism and full respect for the authority of the Mechanism regarding early release.

Mr. President

A particular problem that we are facing with is disturbance by the judicial institutions established in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija, which is within Serbia and which is under Interim Administration of the UN. We are witnesses of attempts of retrial for two citizens that are serving their prison sentences for which they had already been trialed before the ICTY. More concretely, in previous period there was an attempt for hearing of Nebojša Pavković and for obtaining extradition of Vlastimir Đorđević.

I urge on the Mechanism and Security Council to prevent attempts of violation of the principle ne bis in idem, a civilization principle that was confirmed in Article 7 (1) of the Statute of the Mechanism and to disable retrials for persons already convicted by the ICTY, particularly to make sure that it is not done in the territory which is under interim UN administration.

Mr. President,

President of the Mechanism (Mr. Carmel Agius), apart from the regular Report, delivered also on 11 May 2021 a letter to the President of the Security Council, whose subject is the alleged omission of the Republic of Serbia to apprehend and turn over to the Mechanism Petar Jojić and Vjerica Radeta, indicted of contempt of court, claiming that in this way the Republic of Serbia was acting contrary to its obligations towards the UNSC Resolution 1966 (2010) and asking the Security Council to take measures in order to ensure that Serbia meets the alleged obligations in accordance with the Mechanism Statue and Resolution 1966.

The point of the argumentation of the President of the Mechanism comes to that that the Republic of Serbia has the obligation to deprive of liberty and extradite to the Mechanism its citizens accused of contempt of court, regardless of the nature of accusation, circumstances under which such an order was made and consequences that might result from its implementation.

It is about accusations that do not refer to sever violations of international humanitarian law and that are related to a case before the ICTY, which ended in 2018 (Vojislav Šešelj case), by acquitting the defendant in the first instance, and upon the Prosecutor’s complaint the defendant was declared guilty and sentenced to a 10-year imprisonment, which was covered by the time he spent at the UN Detention Unit.

Judge Agius states that Serbia ignores its obligations in accordance with the Resolution 1966 (2010). Quite the opposite- the Republic of Serbia takes seriously its obligations regarding cooperation with the Mechanism. After the warrant for apprehension and extradition of the two persons accused of contempt of court to the Mechanism had been introduced, the Higher Court in Belgrade established that assumptions for their apprehension and extradition to the Mechanism had not been met. The decision is founded on the rules of international law and domestic law of the Republic of Serbia and it is mandatory for holders of the executive power in the Republic of Serbia.

I would remind here that the first decision of a sole judge (Aydin Sefa Akay, 12 June 2018), that was acting in this case was that the criminal prosecution of V. Radeta and P. Jojić for alleged contempt of court was to be forwarded to the judicial authorities of the Republic of Serbia. In procedures that followed, the argument of the alleged unwillingness of the witnesses to cooperate with the judicial authorities of the Republic of Serbia was stated for the first time, and the decision on deprivation of transferring the case to the jurisdiction of the judicial authorities of the Republic of Serbia was based on the respective argument.

The Republic of Serbia expressed its readiness to take over the court procedure against Petar Jojić and Vjerica Radeta on several occasions and it provided appropriate guarantees. Additionally, the Republic of Serbia fully recognizes and accepts the obligation of the Mechanism to monitor trials that were transferred to national courts with the help of international and regional organizations, as well as to take measures envisaged by Article 6 of the Statute of the Mechanism.

I would remind here that the Republic of Serbia extradited to the tribunal all the persons indicted by the Prosecutor’s Office, and among the respective mostly highest political, military and police officials; it enabled presence of vast number of witnesses, delivered extensive documentation. Obligation of the Mechanism, in accordance with the Resolution of this Security Council, is to take measures that enable transfer of cases to national justice system. In previous practice, 13 cases were transferred to Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2 to Croatia and only one to Serbia.

The last but not the least, I want to remind all of you here of the fact that France- of course as a sovereign and independent country- upon request for apprehension and extradition of Florence Altman for publishing documents and contempt of court, refused the request for extradition, with an explanation that it does not extradite its citizens. For far smaller offence you ask as to extradite our citizens Jojic and Radeta, showing both the distrust to Serbian justice and judiciary and Serbian State, as well as a fact that the rule from ancient Rome is still valid – quod licet lovi non licet bovi.

It does not harm to underline that high-level officers and politicians were not trialed for crimes against Serbs, and that crimes against Serbs remained unsanctioned before ICTY and Mechanism. Let me remind you, just as an example that Ademi and Norac case for ferocious crimes against Serb civilians in Medački Džep was left to Croatian justice institutions. Proven crimes against Serbs, like those of Ramuš Haradinaj, Naser Orić, then Ante Gotovina and other indicted for military operation “Storm” that led to a complete ethnic cleansing of Serb population in the big part of today’s Croatia, resulted before the ICTY in acquittals. Many horrible crimes against Serb civilians that were committed in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija, and that resulted in ethnic cleansing, simply were not the subject of interest of the ICTY.

What’s very important and not to leave anything unclear, Serbia is a country that condemns all crimes and all criminals who perpetrated them in the region of former Yugoslavia. However, it is interesting that despite often criticism Serbia is the only one that speaks openly and condemns crimes perpetrated by Serb nationals, while in other regional countries they do not speak at all about crimes that representatives of those nations committed against members of Serbian people.

And I want to emphasize once again here in front of you that Serbia condemns terrible crime in Srebrenica and extends its deepest condolences to the families of all killed in that massacre. And there are no “buts” about the respective.

Nevertheless, we are here to analyze results and penal policy of ICTY and the Mechanism and it was such that it has never gained trust among Serbian people, no matter where they live. And not because we Serbs do not acknowledge crime committed by some of our compatriots, but because The Hague Tribunal, with exceptions, was judging only to Serbs and in all three territories of former Yugoslavia- Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo and Metohija, which some of the SC Member States see and name of course, contrary to law and legal norms and UN Resolutions, as an independent state. I would try to plastically prove to you how The Hague justice was tailored even though I know that it will not come to understanding of many of you, but to me it is important because of the history, facts, and school books that will be made in accordance with the facts.

Namely, Serbs were sentenced to totally 1138 years of imprisonment, and to 8 life imprisonments. At the same time, The Hague Tribunal did not sentence a single Croat for crimes against Serbs, neither in actions Medački Džep, nor Flash and Storm. How politically cunning it was done in the Tribunal, and all wrapped in the form of law and justice. Prosecutors of The Hague Tribunal chose on purpose three military and political leaders of Croats, Bosniac Muslims and Albanians, on all three mentioned territories, committed against Serbs. – Ante Gotovina, Naser Orić and Ramuš Haradinaj. It is interesting that following the same pattern, the same pattern, this injustice was shared. Namely, all of them were sentenced in the first instance procedure, with the exception of Ramuš Haradinaj, because not a single witness survived. Gotovina was sentenced to 24 years’ imprisonment in first-instance procedure, while by a mysterious decision of the second instance council and 3:2 judge ratio, the verdict was changed to acquittal. Naser Orić, for crimes against Serbs, was also sentenced in first instance verdict, but by a mysterious decision of the second instance court, and again 3:2 ratio decision was an acquittal and he was set free of any liability. Let me reiterate, all witnesses in process against Ramus Haradinaj, either committed suicide or were killed under very, very strange circumstances.

Let me conclude, I do not want to believe that someone wants to say that there had been no crimes against Serbs, but judging by the verdicts of The Hague Tribunal, no one- absolutely no one- is responsible for those crimes.

Nevertheless, we in Serbia will show responsibility and we will fight for peace, stability and reconciliation in the region.

We ask UN Security Council Member States to help us with rational and pragmatic approach and respect for international law and not by attempts of further humiliation of Serbia. Serbia is a small country, with proud and courageous people, the one that gave the biggest sacrifice during the WWI and WWII; people who wants to leave in peace with their neighbors. And when I am asking you for this, I do not think I am asking for too much.

At the very end, Serbia is the fastest growing country of the Western Balkans region and we cannot progress unless our relations with neighbors, friends and other countries are good, solid and better. That is why- despite the selective justice that was applied in The Hague Tribunal- we will be open for any dialogue, any kind of cooperation and we will look towards the future and not towards the past. And I have only one message for the citizens of Serbia and citizens of Serbian nationality in the entire region- keep your heads up, neither Serbia nor Serbian people are convicted of anything and it is up to us to work even more diligently, to open factories and to fight for our children and our future.

Long Live Serbia!

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.

8 May 2021

President Vucic said tonight that the visionary idea of Robert Schuman brought a true victory of the new trust after the Second World War and faith in the unification of differences in peace and solidarity, with the message that Serbia has that faith, as well as hope that it will become a country that will be gladly regarded in the European family of nations.
Congratulating everyone in Serbia and the EU on Europe Day, Vucic reminded that 9 May was also the day when the great victory of freedom is celebrated, which was won with huge sacrifices.

"While the horrors of war were still fresh in memory and Europe was healing the wounds of World War II, it also had people like Robert Schuman who understood that future can only be created based on the reconciliation of nations and their unity", Vucic said at the reception on the occasion of Europe Day.
He pointed out that the European peoples dared to see the recent adversaries as future allies.
"Schuman's visionary idea that peace will be preserved, if the creative forces are commensurate with the dangers that threaten, that Europe will emerge from specific achievements, has brought a true victory of newly found trust and faith in uniting differences in peace and solidarity", Vucic said.
He said that Serbia, although it did not always look like that, had that faith, as well as the hope that our concrete achievements, on the long and not easy path to EU membership, would be adequately valued.
“And that with your help, support and criticism, Serbia will become a country that you will be happy to see in the European community of nations. I believe that with our support, help and criticism, we would also contribute to the EU becoming an even better place to live", Vucic said.
Full membership of the EU, with a compromise solution to the issue of Kosovo and Metohija, is a way to achieve the goal and make Serbia orderly and successful, which would mean that we are on a good, European path, the President of Serbia said.
Vucic said that we still had to make a lot of efforts in reforms, not because someone is asking us to do that, but because we know that it brings us and the country a benefit.
He also pointed out that the reforms in the rule of law were exceptionally important, which were now being approached with much more responsibility.
"In our country, there is a race in who will say that they are more in favour of Europe, while saying under the table that they are the least for Europe. Europe does not belong only to those who would like to use European money, it does not belong to those in the government who say that they are on the European path because they believe that they are in that way preventing the opposition from coming to power, nor to those who think that this is the only way to get hold of power. It belongs to all of us, but we cannot take from Europe only what we like without accepting what we do not like", he explained.
I know, he added, how difficult it is to us in Serbia to hear criticism concerning Kosovo as well as in the field of the rule of law.
"I saw for myself that we are the ones who did not pay enough attention and apply a dedicated approach to the burning problems in that area. I believe that with greater zeal we will be able to change the attitude of the citizens of Serbia and gain greater respect from the EU for what we are doing", he pointed out.
President Vucic also pointed out that the EU was undoubtedly the largest donor, investor, and by far the most important trade partner of Serbia, and recalled that about two-thirds of all trade and even more service activities were EU related and that these were facts, whether someone liked it or not.
He pointed out that seven years ago when he became the Prime Minister, three times fewer people were employed in companies that came from EU countries than today.
"Despite all the problems, it shows how much we managed to do together and make good results, to provide people with life, security at work, to show that we can take care of them more", Vucic said, noting the great EU assistance in the field of education.
He said that during the recent visit to the EU, which he assessed as the best one so far, Serbia received additional support for infrastructure projects, primarily for modernization, i.e. essentially the construction of a new Belgrade-Nis-Presevo railway.
He said that this was confirmed in the letter of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, pointing out that this was the best letter he had ever received from Brussels.
"I am grateful to Von der Leyen for pointing out that this is a game-changer in our relations. It is a turning point because that support exceeds everything we have done together when you look at the scale, strength and significance of that project", he said.
He said that Serbia and its citizens considered Europe as their home and that is why we wanted to give our best contribution to peace through regional connectivity, the Berlin Conference and mini-Schengen.
"Encouraged by the message of European officials, I hope that I will be able to host them soon so that we can discuss the further acceleration of our European path", Vucic concluded.
Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia Sem Fabrizi hosted a reception tonight on the occasion of marking 9 May, Europe Day. In addition to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, the reception in the Belgrade City Assembly was attended by Serbian Parliament Speaker Ivica Dacic, Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic, European Integration Minister Jadranka Joksimovic, representatives of the diplomatic corps and public figures.
Europe Day was established in memory of the beginning of the creation of the European Union (EU) and the Day of Victory over Fascism in the Second World War. The reception is held in memory of 9 May 1950, when the Schuman Declaration was signed, which laid the foundations of the European Union, a project that brought the longest period without war on the Old Continent.

Source: Tanjug
Photo: Tanjug

8 May 2021

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Nikola Selakovic extended a congratulatory message on the occasion of 9 May, Europe Day, to High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, expressing confidence that the idea of uniting in diversity, in peace and solidarity, would continue to be the guiding idea of the European Union. 

"I am deeply convinced that the Republic of Serbia, through a policy of peace and good-neighbourly cooperation, can contribute to the European Union becoming an even better place to live, with the sincere belief that our achievements on the path to membership in the European family of nations will be adequately valued", reads the congratulatory message by Minister Selakovic, adding that the European perspective gave a strong impetus for our country to comprehensively implement political, economic and social reforms with the aim of becoming a full member of the European Union in the foreseeable future.

The Serbian Foreign Minister underlined that Serbia historically, culturally and in terms of values, belonged to the circle of countries united under the flag of the European Union and expressed hope that not only our country, but also our neighbours in the Western Balkans, would have the opportunity in the near future to become a part of what is without a doubt the most successful peace, democratic and economic project in the history of our common continent.

Selakovic also took the opportunity to extend gratitude on behalf of Serbia to the European Union for its assistance in the fight against the infectious Covid-19, emphasizing that our country highly appreciated the expressed solidarity and support in the difficult times of the pandemic outbreak and expressing confidence that the period ahead would see us contribute by joint forces to identifying solutions for overcoming the economic consequences of the corona virus pandemic.

The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia will be closed on 30 April and 3 and 4 May 2021. 

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

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

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.

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.

Below is an integral version of the speech of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Selakovic

Distinguished President of the Security Council,

Distinguished Special Representative,

Esteemed members of the Security Council,

At the outset, I have no choice but to lodge a protest against the abuse of the video format of this session on the part of the representatives of Pristina in order to promote the symbols of the so-called statehood of Kosovo. Despite the fact that the representatives of Pristina were warned on several occasions, including by the President of the Security Council at the previous session, that such abuses of Security Council sessions are absolutely unacceptable and constitute a flagrant violation of the Security Council rules on participation of representatives of the provisional institutions of self-government in Pristina, under Rule 39 of the UN Security Council Rules of Procedure, we are again faced with their reckless disregard for the rules of this distinguished body. Let me reiterate our call for the necessary steps to be taken to prevent such abuses.

It is my great pleasure to address this august body at the meeting on the work of the Mission of the United Nations in Kosovo and Metohija. At the outset, I would like to thank Secretary-General of the United Nations Mr. Guterres and Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNMIK Mr. Tanin for the report submitted and for their efforts made towards the implementation of the UNMIK mandate, and also to the members of the Security Council for the continued attention they have devoted to the issue of Kosovo and Metohija. The Republic of Serbia highly values the activities of the Mission of the United Nations in Kosovo and Metohija and supports it in carrying out its work as efficiently as possible and undiminished in scope, aiming to build and preserve security in the Province.

Mr. President,

In the previous period we have faced political instability in Kosovo and Metohija. We recently had elections in the Province, which unfortunately confirmed that political extremism among Albanians in Kosovo and Metohija is not decreasing, but on the contrary, is becoming stronger. We have witnessed Albanian leaders competing among themselves in efforts to find the best way to provoke an incident in Serb communities, in order to score political points of the Albanian electorate. Under the pretext of amending the voter list, a large number of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija were deprived of one of their fundamental political rights - the opportunity to elect their political representatives. Out of approximately 140,000 of citizens of Kosovo and Metohija who were removed from the voter list in the latest election process, 85% are Serbs.

Despite numerous challenges and problems, the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija have shown, by high turnout and a convincing victory of the Serb List which won all ten seats reserved for Serbian representatives, that nothing can stop them from resolutely defending their position. 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.

Distinguished members of the Security Council,

Unfortunately, it was not only during the election activities that we witnessed the unreasonable anti-Serb policy being pursued by the provisional institutions in Pristina. This goes to the length of breaking into the Health Center in Strpce, in the south of Kosovo and Metohija, by police inspectors and officers from Pristina, in  January this year, who conducted a search aiming to discover Covid-19 vaccines there, originating from central Serbia, which they did not find. In doing so they demonstrated force and threatened to arrest the director of the Health Center, medical staff and doctors. At a time when the whole world is fighting the pandemic with vaccines being the only way to end this challenge, while Serbia is showing support and solidarity by donating vaccines and medical equipment to all in need in the region, Pristina wants to destroy vaccines only because they originate from central Serbia. As the whole world expresses gratitude to medical doctors, who have made great and heroic sacrifices in combating the virus, the provisional institutions in Pristina are attacking Serbian doctors for doing their job.

Although we believe that intrusions into health care institutions are inadmissible, 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. Serbia continues to be ready to help all in need of assistance, and we call for reason and responsibility, especially in such difficult times.

Mr. President,

Attacks targeting Serbs and their property have been on the rise. In the last year alone, more than 80 attacks and incidents took place in our southern province, targeting Serbs, their property and religious sites. According to the information provided by the OSCE Mission in Kosovo and Metohija, in the second half of last year, the number of incidents increased by more than 30% compared to 2019. Therefore, we cannot agree with the assessment that the "security situation in Kosovo remained stable, with a few incidents reported affecting non-majority communities". Last weekend, for example, an entirely unprovoked physical attack by a group of Albanians on two Serb young men took place in the northern part of Kosovska Mitrovica.

Serb returnees represent a particularly vulnerable category, who spend their every day in fear of being attacked. The fact that one family of returnees was the target of seven attacks clearly indicates the persistence of those who do not want Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija. There is absolutely no trace of political will in Pristina for 212,995 displaced Serbs who have been living outside Kosovo and Metohija for 22 years to return to their homes. Since 1999, the rate of sustainable return of internally displaced persons in Kosovo and Metohija has been only 1.9%, which according to the UN data is officially the lowest percentage of return of expelled population after a conflict anywhere in the world.

At the same time, while arresting internally displaced persons, Pristina authorities are exerting the strongest of pressures on the Specialist Chambers in The Hague. The aim is to completely prevent the further processing of a number of cases against members of the terrorist KLA, on charges of serious crimes committed during the conflict in Kosovo and Metohija against both Serbs and persons belonging to other nationalities. President of the Specialist Chambers Madam Trendafilova recently warned that, should the pressures continue, this would have very dramatic consequences to the trials in progress. President Trendafilova underlined as highly problematic the phenomenon of witness intimidation, who are key for conducting proceedings successfully and rendering a proper verdict.

Although the wait to raise indictments was far too long, we consider it commendable that efforts have finally been made to punish the perpetrators of numerous serious crimes which were committed during the armed conflicts a little over two decades ago, but also upon the arrival of the international forces to Kosovo and Metohija. For example, no one has been held accountable to this day for the killings and abductions of 17 journalists in Kosovo and Metohija, which is currently the largest number of unsolved cases of murdered and kidnapped journalists in Europe. Furthermore, the perpetrators of any of the mass crimes committed against Serb civilians after 1999 have not been brought to justice. I will remind you of only a few of these cases: 14 Serb farmers were killed in the village of Staro Gracko, 12 displaced Serbs were killed and 43 wounded in the attack on the "Niš Express" bus in Livadice near Podujevo, and in Gorazdevac near Pec unknown persons fired automatic weapons on children who were swimming in the Bistrica river. Two Serb children were killed then, and four were seriously injured.

We expect the EULEX Mission to continue to support the Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor's Office, as well as its additional engagement in the field of the rule of law. Special attention needs to be devoted to witness protection, and determining the fate of missing persons.

International missions in Kosovo and Metohija - UNMIK, KFOR EULEX and OMIK are an integral part of the international civilian and security presence in our southern province, under the administration of the United Nations and in line with UNSC Resolution 1244 (1999), and play a key role and make an outstanding contribution to 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. This further demonstrates the need that international missions remain engaged in an undiminished scope, in order to consistently implement UNSC Resolution 1244.

I would like to further emphasize the importance of KFOR international forces and point 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 the UNSC Resolution 1244, while also being a potential source of instability and tensions. I will remind you that Pristina, contrary to international law and completely ignoring the interests and positions of the Serb community in the Province, would not abandon its plans to install a new security actor in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija. We consider the unilateral decisions on the formation of the "Ministry of Defence" and launching the process of transforming the so-called "Kosovo Security Forces" (KSF) into the so-called "Kosovo Army" to be unacceptable. I would like to reiterate that such unilateral moves on the part of Pristina constitute a gross violation of the UNSC Resolution 1244 and the Military Technical Agreement, according to which only the International Security Forces, that is KFOR, have the mandate for all military aspects of security in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija.

In this context, an additional reason for concern is the announcement of the construction of the largest base of the "Kosovo Security Forces" in the southern part of Kosovska Mitrovica, which Serbs in the north of Kosovo and Metohija perceive as the most open provocation and threat to their physical safety.


Distinguished members of the Security Council,

It is particularly worrying for the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija that in the previous period, and especially in March this year, there were frequent physical attacks on the property of the Serbian Orthodox Church. In just two weeks, as many as seven Orthodox landmarks in the province were targeted by vandals, at a time when we all remember the March 2004 pogrom against Serbs and Serbian holy sites in Kosovo and Metohija. The condition of the Serbian cultural and spiritual heritage in Kosovo and Metohija is humiliating, including the four monuments that are inscribed on the UNESCO List of World Heritage in Danger (Visoki Decani, Holy Virgin of Ljevisa, Gracanica and the Patriarchate of Pec). Numerous administrative and technical barriers are imposed on priestly and monastic communities, which makes it more difficult or even impossible for them to survive on church property.

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.

Distinguished members of the Security Council,

The reason for the nervous behaviour of Pristina is all too obvious, as the project of the so-called independence today fails to be recognized by more than a half of the United Nations Member States, including five members of the European Union. However, it is 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.

I will remind you that the current Prime Minister of the provisional institutions of self-government in Pristina has repeatedly threatened to unite the self-proclaimed Kosovo and Albania in the past. A member of his party publicly said last weekend that the self-proclaimed Kosovo and Albania would be united, I quote, "with rifle and gunpowder, or referendum boxes".

I need not explain why such dangerous ideas constitute a direct threat to peace and stability. They violate Resolution 1244, while continuously destabilizing not only our southern province, but the entire region as well, and in no way contribute to the dialogue process, but instead hamper it again.

We have demonstrated time and time again our commitment to dialogue as the only way towards a peaceful, political solution to the problem in Kosovo and Metohija. Even today, after many years of negotiations, but also failure to fulfill what was agreed and constant unilateral moves and provocations on the part of the provisional institutions in Pristina, we are still ready to sit down at the table and talk.

We are ready for dialogue but not to be blackmailed and threatened and especially not for ultimatums recently presented by Prime Minister of the provisional institutions of self-government in Pristina. I will remind you of his statement that the dialogue will be low on the list of priorities of the Pristina authorities. It is bewildering how Pristina refers to ultimatums completely undermining any chance of dialogue, as the European Union also pointed out, as "principles" and how it persistently insists that Belgrade should recognize the unilaterally declared independence of "Kosovo", upon which, they believe, all else would be resolved. What is the purpose of the dialogue then, if Belgrade is only expected to recognize the so-called Kosovo? Does the dialogue imply that one side should give up everything only for the other to win it all? And does the dialogue, in Pristina's opinion, imply that what was agreed should not be fulfilled?

I will remind you that Pristina still refuses to follow up on its obligations arising from the agreements reached so far and does not agree to discuss their implementation within the dialogue. And the situation is quite simple - in April 2013, the first agreement was signed in Brussels, which envisaged four obligations: one for Pristina and three for Belgrade. Belgrade has fulfilled all obligations, while the only obligation that the provisional institutions in Pristina had - to form the Community of Serb Municipalities - has remained unfulfilled for 2,917 days now. In fact, 19 April marks eight full years since the agreement was reached in Brussels, and of Pristina's failure to fulfill the obligation to form the Community of Serb Municipalities.

Distinguished Mr. President,

Regardless of the discouraging messages heard from Pristina and the fact that the dialogue has been in progress for many years, Serbia is determined and will not give up on identifying a compromise solution, which will be sustainable for future generations as well. Lasting peace and stability can only be achieved if none of the participants in the dialogue pursues maximalist demands and insists on the complete humiliation of the other. The Serbian and Albanian peoples, as the two most numerous peoples in the Western Balkans, need 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  to 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".

As far as Serbia is concerned, we are convinced that the only way to build lasting peace and stability in our region is by working to build trust and insisting on positive political agendas. The inhabitants of Kosovo and Metohija, of any nationality, whether they are Serbs or Albanians, do not deserve anything less.

Thank you for your attention.

The development of the On-line application for D type of visa is in the final phase and after it is finished, people applying for D type of visa based on employment, will be able to fill in the application electronically and attach the necessary documents and proof of payment of the consular fee. This application will facilitate the procedure of submitting the request and contribute to the efficiency of the procedure itself.

President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic received today letters of credence from the newly-appointed Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Joost Reintjes, to whom he wished a welcome and a successful tenure in Belgrade.
President Vucic expressed his belief that there was significant room for the promotion of political dialogue, as well as the intensification of all forms of cooperation between Serbia and the Netherlands.

President Vucic and Ambassador Reintjes stated the interest of both sides in improving economic cooperation. They expressed hope that large multinational companies from the Netherlands would observe an excellent investment climate in Serbia and decide to do business in our country. Ambassador Reintjes expressed his belief that the decision of the Dutch airline KLM to introduce a direct flight, along with the existing Air Serbia flight, would also contribute to closer contacts.

President Vucic thanked the Netherlands for the support to Serbia in fulfilling the criteria required for joining the European Union, emphasizing that our country was undertaking the necessary reforms and that it would accelerate them in the area of the rule of law. He stressed that our country had accepted the new methodology of accession negotiations, expressing hope that we would be able to open certain clusters soon.

Speaking about regional issues, President Vucic underlined in particular that it was of key interest for Serbia to preserve stability in the region and the orientation of the Western Balkans towards the most intensive mutual cooperation.

Source: predsednik.rs
Photo: predsednik.rs / Dimitrije Goll

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.

Even today, 22 years after the aggression, it is not possible to explain that, there is no universal justification, despite all the work done to that end, there is no reason, it makes no sense, and only names remain, as eternal as sin.

Miljana Milic, fifteen years old,
Vladimir Milic, twelve years old,
Miomir Mladenovic, fourteen years old,
Dragan Dimic, three years old,
Julijana Brudar, ten years,
Olivera Maksimovic, twelve years old,
Miroslav Knezevic, thirteen years old,
Dajana Pavlovic, five years old,
Stevan Pavlovic, eight years old,
Marko Simic, two years old,
Milica Rakic, three years old,
Ivan Ivancic, seven years old,
Marko Ivanovic, three years old...

And the list goes on, eighty nine names, not only Serbian ones...

The senselessness of sheer killing did not choose. Sixteen children, aged two to seventeen, from the Ahmetaj and Hasani families, were killed in a convoy returning home to Prizren.

In one headline in the West, this was simply explained as a "tragic mistake". The deaths of Marko Roglic, Milan Ignjatovic, Gordana Nikolic, Irena Mitic, Milica Stojanovic, Bojana Tosovic, Branimir Stanijanovic, our Sanja Milenkovic...could not expect or get even such an explanation.

Those deaths were not tragic, for those who caused them, much less a mistake. It was just an excuse, a miserable excuse.

They were a result of intent and a clear decision, as a severe judgment against one country, its people, its children.

And that is why today we will refrain from speculation in giving a name to everything that happened during the spring of 1999. Because a crime happened, a heinous and terrible one. And it was an aggression, not a bombing, not an intervention, not a campaign, not an operation. An aggression is what happened. An attack on a sovereign country, without a decision of the United Nations, without a sufficient reason that would justify attacking the then Yugoslavia or a neighbouring or NATO country.

No one was attacked by Serbia or the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia at that time. They attacked us, with one goal. To defeat us, to keep killing us, and in the end to take away a part of our territory.

And no matter how much we analyze things today, no matter how harsh and critical we are towards ourselves, our policy and leadership at the time, it is clear that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Serbia were left with almost no choice then. The choice was horrible, either the loss of territory and people on the one hand, or the complete disappearance of the Serbian state, morals, honour, Serbian spirit, names and surnames. And we could not help but lose. Nineteen big ones attacked one small country, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. They attacked both Serbia and Montenegro. And even when they don't talk about it today, in one of the two independent countries, those are the facts. And that small country, and that small nation, to all nineteen of them so great and powerful, held a lesson in what matters most - honour, morals and love for freedom that a nation can have.

Yes, justice, lest we forget justice. All those nineteen great ones today still silently talk about their military success, avoid answering questions, while - can you imagine, one small, only numerically small Serbian people, that small but magnificent nation, with sadness, tears in their eyes, proudly remembers their resistance and struggle against the nineteen cruel and arrogant ones.

We lost a lot, we lost our fathers, brothers, spouses, children, but the honour and Serbian heart are still there, to protect Serbia, which is eternal and indestructible.

We lost children, we lost people, we lost control over a large part of the territory, we lost billions because of the destroyed infrastructure and economy.

And all that was left for us was the body of a tortured, destroyed country, a country in disintegration, mutilated, looted, wounded, deserted, and guilty, condemned for everything that happened not only in the 1990s, but throughout history.

A country that, even ten years after the aggression, did not have the strength to stand up, rise to its feet, and do anything but be silent, or bow its head and obediently apologize, for everything, even for its dead, even for its murdered children.

Today, it is no longer that failed, tortured, devastated, mutilated Serbia.

Today, it is Serbia, which has found its strength and its pride again.

Serbia, which calls things by their real names.

Serbia, which turned its back on war and defeats, and started working.

Serbia, which rose to stand on its own feet and has a voice of its own.

Serbia, which, even when they don't believe it, they listen to. Which is capable, which is growing, and is no longer part of the problem. Serbia, which is and will be, at least we will do our best to this end, the very solution that enables the entire region to live in peace and understanding.

And that Serbia, today, when there are still many more bombs in the world than vaccines, sends not bombs, but precisely those vaccines to the region. Today, it is ready to produce them as well, and in just a few months we will do just that, but not only for ourselves, but also for others, for the entire Balkans.

We are ready, and we are willing to help.

We are not ready to be and we will not be silent, nor be humiliated again.

We draw the right to that not only from the victims we had, but also from the fact that we stopped looking at others only a long time ago, and looking for fault and guilt only in them, and not sometimes in ourselves as well.

We looked at each other and admitted. Every loss, every defeat and every crime that someone committed in our name, every failure and every wrong policy.

And we are no longer doing anything that could endanger anyone.

We continue to work and work, and grow more and more, gaining strength with only one goal - to be the best in economy and education, health, in culture, science, sports...

And we want to be safe, on our own. We want our army to be much stronger than it was in 1999. So that we never again face a situation that someone is killing our children, destroying the country, or expelling our people.

We want to remain free, to decide our own destiny, and for no one to take everything away from us ever again, and give us nothing.

And that nothing today, and I will repeat it as much as necessary, is the idea of some great, powerful ones, but also those who serve them, the idea that "Kosovo" should recognize us, so that we could recognize "Kosovo".

We do not need that recognition. And Serbia will not allow you to walk over our victims, our history, our past, but also to walk over our future. You will get the answer of reasonable, kind and responsible people. We need a compromise. We need all the obligations that we and Pristina have assumed to be fulfilled, but only we have fulfilled them so far.

And this is not our whim. It is not a phantasmagoria about a Serbian world that we want to create.

Even today, when they threaten us with the formation of a Greater Albania, when they say that the Community of Serb Municipalities is not going to happen, it is ours to be calm, to take care of our people in Kosovo and Metohija, but to send a clear message to all those great, powerful ones that we are not as weak as we were, that we will be able to preserve what is our own, not touching anything that belongs to anyone else. After all, Serbia is not and will not be but a handful of oats that every crow from the whole wide world can eat. As for those who used the strength and power of the nineteen arrogant and cruel ones, I only ask them not to threaten us. Please, please, don't threaten us. They should not think that Serbia is broken and that it will not have the strength to respond. Please, please, our Albanian neighbours, do not threaten us. And we ask all others, who have demonstrated their cruelty towards Serbia, not to help you in that. That is all we are asking and nothing more.

And we will respond to calls for peace, calls for compromise, and always with good will, because we do not want to have children killed again. And we do not want the children of others to suffer again. But do not underestimate Serbia, and do not look at Serbia with the same eyes as you did in 1999.

Today, Serbia is much stronger, much more powerful. Today, Serbia is a united country of togetherness, not a divided one. Today, Serbia is incomparably stronger and better in every aspect than it was in 1999, from the economy to our army. And we will never threaten anyone, we just ask you and request from you to respect us and nothing more.

Today, we are building roads that will connect us, among ourselves, with the region and with the world. Until the end of the year, we will work on eight motorways, on eight routes in the entire Balkans, not only Serbia, eight roads of peace and cooperation.

Only a crazy person would trade this for war, for dead children, for demolition and new loss. And yes, we want to have the closest relations with everyone who took part in the aggression against our beautiful Serbia, we have forgiven a long time ago, but no, we will never forget. And don't ask us to. That one day, every year, we will remind both ourselves and you. The nineteen of you, the most powerful, strongest, greatest in terms of might and force, but not so much when it comes to honour and morality. We will keep remind you and ourselves, just so it would never happen again. Not to us only, but to none other freedom-loving people in the world.

And if we have an offer, today it reads as follows: we are ready to make the whole Balkans a winner, for everyone to win, as long as no one tries to make Serbs the only losers.

And the path to this goal is not difficult at all.

We just need to respect and understand each other and not try to humiliate each other.

And not to touch into what everyone paid the highest and bloodies price for. Freedom. And we, Serbs, know the price of freedom.

Into our right to have it, to keep it and to remember all the victims who are part of it.

And our defeats, our lives and our children are built into ours. And the lives of our heroic pilots, and our giants from Kosare and Pastrik, and our children, innocent, completely innocent, and only guilty of living in Serbia.

This is too high a price to be quiet about it.

Because that would mean that we are ready for another defeat, for another humiliation.

And we are not.

And when all go quiet, we will keep repeating.

A child a day, and a little more. This was how much you killed us. In an aggression that even you did not understand why you carried it out.

And we will keep repeating this, just so it does not happen to us again.

With special reverence, we are fulfilling our obligation to pay tribute to all innocent Serbian victims who laid their lives on the altar of the homeland, both civilians and our heroic soldiers and policemen, the heroes of Kosare, Prizren, Mitrovica.

Today, for us Serbs, life in Kosovo and Metohija is like Via Dolorosa, using their last strength on the road to Golgotha, but we would not be Serbs if we were not capable to "exist in a terrible place".

And today, tonight, I can conclude with one important sentence. On the soil of Europe, there was, and today is stronger than ever, an indomitable, unwavering, unconquerable and never conquered Serbia.

May eternal glory be to all the victims of the NATO aggression and let us all exclaim together - long live free and proud Serbia", President Vucic said.

Source:www.predsednik.rs
Photo:www.predsednik.rs

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

President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić met today with the Head of the Delegation of the European Union, Ambassador Sam Fabrizi, to discuss the continuation of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges in the mass vaccination process.

President Vučić thanked the EU for its support to Serbia in the conditions of the pandemic and expressed hope that the first contingents of vaccines from the COVAX program will arrive soon.

"Serbia was among the first to join this programme, thus proving again to be a reliable partner of the European Union," said President Vučić and stressed that our country has taken a serious and responsible approach to fighting the pandemic, as evidenced by comprehensive measures adopted by the Serbian Government to preserve the health and lives of people, both citizens of Serbia and its surrounding.

Ambassador Fabrizi assured that the EU will continue to provide full solidarity to Serbia. Last week, the European Commission announced the allocation of 12 million euros for Serbia from the EU Solidarity Fund, which is another indicator of the EU's support for Serbia since the outbreak of the pandemic. The EU will continue to work to ensure a fair and global distribution of vaccines. In this regard, Ambassador Fabrizi stressed the importance of the COVAX program. The EU and Team Europe, as a true global donor, have already pledged more than 2 billion euros for the programme. The Ambassador commented positively on Serbia's contribution to the COVAX program and congratulated Serbia on the results achieved in the vaccination process, as well as on the timely and decisive measures taken in the fight against the coronavirus.

On this occasion, President Vučić also confirmed that cooperation with the European Union and full membership of Serbia remains one of the key foreign policy priorities of our country. He particularly emphasised that Serbia is sincerely committed to further reforms, which it approaches with responsibility and seriousness, and that through cooperation with the institutions of the Union and its members, it strives to adopt and apply best practices.

Ambassador Fabrizi pointed out that despite the current challenges caused by the pandemic, the EU keeps the issue of enlargement very high on its agenda, given the new methodology to be presented by the European Commission.

President Vučić pointed out that Serbia expects the European Union to monitor and evaluate the dynamics of Serbia's accession negotiations and evaluate its reform efforts, and that our country is ready to continue working with its European partners on the implementation of reforms and numerous joint projects. In this regard, they also discussed specific joint infrastructure projects.

"We will continue to work intensively on fulfilling the European agenda, aimed at opening new chapters and faster progress on the path to EU membership," concluded President Vučić.

President Vučić and Ambassador Fabrizi discussed the process of harmonising the legislation of Serbia with the legislation of the European Union and agreed that more energetic work is needed in the area of the rule of law.

The two interlocutors also discussed judicial reform, including the constitutional process, the fight against corruption, media freedom and the resumption of inter-party dialogue.

Ambassador Fabrizi particularly underlined the need for concrete improvements to provide a suitable environment in which the freedom of the media and the role of civil society can be realised unhindered and without pressure.

President Vučić especially emphasised that he advocates that the representatives of all media do their job in an atmosphere of complete freedom of expression and that he remains personally committed to that since media freedom is one of the greatest achievements of democracy.


Belgrade,
17th March 2021
     

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 à la Haye vous invite à découvrir la diversité et la richesse de la culture serbe en français.

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.

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.

Source: SPC/Serbian Orthodox Church

Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Selakovic received today a farewell call from Ambassador of the Netherlands Gilles Beschoor Plug, whom he thanked for cooperation and personal efforts made towards all-round promotion of bilateral relations between our two countries.

Minister Selakovic noted that there was interest and potential in Serbia for increasing economic cooperation and Dutch investments, and stated that he expected the arrival of large multinational companies.

The Head of Serbian diplomacy pointed out that Serbia agreed to the new methodology of accession negotiations with the EU, hoping that this would accelerate the entire process and enable the opening of a larger number of negotiation chapters through clusters.

Speaking about the dialogue with Pristina, Selakovic stressed that Serbia was fully committed to the normalization of relations and that to Belgrade this meant reaching a compromise solution that would be sustainable, applicable and acceptable to both sides.

Minister Selakovic reiterated his gratitude for the support that the Netherlands lent to Serbia through various projects aimed at promoting Serbian institutions.

Belgrade,
12 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.   

The President said that he would rather put his "head on the chopping block" than sign any document with a recognition and reminded that he had already once refused to do so in Washington, where there were two versions of the agreement.

He stated that he immediately had his delegation leave the meeting, that he told the U.S. delegation that Serbia would not sign such an agreement, while conveying that Serbia would always endeavour to hold peaceful talks in order to preserve peace, but that it would not take any humiliation.

The Serbian President thanked the U.S. President Joe Biden for the letter of congratulations on the occasion of the upcoming Statehood Day, in which, in addition to the usual emphasis on commitment to promoting economic cooperation, regional stability and democratic values, he unequivocally called for mutual recognition of Serbia and "Kosovo" as a result.

Mutual recognition between Serbia and "Kosovo" is not part of any act of any world organization, the President pointed out and reiterated 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.

According to the president, the situation is difficult and will only be increasingly difficult.

"As I told you three days ago, I can see it and I expect it, I can see the situation slowly tightening, because the conflicts between them at the global level have been increasing and intensifying, and then we have to pay the price", the President said.

President Vucic said that said that it was up to our state to continue strengthening the country in the economic sense.

The President added that the role of the army was very important in the highly complex security and political conditions of the modern world, and that was why Serbia needed to do everything it could to deter any potential aggressor and attacks on citizens and the country.

"The policy of strengthening the armed forces will continue at a faster pace", the President emphasized, adding that the goal was for the Serbian Army to play a stabilizing role with regard to the political developments in the region.

According to him, it should be clear to everyone that Serbia was not a punching bag and that not everyone could attack and threaten it like it was the case in the past.

Vucic said that he was pleased with what he saw and that a lot had been done in the previous period, pointing out that the salaries of military personnel would be significantly increased as of April.

President Vucic also stated that investments in the Serbian Army would continue, whom he told that he expected the Army to continue to be the guardian of our country, its integrity and freedom.

"We expect you to be the guardians of our country, its integrity and freedom, the defenders of our people, the guardians of the homeland, the protectors of the interests of the state of Serbia and to be a deterrent factor for every aggressor and anyone who might consider attacking Serbia", Vucic said.

The military exercise called "Spearhead" demostrated the capabilities of the 72nd Special Operations Brigade, and the event, which the President of Serbia and the Supreme Commander of the Serbian Army assessed as very good, was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Nebojsa Stefanovic and Chief of General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces, General Milan Mojsilovic.

Photo: Presidency of Serbia / Dimitrije Goll

Belgrade,
7 February 2021

Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia Ana Brnabic met today with Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Serbia Gilles Beschoor Plug, discussing bilateral relations between the two countries, Serbia's European integration and progress in the field of rule of law, as well as the current epidemiological situation and immunization of the population.

Ambassador Plug congratulated Serbia on the success achieved in immunizing the population, which, according to him, would lead to a faster return of citizens to normal life and the country's economic recovery.

In the conversation with the Dutch Ambassador, who is about to end his tenure in Serbia, Prime Minister Brnabic assessed that the strategic goal of our country was to join the European Union and that we were fully prepared to apply the EU's new methodology in that process.

The Prime Minister pointed out that the priority of the Government's work was carrying out a systemic reform in the field of the rule of law that would contribute not only to faster accession to the European Union, but also to the strengthening of institutions and a better standard of living for citizens.

Ambassador Plug underlined that the Netherlands was committed to cooperation and extending support to Serbia in the field of the rule of law and to further strengthening the capacities of institutions in the country.

He assessed that the implemented reforms, especially in the field of economy, had contributed to strengthening the Serbian economy and improving the living standard of citizens and expressed the expectation that, by persisting in reforms this year as well, Serbia would make a more significant progress in opening clusters and moving towards EU membership.

Discussing economic cooperation, Prime Minister Brnabic stated that the Netherlands was an important economic partner and investor and that it was in the interest of our two countries to concurrently strengthen political cooperation and inter-state dialogue.

The Prime Minister expressed her gratitude to the Ambassador for his personal engagement and dedicated work on improving the relations between the two countries and wished him every success in his future professional work.

Belgrade,
4 February 2021

President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić met today for a farewell visit the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Gilles Beschoor Plug and thanked him for the good cooperation, as well as for his contribution to the improvement of bilateral relations.

President Vučić assessed as particularly important the visit of the head of Dutch diplomacy of the Blok, who was in Belgrade during the diplomatic mandate of Ambassador Plug, expressing the expectation that in the future there will be more high-level contacts as that would lead to better mutual understanding between Serbia and the Netherlands.

The two interlocutors stated that the two countries' economic ties are progressing, both through trade exchange and investments of Dutch companies on the Serbian market. Ambassador Plug said that Serbia's results in the field of economy have been noticeable, which leads to the interest of potential new investors from the Netherlands.

President Vučić thanked the Netherlands for supporting Serbia's European path and pointed out that our country is committed to social and economic reforms.

Ambassador Plug welcomed the efforts that Serbia makes in terms of reforms in the area of the rule of law, emphasising at the same time that it is necessary for European standards to be applied in all areas of life. He congratulated on how Serbia is fighting against COVID-19.

President Vučić wished Ambassador Plug much success in his future duties.

Belgrade,
8th February 2021

President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić met earlier today with the Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia, Ambassador Sem Fabrizi, to discuss Serbia's European path, continuation fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, implementation of political and economic reforms, with particular emphasis on the rule of law and plans for new EU investments in our country.

President Vučić thanked the EU for its support to Serbia in structural reforms and economic measures and the EU investments in our country. The President especially expressed hope that the first contingents of vaccines from the COVAX programme promoted by the European Union will arrive soon.

"Serbia was among the first to join this programme, thus showing once again that it is a serious and reliable partner of the European Union. I am convinced that together, with solidarity and mutual understanding, we will manage to get out of this crisis and continue working to recover the economy," said President Vučić, adding that the EU is the most important foreign trade and investment partner of our country since two-thirds of our trade and investments are related to EU countries.

The Head of the EU Delegation, Sem Fabrizi, affirmed that the EU will continue with solidarity to the fullest extent and that it will continuously work on ensuring the distribution of vaccines both in Serbia and in the Western Balkans countries. He expressed satisfaction with the Government of Serbia's results, especially emphasising that timely and decisive measures taken in the fight against the coronavirus contributed to maintaining the country's economic stability during the pandemic.

"Thanks to the current structural reforms, Serbia, in line with the accession process, has shown resilience to the crisis and the ability to mitigate the effects on the economy with excellent results in the healthcare area", Sem Fabrizi said, stressing that the pandemic did not affect the undoubted commitment of the Western Balkans to the EU process.

Ambassador Fabrizi also introduced President Vučić to the new head of the EIB's Office for the Western Balkans, Alessandro Bragonzi, who pointed out that it was a great honour for him to take over activities for the region at a time when it is facing such a difficult crisis.

The European Investment Bank invested 873 million euros in the Western Balkans during 2020, which is about 50 per cent more than in the previous year. Most of the assets, i.e. 531 million euros, are in line with the European Union's priorities for increasing connectivity and has been invested in the construction and modernisation of transportation infrastructure in the region.

"Serbia will continue its outstanding cooperation with the EIB, as we are strongly committed to building an economy based on sound and solid foundations, as well as on innovation and all other projects supported by the EIB so far, which have undoubtedly contributed to our good economic results in 2020", said President Vučić and pointed out that further improvement of the health system in Serbia, development of the infrastructure network and implementation of the green and digital agenda remain key priorities of Serbia. The President also expressed hope that with the EIB's support, the planned projects will be successfully completed.

"Following this commitment, Serbia is determined to create an even more favourable business climate with additional packages of subsidies for the investors from the EU who want to invest in our country", said President Vučić.

"The European Union and the European Investment Bank, with the approach of 'Team Europe', support Serbia's strategic goals, including in the field of connectivity, environment and energy and work on priority projects such as reconstruction and construction of an additional building of the Clinical Centre of Serbia, reconstruction of the Clinical Centre Vojvodina, modernisation of railway infrastructure, gas interconnector from Bulgaria, Mir highway and Corridor 10", said Ambassador Fabrizi and expressed the EU's readiness to continue with investments that will encourage further economic growth of Serbia, which are at the heart of the new EU economic and investment plan for the Western Balkans.

He said that Serbia must continue its European path and that further support of the Union in strengthening, adopting and implementing reforms is critical, for the benefit of the citizens.

"We will continue to work intensively on fulfilling the European agenda, aimed at opening new chapters and faster progress on the path to EU membership", concluded President Vučić.

President Vučić and Ambassador Fabrizi discussed the process of harmonising Serbia's legislation with the legislation of the European Union and agreed that more energetic work is needed in the area of the rule of law.

The two interlocutors also discussed judicial reform, the fight against corruption, media freedom and the resumption of inter-party dialogue.

Ambassador Fabrizi and President Vučić confirmed the importance of continuing the EU facilitated dialogue with Priština.
 

Belgrade,
4th February 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.

What kind of relations do you expect Serbia to have with the new U.S. administration?

It is too early to speculate about this in public. The new presidential administration in Washington is currently preoccupied with internal issues and this will be the case for some time. There are people in the team of President Joseph Biden who have dealt with our region, and it is likely that the Balkans and Serbia will be the focus of the U.S. foreign policy at some point. I will remind you that President Vucic and President Biden not so long ago had very substantive talks in Belgrade, after which our President stated that he had the opportunity to talk to someone extremely well acquainted with the situation in this part of the world and an extraordinarily prepared interlocutor. Taking their personal relationship into account, but also the importance of enhancing the ties between Serbia and the United States, we have reason to expect that a meeting between the two presidents will be organized in the foreseeable future. I am sure that the nature and dynamics of the relations between Serbia and the United States will be influenced by the fact that Ambassador Marko Djuric now represents us in Washington, whose presence at President Biden's inauguration ceremony is an important signal and, I believe, a harbinger of positive developments in bilateral relations between our two countries.

How would you describe our country's relations with Moscow, Brussels and Beijing?

Russia is our traditional friend and that friendship goes beyond merely political ties. These are deep spiritual, cultural and civilizational bonds, and it is only natural that we have a mutual interest in improving those ties, even though they are at a very high level. We have a relationship with the People's Republic of China which is, in addition to the sincere iron-clad friendship between our peoples and high political representatives, based on deep trust and mutual support. Full membership of the European Union is Serbia's strategic orientation that all our friends are aware of, but our country does not forget its friendships, but strengthens and promotes them instead, and approaches all with honesty and no ulterior motives. In this context, we do not seek any preferential treatment, but only the right to freely and independently make decisions about our future and relations with all who respect us. 

Could Serbia pursue a different foreign policy than the one it is pursuing at the moment?

It is always possible to have a different policy, just look at the foreign policy of Serbia ten, twenty or thirty years ago, examine the results at that time and you will realize how irretrievably expensive that policy turned out to be. Whether a policy is right, at either foreign or domestic level, is measured through its results and effect on the lives of citizens and the fate of the entire state.
Our foreign policy priorities are not being defined on a whim, but are instead the result of a serious and deep examination of our complex position and strategic thinking about ways to improve it. Today, Serbia has a better international reputation and credibility than two decades ago, and the main reason for that is that our results have shown how serious and responsible we are as a country. That kind of credibility is not achieved by trickery, but only by hard and well-thought-out work on oneself. And I need to emphasize on this occasion as well that the main inspiration for such an attitude towards politics, the state and its future comes from none other than President Aleksandar Vucic. As Minister of Foreign Affairs, I have the opportunity on a daily basis to see the level of appreciation and respect President Vucic enjoys beyond the borders of our country.

When can we expect the vacant posts of Serbian ambassadors and consuls across the globe to be filled?

That is one of the main tasks for 2021. This will be a year of reinvigoration and I believe also rejuvenation of Serbian diplomacy. Our country, given its size, has a fairly extensive diplomatic network, which provides it with great opportunities for deepening political and economic relations with countries in all parts of the world. But we need more fresh and energetic staff, people who will be the most honourable representatives of a modern and dynamic Serbia. There are such people in Serbia, and we do need a serious rejuvenation, in order to avoid wide generation gaps in our personnel, and to lay the foundations of a modern career diplomacy.

How would you describe your relationship with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic?

President Vucic and I are, in addition to having close and friendly relations, by virtue of the work we do and our constitutional competencies, the closest collaborators in the realization of Serbia's foreign policy goals. This allows me to talk to him often, and on many occasions learn a lot of new and important things. President Vucic is a man who inspires people around him with his strategic and visionary approach to politics, and I am proud to have had the opportunity to be part of his closest team of associates over the years, and to have had him as a kind of political mentor. In any case, his vision of Serbia as a modern, progressive and prosperous state, which independently and on its own will decides on its destiny, is my wish as well and key motivation for political engagement. For only such Serbia is a country that its own citizens, as well as Serbs beyond our borders, can confidently rely on, while also being an inspiration to the entire region.

Source: Politika

Open call for the Co-Financing of Projects for the Translation of Representative Works of Serbian Literature into Foreign Languages in 2021 can be seen ot the following link: https://www.kultura.gov.rs/konkurs/sr/30/600690372a8d5

An article from the Dutch newspapers, about Serbian soldiers who died in the Netherlands after the First World War, can be found at the following link: https://www.rd.nl/artikel/908644-zoeken-naar-nabestaanden-van-servische-soldaten.

The author of the article is Fabian Vendrig, a Dutch citizen who currently lives and works in Belgrade and who is also an author, together with John Stienen and Tatjana Vendrig, of the book “Serbian soldiers of World War I who died in the Netherlands”.

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 growth of minus 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.

Furthermore, the President emphasized that hospitals were built and renovated in our country, and that two hospitals were built from the ground up in just four months.

He said that the state made significant efforts to procure respirators, masks, gloves, protective suits, medicines, everything that was needed, and pointed out that work was being done on 10 general hospitals throughout Serbia, adding that all these were major achievements that were only possible owing to the success of the 2014 reforms, the enactment of the Labor Law, which yielded excellent results, and also through fiscal consolidation measures.

"These are unprecedented results for Serbia. Was Serbia ever before the first in Europe in terms of growth rate? We will get the results on 31 March that will confirm that Serbia is number one in Europe. All that was possible thanks to people who believed in difficult changes", Vucic said.

According to the President, this year, as many as six highways will be built in Serbia at the same time, and in this regard, he noted that Bulgaria has announced that the highway from our border to Sofia will be completed by the end of the year, after which it will be possible to use motorway to travel to Istanbul, which is very important to ensure that our country is on a transport route.

President Vucic emphasized that in 2020, the so-called year of corona, our country had a net inflow of foreign direct investment amounting to EUR 2.9 billion net, and three billion gross, which means that many foreign companies such as Toyota Tires, Boysen, ZTF and Brose have invested in Serbia even in this year of crisis.

The President said that Serbia has the highest average wages in the region, amounting to 511 or 512 euros, and that in February, due to the January increase, the average wage will be 535 or 536 euros, and that only in Belgrade in the last seven years the average wage increased by 180 euros or 40 percent.

That President said that Serbia was fourth in the region in terms of salaries before, and that today we are officially the first, and that the difference in relation to other countries will only increase faster. He also pointed out that the employment rate is growing in Serbia as well as that our public debt increased less than in most European countries. This is illustrated by the data that in Italy the public debt surged to 156 percent, in Germany to 87 percent, in France to 114 percent, in Croatia to 88 percent, while in Serbia it is at 57 percent.

The Serbian President announced that by Sretenje, 15 February, an additional package of assistance to the economy will be earmarked, and as he explained, it will be a new capital injection for companies, the trade, entrepreneurs, small, medium and large enterprises which, as he said, concerns 1,052,000 people within that system.

Vucic specified that it will most likely be help in the form of two or three payments amounting to half a minimum wage each, and that there will also be sectoral aid for tourism, hotel owners, travel agencies, guides, for bus carriers, through another half minimum wage payment.

The President added that efforts will be made to extend the guarantee schemes as well, which proved to be excellent, amounting to 1.5 billion, and this time, through the same system, two more portions amounting to 500 million each could be provided.

Vucic said that the first agreements with DFC worth 300 to 400 million dollars are expected in seven days.

He also stated that the state will endeavour to help pensioners further, in addition to increasing pensions by 5.9 percent in January, which will be reflected in their first checks in February, and added that pensioners should by March receive symbolic aid in the form of packages with vitamin C, D and zinc, which, as the President said, are small things, but they reflect the state's care and efforts made to protect health.

The President announced that negotiations on the procurement of the Chinese vaccine would be completed in the next seven to eight days, after the first quantities of the Pfizer and Sputnik V vaccines have arrived in Serbia, and pointed out that the Chinese vaccine was of exceptional quality, but probably the most expensive, which is why he wrote to the Chinese President and asked for a discount for our country.
Vucic thanked the Americans for deciding to sell the vaccine to our country and noted that no one in the region other than Serbia has received it, except for the small quantity that Albania got.

He pointed out that our state relied on itself and its own capacities, and that our state leadership anticipated that vaccines within the European COVAX plan would arrive late.

The President rejected the claims about bad results of Serbia in the fight against the corona virus and stated that our country has recorded the lowest corona virus mortality rate in the region.

He presented statistical information indicating that Slovenia had 144 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, North Macedonia 126, Bosnia and Herzegovina 123, Bulgaria 115, Montenegro 115, Hungary 110, Croatia 107, Romania 85, and Serbia 51.

"The mortality rate in the region is as follows: Bulgaria 3.9, Bosnia and Herzegovina 3.7, Hungary 3.11, North Macedonia 3.03, Romania 2.48. Slovenia 2.15, Croatia 1.99, Montenegro 1.4, and Serbia 1.0. This can be seen in the graphs and is no fabrication", the President stressed.

He said that the state will fight for vaccines, and that only Serbia, in the Western Balkans, received significant quantities of vaccines, other than a smaller quantity that Albania received, and added that in one day since the registration for vaccination opened, as many as 63,000 persons have registered.

President Vucic expressed his belief that the year ahead will be better than the previous one as well as that the corona virus will be defeated through vaccination of citizens.

Belgrade,
12 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.

He emphasized that the appointment of the Director of the Office for Cooperation with the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region for the first time after almost seven years since this body was formed within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, shows that it is one of the priorities of the Ministry he is at the helm of.

Selaković notes that intensive efforts have been long underway on forming a plan to make the diaspora more visible both outside the borders of Serbia and in the mother country itself.

"Every person in the diaspora is a potential lobbyist for the interests of our country and people, and we need to find the right way to use that", he said.

That much can be done in that regar Selakovic illustrates with the fact that only in Switzerland, in 24 cities, there are Serbian cultural and artistic associations which amounts to more than 3,000 young people who get together in order to preserve our tradition, culture, the Serbian language and history.

"If they were able to set up such associations in 24 cities, it speaks volumes about the enthusiasm of these people. There is so much enthusiasm, energy and love in these people. We need to explore ways to help them and use their good will and potential", the Minister points out.

He also cites the example of an emigrant family in Canada, the Varaklic family from southwestern Serbia, who sends Christmas packages for children in the Raska region every year. He adds that they have so far donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to non-governmental organizations for those needs alone, but he says that we do not see that here.

"The state does not recognize this, and these are people who gained success as entrepreneurs working in a distant country, who can be serious lobbyists for Serbia, for Serbian interests, someone who represents us in the best possible way", Minister Selakovic said.

Minister Selakovic also pointed out that Arnaud Gouillon has been appointed as head of the Office for Cooperation with the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region and described him as a man of extraordinary energy, great love for the Serbian people, which he showed in his engagement towards Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, where they were seriously endangered.

"By doing so, he showed and set an example to many of our compatriots of what an individual can do. And when one such individual focuses energy, enthusiasm and love for people, on work done within the state administration system, I think that the preconditions have been created for such activities to yield good results", Minister Selakovic said.

Source: Tanjug

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.

The Head of Serbian diplomacy reminded that in a number of diplomatic missions, the four-year mandate of Ambassadors and Consuls General has already expired, so that the procedure for appointing new ones will follow, after their recall.

One of the "vacant" spots is the post of the Serbian Ambassador to China.

"We are working hard to find the best possible solution for our new Ambassador to China and as we appointed one of the best people in the state system as Ambassador to the United States, who, I am sure, will perform his duties in the best possible way, I am convinced that it will be the same for the Ambassador in Beijing", Selakovic said.

The Minister, who took over the foreign policy sector in the Government a little over two months ago, points out that circumstances in the world, as well as Serbia's position in it, have changed, but that Serbia's foreign policy goals do not change: the country remains strategically committed to European integration and, while pursuing the EU path, it will also strengthen traditional friendships with Russia and China, as well as promote and strengthen new partner relations with the United States.

"Relations in the region, good-neighborly relations, regional cooperation are also important for Serbia, because this fits into the set of requirements on the European path. But, even regardless of the European path, it is always important who you live next to, who you live with, what your neighbors are like and what the relations are like in the neighborhood", Minister Selakovic said.

He also points out that the issue of Kosovo and Metohija is of inestimable importance, it being the main national and state issue for Serbia and the Serbian people.

"When I say that circumstances are changing, but not the goals - the EU and European integration was our goal seven years ago as well, but look at what our room for maneuver was then, in terms of economic aspects, and look at it today. Circumstances changed, and then you adjust your actions to these changed circumstances, to the best extent possible", Minister Selakovic said.

He reminds that foreign policy priorities for 2021 were also outlined by the President of the Republic, and that maintaining peace and stability in the region is the absolute priority.

"Only in a peaceful and stable region of the Western Balkans and Southeast Europe can Serbia thrive economically, culturally and scientifically - in every respect. Peace and stability in the region  are “sine qua non” without which there is no development and progress. Serbia has acted, is acting and will act as a factor that stabilizes the entire region and maintains peace in the region, showing that it is the region that benefits everyone the most", Minister Selakovic said.

Relations in the region have always been complex, and the region, Minister Selakovic noted, is to our great regret, burdened with issues that we cannot have a bearing on, and which concern
the past.

Serbia's approach is to seek room to influence what is happening today and what will happen
happen in the future.

In this context, he states that the so-called "mini-Schengen" initiative for market unification of the region, which originated from Aleksandar Vucic and was met with a positive response from the Prime Ministers of Albania and North Macedonia, is one of the opportunities to do much more for the region.

"To show how much more we can do if we act together and if we seek our common denominators, and not what separates and divides us ", Selakovic points out.

When it comes to relations with the United States, Selakovic said that one should not expect the great powers to change their positions the way we would like, want or imagine, but that it is important that the Ambassador in Washington, Marko Djuric, also emphasized that his task, among other things, will be to make efforts to change the climate in bilateral relations with the United States - the most important country in the world, as our lacking communication with them in the past seriously affected the position of the Serbian people and Serbia.

"I am convinced that Djuric will work seriously on that, together with President Vucic, Prime Minister Brnabic and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and contribute to a large extent to changing that climate", Minister Selakovic said.

He points out that it is extremely important for Serbia to promote its partner relations with the United States to a higher level.

"This is a country with which we cooperate closely in many areas and a country with which we must strive, and not give up in doing so, to find what we have in common, our common ground and good examples of our cooperation in the past, and to create space for such cooperation in the future as well", Minister Selakovic concluded.

Source: Tanjug

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lBa_AWOSjY

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.

"Serbia will remain on the course of a winning policy - the policy of stability", President Vucic said and stressed that our country remains on the European integration path and that it will carefully foster its friendship with Russia and China, while building a friendship with the United States as well.

According to the President, Serbia will continue to pursue a winning policy, with the country itself as a top priority, i.e., a policy that will enable Serbia to continue being one of the top three countries in Europe in terms of growth rate in the next two years.

A precondition for that, the President noted, is to crack down on criminal groups, but also to ensure even bigger investments in the police and army forces.

"Serbia is the country that recorded the highest growth in Europe in 2020", the President pointed out at the annual press conference and added that he expects to conclude a new arrangement with the IMF, as well as that Serbia, by the end of next year or early 2022, will raise its credit rating to an "investment" one, which will put our country's rating on par with the most developed EU countries.

As the greatest success in 2020, Vucic noted that Serbia will end the year with the highest growth rate in Europe, which, as he said, is expected to be from minus 0.75 percent to minus one.

"I am proud to be the President of a country that is the European champion in terms of GDP",  Vucic pointed out and added that German Chancellor Angela Merkel was also pleased with Serbia's success.

According to President Vucic, this result will encourage Serbia to accelerate its European path, while continuing friendships with those who did not turn their backs on Serbia when it was at its darkest hour, namely Russia and China.

The President pointed out that the activities to attract foreign investors will continue, then that work will be done on investments in agriculture, primarily the food industry, new machinery, and digitalization of agriculture.

President Vucic also emphasized that the goal is for salaries in the public sector to average between 560 and 570 euros by the end of the year. Only in Belgrade, the average salary would be around 700 euros. 

President Vucic reminded that the salaries of health care workers will increase by five percent from January 1, while the salaries of others in the public sector will increase by 3.5 percent and an additional 1.5 percent as of April 1, while corporal, private first class and non-commissioned officer army ranks will get an increase of an additional 10 percent. He noted that the minimum wage will be increased by 6.6 percent and so will pensions from January 1, by 5.9 percent, with the plan that the average pension amounts to 270 euros by the end of 2021. The President especially pointed out investments in health care, reminding that two new covid hospitals have been opened and that the renovation and construction of health facilities continues throughout Serbia, while stressing that Serbia is by far the first in the region in terms of hospitalized persons per 100,000 citizens, which is why it has recorded a low mortality rate , and also that Serbia this year has been among the top three countries in the region according to the number of PCR tests performed.

Speaking about tourism, the President said that, next year, efforts will be made on the development of the Danube basin region, from Apatin to Kladovo, that the Ovcar-Kablar Gorge will be developed, as well as our mountain centers.

Discussing the field of culture and information, President Vucic said that the implementation of the media strategy and the completion of the reconstruction of the National Theater in Subotica are important for next year, and he announced investments in museums, especially emphasizing the relocation of the History Museum to the train station building. He also stated that the floor heating in the Church of Saint Sava will be completed next year.

He pointed out that the state will continue to take care of our citizens in Kosovo and Metohija, that no one can forbid Serbia to help its people, and that Serbia will not give up on helping our people.

As he emphasized, Serbia is ready to send medicines and vaccines to the Albanian population as well, and pointed out that in the upcoming period our country will pursue a policy of peace in the region and will endeavour to cooperate with Zagreb, Sarajevo, Podgorica and others.

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.

As Prime Minister and as someone who leads the COVID-19 Crisis Response Team, I felt obliged to be the first to receive the vaccine, to show that we believe in it, as well as in our institutions - the Medicines and Medical Devices Agency of Serbia and experts who worked round the clock to test the vaccine, she said.

Underlining that it was an honour to do this for her country and be the first to pave the way for all citizens, the Prime Minister said that she agreed with President of the Republic Aleksandar Vucic that the two of them receive different vaccines, so he will most likely receive the next one that arrives, most probably the one produced by China.

At the moment we have the Pfizer-BioNTech consortium vaccine, and the vaccines from the Chinese Sinopharm are expected in the near future, as well as certain quantities of the Russian vaccine Sputnik V.

She expressed her belief that at the end of the first quarter or the beginning of the second quarter of next year we will have the vaccine of the company AstraZeneca, and after that the vaccine manufactured by Moderna.

As we promised, all vaccines licensed in their countries and approved by relevant international agencies will be available to our citizens, and of course they will be tested by all of our agencies and institutes as well, the Prime Minister pointed out.

She said that prior to the vaccination of health care workers, Minister of Health Zlatibor Loncar will also receive a vaccine shot as we endeavour to serve as an example and show how confident we are in the vaccines and institutions.

Brnabic pointed out that Serbia, not counting Great Britain, is the first country in Europe to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, and the third to start a mass immunization and campaign for giving the vaccine - after Great Britain and Switzerland.

We achieved something very important and we will not stop even for a moment until the immunization of the population is completed, the Prime Minister said.

She specified that our country will receive another 16,000 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in January, as well as that together with other vaccines we will have a total of one million doses in January, and a total of approximately two million doses during the first quarter of next year.

There is a dynamic on which Pfizer delivers vaccines and it varies depending on the production, and this is the case with deliveries to both Serbia and all other countries worldwide. We expected to receive 10,000 doses from Pfizer-BioNTech in December, however 4,807 doses arrived, the Prime Minister explained.

Serbia demonstrated that it is able to fight and succeed if we all work as a team, Brnabic said and called on all not to see the beginning of vaccination as the end of the fight already, but to continue to apply all measures instead.

This is to be certain and to be able to help our health care workers, and once the immunity is acquired we will be able to slowly start taking off the masks in 2021, but until then we should not see this as a victory but as the beginning of the end, the Prime Minister concluded.

After the Prime Minister, vaccine shots were also administered to the Minister of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs and a member of the COVID-19 Crisis Response Team Darija Kisic Tepavcevic and to Predrag Kon who is also on the COVID-19 Crisis Response Team.

Furthermore, vaccine shots were also given to Head of the MMA Department for the Prevention and Control of Nosocomial Infections prof. Dr. Vesna Suljagic and academician Predrag Pesko, professor of Belgrade and Heidelberg universities and full member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts.

The first quantities of the vaccine arrived in Serbia on 22 December, and today they will be administered to patrons of nursing homes in Belgrade and Novi Sad.

Serbia is the first country in the region to receive a shipment of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

In addition to procuring the vaccine among the first countries in the world, even before EU countries, Serbia is one of the rare countries that managed to build and open two covid hospitals in record time. The hospitals with 930 beds in Batajnica and 500 beds in Krusevac are a major contribution to the expansion of capacities and strengthening the health care system in the fight against coronavirus and, as President Vucic said, represent a monument of the future, that will talk about the accomplishments the state made in a short time.

Also, we recall that investments in health infrastructure have been large in Serbia, and since 2016, 80 health centers and clinics have been renovated, and works are underway on six large health centers. This way more than EUR 200 million was invested in the reconstruction, construction and equipping of hospitals and more than 300 million in the renovation of clinics and specialized hospitals, and many have already been completed, such as the University Children's Hospital Tiršova, and KBC Zemun nad KBC "Dragiša Mišović" hospitals.

The absolute priority of the Serbian Government is the successful completion of health infrastructure projects that are underway, but great attention is also paid to health workers,
whose salaries have, by 2020, been increased by 56.8% for specialist doctors, and 66.9% for
nurses, while significant funding is invested in the education of health professionals, as well as in equipment and working conditions.

Like other countries, Serbia has faced great challenges this year, most notably health challenges, and all factors in the state were focused on preventing the spread of the virus and safeguarding the lives and health of citizens. Serbia has faced these challenges better than many wealthier and more developed countries in Europe and the world.

Belgrade,
24 December 2020

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Nikola Selakovic had talks today via video link with Head of EU Delegation in Serbia Sem Fabrizi and Ambassadors of the EU Member States.

On this occasion, the Serbian Foreign Minister emphasized that full membership of the EU remained one of the key foreign policy priorities of the Serbian Government, and that the European integration process was a strategic goal also aimed at promoting the quality of the society.

Minister Selakovic pointed out that Serbia was ready for an acceleration of the accession process' dynamic which is why it accepted the new methodology in the first place, and that it is now hoping that it will, in the period ahead, receive clearer guidelines on its implementation in the negotiating process.

The Minister said that Serbia has taken a number of important steps forward in the reform process, which were not fully reflected in the European Commission's Annual Progress Report.

The Minister reminded that our country opened 18 out of 35 negotiating chapters with the EU since 2014, provisionally closing two, and that it is at this point ready to open five new chapters.

Discussing the talks between Belgrade and Pristina, Minister Selakovic noted that the only right path towards a sustainable agreement was through dialogue and compromise.

He explained that it was necessary that topics of the talks include the issues being ignored by Pristina for years, despite having committed to them under the Brussels Agreement, such as the establishment of the Community of Serb Municipalities.

The Minister added that Serbia is deeply devoted to regional cooperation and that, as an important country of the region aiming to contribute to overall stability, our side has through its steps, among others, significantly contributed to decreasing the tensions with Montenegro.

Minister Selakovic also said that Serbia was very grateful to the EU and its Member States for the financial assistance, particularly amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Belgrade, 16 December 2020

The Serbian government stated that at a meeting of the Stabilisation and Association Council between Serbia and the EU held today, the overall progress achieved in Serbia's accession negotiations so far was commended, as well as the adoption of an improved enlargement methodology that should accelerate Serbia's EU accession process.

The participants in the meeting exchanged opinions on the current political and socio-economic situation in Serbia, and above all on the further dynamics of negotiations on EU accession, cooperation within the Common Foreign and Security Policy, as well as regional cooperation in the Western Balkans.

Accordingly, they welcomed the fact that the new government has placed European integration, preserving public health and economic growth, as well as normalising relations with Pristina at the top of its priority list.

At the meeting held via video link due to the pandemic, the Serbian delegation was led by Prime Minister Ana Brnabic and Minister for European Integration Jadranka Joksimovic.

The EU delegation was headed by High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell and European Commissioner for Enlargement Negotiations Oliver Varhelyi.

Borrell especially expressed gratitude for the participation of Prime Minister Brnabic, which is not the usual format, but which unequivocally shows how much importance the Serbian government attaches to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement and Serbia's European path.

The interlocutors discussed current relations between Serbia and the European Union, primarily the process of Serbia's accession to the EU, as well as political and economic criteria, harmonisation of domestic legislation with the EU acquis, as well as the implementation of the EU pre-accession assistance.

The EU representatives reiterated the EU's commitment to Serbia's European future and called for proactive and strategic communication between Serbia and the EU.

During the meeting, they also talked about the way in which Serbia is facing the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, both in terms of resolving the health crisis and in overcoming the consequences for the economy in general and the implementation of reforms.

The participants agreed that good neighbourly relations and regional cooperation are key elements of the enlargement process, and to that end welcomed the continued dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina and Serbia's consistent commitment to the process.

The EU representatives welcomed Serbia's significant contribution to military missions and operations, as well as Serbia's participation in EU battle groups, stressing the importance of further deepening cooperation on foreign policy issues.

The participants in the meeting also supported the Common Regional Market, launched by Western Balkan leaders at a summit in Sofia on 10 November, and recalled that the Western Balkans Economic and Investment Plan, adopted by the European Commission on 6 October 2020, provides a comprehensive framework to support economic convergence of Serbia and the EU region.

Belgrade, 17 December 2020

Minister of European Integration Jadranka Joksimović has held a video meeting today with Michael Roth, the Minister of State for Europe at the German Federal Foreign Office. They have discussed the current epidemiological situation in the two countries and the EU, as well as Serbia’s European integration process.

Joksimović and Roth have also talked about the issues related to the EU’s internal situation, particularly regarding the new seven-year budget, the place and the future of the enlargement policy and the Western Balkans, notably about all aspects of Serbia’s accession process, challenges and expectations from the new methodology, which should bring a faster negotiation process that would be better monitored and directed under stronger political steering.

Joksimović has particularly informed Roth about the fact that the Government of Serbia prepared a concrete implementation plan for the first negotiation cluster on the rule of law, which comprises five rule-of-law chapters that have already been opened, adding that the realisation of the plan has already begun.

“This serious implementation plan includes a repeated initiative sent to the National Assembly for the adoption of constitutional amendments, the adoption of the Action Plan for the implementation of the Media Strategy, as well as the Working Group on monitoring the implementation of the Action Plan and the Working Group on journalist safety and protection”, said Joksimović, according to the press release published by the Ministry of European Integration.

She has also stressed that GRECO recommendations for the fight against corruption have been published in a transparent way, and that further actions will be taken in line with them.

She has further presented all other important segments of Serbia’s reform policy in all six clusters, including Green Agenda, digitisation, Economic and Investment Plan for the WB, and stable and sound macroeconomic indicators, stressing that, therefore, this year, Serbia has again undeniably demonstrated that it deeply and substantively participates in key EU policies and that it is a credible European country.

Joksimović has emphasised that Serbia understands that the EU and member states will need some more time to define the application of the new methodology to Serbia’s negotiation process, and that it is therefore important to maintain a constant and open dialogue so as to direct the process in line with the new methodology.

She has expressed regret that conclusions on enlargement have not been adopted this year and that, consequently, the political Intergovernmental Conference with Serbia has not been held during the German presidency.

On the other hand, the Minister has expressed belief that the upcoming Stabilisation and Association Council will offer an opportunity to discuss all political and economic aspects of Serbia’s process at the highest level.

Roth has thanked Minister Joksimović for the information and issues she shared, as well as for Serbia’s proactive approach regarding reforms and active acceptance of the new methodology.

He has underlined that Germany supports Serbia and the enlargement policy, particularly welcoming all significant steps that the new Serbian Government has already taken, especially regarding cluster 1 – rule of law, where he stressed that they are an important and positive signal for Serbia’s European path.

He has agreed with Minister Joksimović about the need to urgently define the application of the new methodology to countries that are already in the accession process, where clusters of European policies and Serbia’s participation therein become an instrument for measuring progress in the accession process.

He has conveyed that Germany will advocate the holding of the political Intergovernmental Conference with Serbia in the first half of 2021.

The interlocutors have particularly discussed the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans, agreeing that it represents another proof that the European Union gives strategic importance to a stable and sustainable development of the region, particularly in difficult circumstances of curbing the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Joksimović has thanked Minister Roth for Germany’s long-term and concrete assistance to Serbia’s European integration, not only at the political level, but also through providing development assistance for financing reform projects, and successful strategic investments that have created a significant number of new jobs.

The interlocutors have also agreed that it is extremely important that, through the COVAX Facility, Serbia has ensured that its access to vaccines procured by the EU will be almost simultaneous with the EU member states’ access.

Source: Tanjug

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.  
                      

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Nikola Selaković participated today, via video-link, at the World Press Freedom Conference, jointly organized by UNESCO and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
In his speech, Head of Serbian diplomacy stated that Serbia is aware of the importance and role of media freedom in establishing progressive political society that will consistently honor civil liberties and pointed out that we consider attacks on media representatives a strike on the very basis of society, that is, serious threat to our efforts in building up and improvement of the society that is good for everybody.
Minister said that the Government of Serbia recently adopted Action plan for the Implementation of the Media Strategy and decided to establish Task Force for Security and Protection of Journalists and representatives of the Prime Minister’s Cabinet and several ministries and Office of the State Prosecutor, among others, will take part, as well as representatives of the EU Delegation in Serbia and OSCE Office Serbia.
Also, Minister conveyed the warning of the Journalists’ Association of Serbia and the Commission for Investigation of Murders of Journalists that it is inadmissible not to include crimes against journalists in indictments against the leaders of the so called UCK.
Minister Selaković pointed out Journalists’ Association of Serbia data that in between 1998. And 2005. 17 Serbian and Albanian journalists and other media representatives were killed in Kosovo and Metohija and their names are on the web-site of the Journalists’ Association of Serbia and he concluded that perpetrators cannot remain unpunished. 

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 10th 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 the ZOOM application.

The topic of the 10th Conference will be the work of the media, organizations and associations of Serbs from the region and the diaspora during the Covid 19 virus pandemic, and whether and in what way the pandemic affected the quality of work and economic sustainability of Serb media activities in the diaspora and region.

The second part of the Conference will present the UNS website www.umrezavanje.rs, launched on the occasion of the 10th Jubilee Conference, with the idea of representing a platform for connecting media and organizations of Serbs from the region and the diaspora with the home country.

Applications for participation in the Conference can be sent by interested representatives of the media, associations and organizations to the e-mail address ana.petronijevic@uns.rs, until December 17, 2020.

The President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić met today the ambassadors of EU Member States accredited to Serbia and the Head of the EU Delegation Sem Fabrizi in the Palace of Serbia, to talk to them about topics such as dynamics of the accession negotiations between Serbia and EU, stability in the region, regional projects, as well as the Economic and Investment Plan presented by the European Commission together with the Enlargement package.
President Vučić once again confirmed that cooperation with the European Union and fully-fledged membership of Serbia remain one of the key foreign policy priorities of our country. He particularly emphasised that in this respect Serbia is honestly dedicated to further and deeper reforms, approaching them with responsibility and seriousness, and that it tries to adopt and apply the best practice through cooperation with institutions of the EU and its member states.

"Serbia will continue being dedicated to the promotion of peace and stability in the region, by improving bilateral relations with neighbours, and by strengthening regional cooperation while respecting all concluded agreements", President Vučić stated, adding that the European future of the Western Balkans is of utmost importance for both stability of the entire region and security and further prosperity of the EU.

Ambassadors pointed out that declarations on the common regional market and the Western Balkans green agenda, which were signed by Serbia and all leaders of the region, received a warm welcome in Brussels and EU Member Stated, and that good and solid connectivity and integration of the region largely facilitates the cooperation of the very Union with the Western Balkans in all areas of joint interest.

"As much as 70% of foreign investments come from the countries whose representatives are sitting here today", Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Sem Fabrizi said, adding that Serbia can rest assured the EU will continue supporting and investing in the Serbian economy. While Covid-19 has put all economies under stress, Serbian economy has resisted and proved its resilience.  With the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans, the EU will remain Serbia's strongest partner for economic recovery which will support infrastructures, green and digital transition. We welcome the announced reforms in the areas of rule of law, including judiciary reforms and media freedom. This is precisely the base for acceleration of the accession process and we encourage the new government to keep working and implementing in this direction", Fabrizi said.

President Vučić pointed out that Serbia highly appreciates that the EU, despite numerous challenges it is facing has managed to preserve the enlargement issue on its agenda, especially through the recent adoption of a new, changed methodology of the negotiation process.

"In this respect, we expect from the EU that Serbia's accession negotiation dynamics follows and values our reform efforts", President Vučić said pointing out that Serbia is ready to continue working with its European partners on implementation of the reforms and numerous joint projects.

President Vučić particularly noted that Serbia welcomes the Economic and investment plan presented by the EC together with the Enlargement package, and expressed our country's readiness to continue working with the partners in the region on the implementation of this Plan so as to improve the economic potential of the region and achieve better infrastructure connection, which would bring us closer to the single European market.

"In this context, we hope the Multiannual financial framework 2021-2027 will be adopted soon, because that will mean a possibility to use funds designed for reform implementation in Serbia and in the region", President Vučić said, reiterating that Serbia remains on its European path with an honest faith in cooperation with the European partners.

"2020 has been an extremely difficult year for all, especially the impact of COVID–19. When I look at new Government's commitment to implement reforms, the Economic and Investment Plan of the EU, the new methodology and increased cooperation to fight COVID-19, I see 2021 with a much more favourable perspective for progressing the enlargement", Fabrizi concluded.

President Vučić also pointed out that Serbia is prepared to work intensively with the EU Member States on finding an adequate response to the new challenges, such as COVID-19 pandemic.


Belgrade, 8th December 2020

On the occasion of the Armistice Day, First Counsellor Bojan Kljajić laid a wreath at the Monument in Garderen, dedicated to Serbian soldiers who died in the Netherlands during First World War.

On Tuesday, November 10, 2020, the Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Serbia in Amsterdam was officialy opened.
During the opening ceremony, Ambassador Ksenija Milenković presented Honorary Consul Mr. Vladimir Gogoljev with the state insignia of the Republic of Serbia.
The Honorary Consulate is located at Muiderstraat 1, 1011 PZ Amsterdam (office number 9T). The telephone number of the Honorary Consulate is 0657167760, and the e-mail address  is serbian.consulate.ams@gmail.com.

On 23 October 2020, the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in The Hague, has deposited the instrument of ratification of the Convention on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance, done in The Hague on November 23, 2007.

The instrument of ratification has been deposited to the Treaty Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in its function of depositary for the Convention.

The Convention will, in accordance with its Article 60, enter into force for the Republic of Serbia on 1 February 2021.

Memorial service for Serbian soldiers deceased in the Netherlands in World War I was held in Garderen, on October 3, 2020.
Memorial service was attended by representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Serbian diaspora and Dutch citizens.
Ambassador Ms. Ksenija Milenković and First Counsellor Mr. Bojan Kljajić, laid the wrath at the Monument on behalf of the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia.

On 16 September 2020, Ambassador Ksenija Milenković signed, on behalf of the Republic of Serbia, the Convention on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance, done in The Hague on November 23, 2007.
The signing ceremony was organized by the Treaty Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in its function of depositary for the Convention. The signing ceremony was attended by the Secretary General of the Hague Conference on Private International Law, Christopher Bernasconi.

The decisions No. 115-400/30-2020/01 and No. 116-240/30-2020/01 have been adopted regarding the Competition for co-financing projects that contribute to preserving and strengthening the relations of the home state and the diaspora and home state and Serbs in the region, which was open from May 18 to June 1, 2020.

The decisions can be seen at the following links:
https://www.dijaspora.gov.rs/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/odluka-region-2020-postpisana.pdf

https://www.dijaspora.gov.rs/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/odluka-dijaspora-2020-postpisana.pdf

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office for Cooperation with the Diaspora and the Serbs in the Region, announces the Competition for co-financing projects that contribute to preserving and strengthening the relations of the home state and the diaspora and home state and Serbs in the region, which will last from May 18 to June 1, 2020. All information on the competition and the application procedure is available on the link https://www.dijaspora.gov.rs/lat/uprava-za-dijasporu-konkursi/

Based on 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 and the Decision on amendments to the Decision on declaring COVID-19 disease caused by SARS-CoV- 2 infectious disease, which entered into force on May 22, 2020, all border crossings of the Republic of Serbia are opened and as of May 22, 2020 they are operating in the usual mode.

The ban on entry into the Republic of Serbia has been lifted, as well as epidemiological measures for all categories of domestic and foreign citizens - consent / permission is no longer required for the entry of domestic citizens and for the entry of all categories of foreign citizens.

All persons entering the Republic of Serbia, instead of previous isolation measures and the obligation to possess a negative PCR test, during passport control will be given only a written notice of measures to be followed to prevent the occurrence, spread and control of the infectious disease COVID -19.

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/

The Consular Section of the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in The Hague will be open from May 25, 2020. Due to the pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the regime of work with consular requests will be changed. The Consular Section of the Embassy will be open on working days from 09:30 to 12:30 hours, and entering into the Embassy will be possible only with a previously scheduled appointment.

Arranging appointments at the Embassy will be possible only by calling the phone number 0613554823. It will be possible to call the specified number on working days between 13:00 and 15:00 hours.

Upon arrival at the Embassy, you will need to have gloves and a face mask, and entry to the building will be allowed only to a person who has an appointment.

Please be punctual with arrivals at scheduled times, as in case of late arrival it will not be possible to enter the Embassy premises.

The President of the Republic of Serbia has made a Decision amending the Decision to call Parliamentary elections, which set the date for the elections to be held on 21st June 2020.

The Republic Election Commission, as the body conducting the Parliamentary election procedure, made a decision on 11th May 2020, on the continuation of election activities.

From Monday, 11th May 2020, the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in The Hague will start receiving requests for voting from abroad.

Applicants can check, through the MPALSG public portal https://upit.birackispisak.gov.rs/, if they are enrolled in the Single Electoral Roll (SER).

A person who is a national of the Republic of Serbia and has a registered place of residence in the Republic of Serbia but is not registered in the SER, must first apply for enrolment in the SER. After the decision of the competent authority on enrolment in the SER is passed, the application for voting from abroad may be received or processed.

Nationals of the Republic of Serbia eligible to vote shall submit their application for voting from abroad through the Embassy no later than 30th May 2020  (by midnight, local time in the Republic of Serbia).

Request for voting abroad can be downloaded here.

Request for enrolment in SER can be downloaded here. 

Completed applications for voting from abroad, together with a copy of a valid Serbian passport or Serbian ID card can be submitted to the Embassy in The Hague by post on the address Burgemeester van Karnebeeklaan 19, 2585 BA Den Haag, or on email: konzularno.hag@mfa.rs.
 

The reception on the occasion of the Republic of Serbia Statehood Day was held at the Ambassador’s Residence. It was attended by over 200 guests. In addition to the representatives of the Dutch Foreign Ministry and other Government institutions, international organizations and the diplomatic corps, the gathering was also attended by representatives of the Serbian community.

Following the anthems of the Republic of Serbia and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Ambassador Ksenija Milenković addressed the audience.

On the occasion of the National Day of the Republic of Serbia, the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in The Hague will be closed on Monday, 17 February 2020.

H.E. Ambassador Ksenija Milenkovic, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Serbia to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, submitted Letter of Credentials to the Director General of the Organization, H.E. Ambassador Fernando Aries, on January 17, 2020. Current developments in the field of prevention and protection against the use of chemical weapons as well as further enhancement of cooperation between the Republic of Serbia and the Organization were discussed during the meeting of the Permanent Representative and the Director General.

On December 18th, 2019 Ksenija Milenković handed over letters of credence as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Serbia to the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office for Cooperation with the Diaspora and the Serbs in the Region, announces the Competition for co-financing projects that contribute to preserving and strengthening the relations of the home state and the diaspora and home state and Serbs in the region, which will last from January 20 to February 10, 2020. All information on the competition and the application procedure is available on the link  www.dijaspora.gov.rs/uprava-za-dijasporu-konkursi

The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia will be closed on  1, 2 and 7 January 2020.

The National Bank of Serbia has issued a Financial Guide for Returnees in order to improve the awareness of our citizens who wish to return to the Republic of Serbia. The aim of this activity is to provide information regarding most common foreign exchange issues.
The Financial guide can be accessed via the following link:

https://www.nbs.rs/internet/english/20/dev/finansijski_vodic_za_povratnike_e.pdf

On Friday, November 1, 2019, the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in The Hague opened its doors for the traditional gathering of colleagues in charge of the work of international organizations and judicial institutions in The Hague. About fifty diplomats from all over the world attended the informal gathering. Through their valuable participation, they have, once again, confirmed the significance of such events in respecting diversity and developing a culture of dialogue, especially in multilateral fora.
The event was organized in cooperation and with the significant help of the representatives of several European, African, Asian and Latin American and Caribbean diplomatic missions in The Hague, to whom the Embassy expresses its special appreciation.
In the past three years, the Embassy organized several informal gatherings for colleagues involved in multilateral and legal issues in order to consolidate the existing and develop new professional networks.

On the occasion of the Armistice Day, First Counsellor Bojan Kljajić laid a wreath at the Monument in Garderen, dedicated to Serbian soldiers who died in the Netherlands during First World War.

On the occasion of the Armistice Day, the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in The Hague will be closed on Monday, 11 November 2019.

Government of the Republic of Serbia, on the session held on October 24, 2019, adopted the Decision on visa abolition for citizens of the Republic of Armenia, holders of national passports.

According to this decision holders of Armenian national passports may enter, transit and stay on the territory of the Republic of Serbia, no longer than 90 days within a period of 180 days from the date of entry into the teritory of the Republic of Serbia. The Decision will be put into force on November 2, 2019.

Memorial service for Serbian soldiers deceased in the Netherlands in World War I was held in Garderen, on October 5, 2019.
Memorial service was attended by representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Serbian diaspora and Dutch citizens.
First Counsellor Mr. Bojan Kljajić, laid the wrath at the Monument on behalf of the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia.

REPUBLIC OF SERBIA - CANDIDATURE FOR THE UNESCO EXECUTIVE BOARD

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Directorate for Cooperation with the Diaspora and the Serbs in the region, has announced a decisions regarding co-financing of the projects that, by their quality, contribute to the preservation and strengthening of the relations between the home country and Serbs in the region and home country and diaspora.  Decisions can be found at:

http://www.dijaspora.gov.rs/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ODLUKA-DIJASPORA-2019.pdf

http://www.dijaspora.gov.rs/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ODLUKA-REGION-2019-1.pdf

On Monday, June 10, 2019, a traditional RTS Race in the Netherlands was organized in Rotterdam.
The organizer of the race was Association of Serbian Youth Friendship from Rotterdam (Stichting SOP Rotterdam), and around 70 children of different ages participated in the race.
Event was opened by Mr. Milan Vukas, President of the Association of SOP Rotterdam and Mr. Bojan Kljajić, First Counsellor at the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in The Hague. After the race, medals, diplomas and gifts were given to the participants by Mr. Boris Topić, priest of the Serbian Holy Trinity Parish in Rotterdam.
After the race, a children's athletics workshop was organized by the proffessional coaches of the Fortier Athletic Club from Dordrecht.

The world’s largest private label exhibition – annual PLMA’s “World of Private Label” International Trade Show was held in Amsterdam on May 21st and 22nd. More than 25 companies from the Republic of Serbia presented their products: 15 joined efforts at the Serbian National Pavilion, organized by the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Development Agency of Serbia and 10 more participated independently.
Marija Bošković, First Secretary, paid a visit both to Serbian National Pavilion as well as each company’s stand to meet and greet, but also to discuss the opportunities to present products on the Dutch market.
Companies from the Republic of Serbia presented their products from the food industry (frozen fruits and vegetables, confectionery products, household hygiene products, dishes, etc.) and had meetings with potential buyers and distributors.
The International Trade Show in Amsterdam is a world-renowned event with a thirty-year tradition and 2,700 companies from over 70 countries participated this year.

The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia will be closed on 22, 26 and 29 April and 1 and 2 May 2019. 

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the NATO bombardment of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, a memorial service was held in the Holy Trinity Church in Rotterdam.
After the liturgy, an exhibition of photographs dedicated to the victims of the bombardment was held.
Ambassador Petar Vico and first counsellor Bojan Kljajić represented the Embassy on this occasion.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Directorate for Cooperation with the Diaspora and the Serbs in the region, has announced a competition for co-financing the projects that, by their quality, contribute to the preservation and strengthening of the relations between the home country and Serbs in the region and home countries and diaspora.

The competition will be open from 13 March to 1 April 2019.

All information on the competition and the application procedure can be found at http://www.dijaspora.gov.rs/uprava-za-dijasporu-konkursi/.

Оn Wednesday, February 20, 2019, the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in The Hague, together with the Le Club De Droit International, and in coordination with the TMC Asser Institute, organized a conversation with the Director General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, H.E. Ambassador Fernando Arias.
During the event, which involved around sixty diplomatic representatives from all regions, issues related to the challenges Organization is facing, as well as the future directions of its operation, were discussed. The participants had the opportunity to exchange views on a number of issues in a constructive dialogue on current developments that reflect on the work of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia wishes to express its outmost gratitude to the Director General, Ambassador Fernando Aries, for a frank dialogue, as well as to Le Club De Droit International, for its irreplaceable role in the organization and realization of the event.

On Friday, February 8, 2019, the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in The Hague opened its doors for the traditional gathering of colleagues in charge of the work of international organizations and judicial institutions in The Hague. About forty diplomats from all over the world attended the informal gathering. They have once again, with their valuable contribution and presence confirmed the significance of such events in order to respect diversity and develop a culture of dialogue, especially in multilateral forums.
The event was organized in cooperation and with the significant help of representatives of several European, African, Asian and South American diplomatic missions in The Hague, to whom the Embassy, once again, expresses special appreciation.
In the past two years, the Embassy organized several informal gatherings for colleagues involved in multilateral and legal issues in order to consolidate the existing and develop new professional networks.

On the occasion of the National Day of the Republic of Serbia, the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in The Hague will be closed on Friday, 15 February 2019.

Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to The Hague Mr. P. Vico received in a courtesy visit the President of the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals C. Agius, who took office in January 2019.
In the course of the discussion, issues related to future priorities, the announced changes in the work of the Mechanism, as well as the cooperation of the Republic of Serbia with the Mechanism were discussed.
In the light of current events, the issues of particular interest for the Republic of Serbia, both in terms of the work of the Mechanism, as well as related developments in the field of international justice, have been raised.

The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in The Hague ended a one-year coordination of the Eastern European Regional Group of States Parties to the Rome Statute in January this year.
During the one-year coordination, the Embassy organized several meetings of the Group with the senior officials of the International Criminal Court - former President of the Court of S.F. Gurmendi, Prosecutor F. Bensud, Registrar P. Luis and current President of the Court – C.. Eboe-Osuji. The group also had the opportunity to discuss issues related to the election process of the future prosecutor of the International Criminal Court with the President of the Assembly of States Parties, Judge O-Gon Kwon.
In addition, the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia organized a series of meetings of the regional group at the expert level, which discussed issues related to the work of the International Criminal Court and current developments, as well as issues of special interest to Member States.
The function of the coordinator of the Eastern European Regional Group of States Parties to the Rome Statute has bee assumed by the Embassy of Slovakia in January this year.

10th Serbian Diaspora Medical Conference will be held in Belgrade from 20 to 22 June 2019.
Main goal is to gather doctors from the Diaspora as well as international medical experts together in a mission of support to the Serbian healthcare system.
More information at: http://serbiandiasporamedical.rs/wp/

On Sunday, January 27th, the International Holocaust Remembrance Day was traditionally marked in Amsterdam with a silent walk and laying wreaths.
A commemoration, organized by the Nederlands Auschwitz Committee, was attended by the representatives of the Dutch Government and Parliament, the city of Amsterdam, and the diplomatic corps.
On behalf of the Republic of Serbia, Ambassador Petar Vico laid the wreath on the memorial.

The Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Serbia has announced an open call for co-financing projects in the field of translation of representative works of Serbian literature abroad in 2019. The call is open until March 1, 2019.
More information can be found at http://www.kultura.gov.rs/lat/konkursi/konkurs-za-sufinansiranje-projekata-u-oblasti-prevodjenja-reprezentativnih-dela-srpske-knjizevnosti-u-inostranstvu--u-2019--godini-

The Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Serbia has announced an open call for financing or co-financing projects in the field of cultural activities of Serbs abroad in 2019. The call is open until March 1, 2019.
More information can be found at http://www.kultura.gov.rs/lat/konkursi/konkurs-za-finansiranje-ili-sufinansiranje-projekata-u-oblasti-kulturnih-delatnosti-srba-u-inostranstvu-u-2019--godini

The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia will be closed on 1, 2 and 7 January 2019.

The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia organized the final 2018 Eastern European Regional Group meeting of Member States of the Rome Statute, on 18 December 2018. The meeting was chaired by H.E. Petar Vico, Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia in the Hague.
During the meeting, members of the Group had the opportunity to engage in constructive dialogue with Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji, President of the Court on the work of the Court, lessons learned and challenges ahead.
In addition to dialogue with the President, members of the group discussed issues related to the work of the International Criminal Court and specifically to the 17th Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute.
The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in the Hague is coordinating the work of the Eastern European Regional Group to ICC during 2018.

H.E. Mr. Petar Vico, the Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to The Hague, met with the Secretary General of the Hague Conference on Private International Law, Christophe Bernasconi, at the beginning of December 2018.
А number of issues of mutual interest were discussed during the meeting, including questions related to the work of the Hague Conference, modernization and efficiency-enhancing activities, as well as further improvement of cooperation between the Republic of Serbia and the Conference.

The Delegation of the Republic of Serbia participated in the 17th session of the Assembly of the States Parties to the Rome Statute, which was held from 5 to 12 December 2018 in The Hague. The delegation was led by H.E. Mr. Petar Vico, Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to The Hague.
In addition to its regular activities during the session of the Assembly, the Republic of Serbia, in its capacity of coordinator of the Eastern European Group of States Parties to the Rome Statute, organized a series of meetings of the regional group, which discussed issues related to the work of the International Criminal Court, as well as issues of particular interest for Member States.
During the session, a meeting of the Eastern European Group was organized with the President of the Assembly of States Parties, Judge O-Gon Kwon, which discussed issues related to the process of election of the future prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.

The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia will be closed on Tuesday, 25 December and Wednesday, 26 December 2018.

On 13 December 2018 Ambassador Petar Vico transmitted the instrument of accession of the Republic of Serbia to the Agreement on the conservation of African-Eurasian migratory waterbirds to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, acting as a depositary.
The Agreement will enter into force for the Republic of Serbia on 1 March 2019.

Divna Ljubojević and Melodi Choir presented themselves to the Dutch audience at the Spiritual Music Festival "Sacred Songs". The concert was held on December 1, 2018 in The Hague. The performance of Divna Ljubojević was followed by a large number of representatives of Dutch media. Ambassador Petar Vico also attended the concert.

The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia organized the sixth Eastern European Regional Group meeting of Member States of the Rome Statute, on 16 November 2018. The meeting was chaired by H.E. Petar Vico, Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia in the Hague.
In addition to discussions related to the work of the International Criminal Court and preparations for the forthcoming session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute, the Members of the Group had the opportunity to engage in dialogue with Mr. Peter Lewis, the Registrar of the ICC
The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in the Hague is coordinating the work of the Eastern European Regional Group to ICC during 2018.

On the occasion of the Armistice Day, First Counsellor Bojan Kljajić laid a wreath at the Monument in Garderen, dedicated to Serbian soldiers who died in the Netherlands during First World War.

On 6 November 2018, the Framework Plan for resolving the issue of missing persons from the former Yugoslavia was signed in The Hague. On behalf of the Republic of Serbia, the document was signed by the President of the Commission for Missing Persons, Mr. Veljko Odalović. Signing ceremony was held in the premises of the International Commission on Missing Persons.

The opening of the "Living Pool" exhibition took place on October 13th in the abandoned swimming pool in Rotterdam. The exhibition was organized by artists Milica Jovićević and Vladimir Radujkov.

The exhibition was the final event during "Kunstroute Kralingen-Crooswijk" and was supported by city of Rotterdam and the Rotterdam Art Center.

Ambassador Petar Vico attended opening of the exhibition.

On October 12, 2018 exhibition „Artistic Potatoes“ was opened, as the part of the main program “Potatoes go Wild” part of Leeuwarden Cultural Capital of Europe 2018. Serbian artist Dragan Despotović was one of the participants. Among others, Ambassador Petar Vico addressed the guests of the exhibition.

More information:

VIDEO: Schilderij 'De Aardappeleters' gemaakt van echte aardappels | Omrop Fryslân

Aardappeleters in Natuurmuseum Fryslân als toetje van Potatoes-jaar
 

An exhibition "The Brave Woman in Time of War - Nurse Westerhof from Leens", dedicated to the Red Cross nurse Ailke Westerhof, who was in Serbia during the Balkan Wars and at the beginning of World War I, was opened on October 19th, 2018, at the De Marne Library in Leens.

Ailke Westerhof was a member of the medical team of doctor Arius Van Tienhoven, who made a great contribution to the establishment of not only a military hospital of the Serbian army but he also wholeheartedly assisted the civilian population, and participated, as a Commission member, in the investigation and documentation of war crimes perpetrated by the Austro-Hungarian Army.

Marija Bošković, First Secretary, spoke at the opening of the exhibition and underlined the courage and generosity of Ailke Westerhof, because it was unusual for a woman at the beginning of the 20th century to go to the war zone in a country that was little known in the Netherlands. She presented a badge with Natalie's ramonda and black-green ribbon, explaining that it symbolized the Albanian memorial, i.e. the retreat of the Serbian army through Albania. The badge was on display in the Library in a glass cabinet containing the medical bag that belonged to nurse Westerhof.

On the occasion of the Armistice Day, the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in The Hague will be closed on Monday, 12 November 2018.

Jubilant, tenth edition of Eastern Neighbours Film Festival will be held in The Hague from 7th till 11th November, 2018. Festival’s Programme includes films, documentaries, short and animated features and most of them will have their Dutch premier.

This year’s edition of ENFF will present following films of the Serbian authors (in chronological order):

„The Other Side of Everything”, (104 minutes), of a director Mila Turajlic is a documentary which deals with the history of a whole country and its people. The chronicle of a family in Serbia turns into a searing portrait of an activist in times of great turmoil, questioning the responsibility of each generation to fight for their future. The film won Winner of the IDFA Award for Best-Feature Length Documentary 2017, it’s a nominee for the LUX PRIZE of the European Parliament and is short-listed for the European Film Academy Award for Best Documentary
http://enff.nl/film/the-other-side-of-everything/

November 8th, 2018 at 17,00
Filmhuis Den Haag

„When Pigs Come”, (72 minutes) of a director Biljana Tutorov is a charming documentary tragi-comedy of a very special old lady. A retired teacher in Serbian province, devotedly monitors elections believing that all individuals could and should make a difference in building democracy. The film has been presented on dozens international festivals and won accolades - Sarajevo Film Festival, 2017 – EDN Talent Grant Award | Sofia Independent Film Festival, 2017 – Special Jury Mention
http://enff.nl/film/when-pigs-come/

November 8th, 2018 at 21,45
November 11th, 2018 at 18,30
The screening on November 11 will be followed by Q&A with the director Biljana Tutorov
Filmhuis Den Haag

„Untravel” (9 minutes) is short animated documentary by Ana Nedeljkovic and Nikola Majdak. It’s about a girl from a grey city surrounded by a huge wall and tells a story about the relationship between personal and political boundaries and the far-reaching consequences of living in an isolated country.
http://enff.nl/film/untravel/

November 9th, 2018 at 17,45
November 11th, 2018, at 12:45
Filmhuis Den Haag

„A Handful of Stone” (14 minutes) by Stefan Ivancic is a short feature that brings up an embittered 11-year-old boy’s perspective on his parents’ separation. The film was screened in ACID Cannes selection, awarded - Belgrade Documentary and Short FF, 2017 – Best Director | FeKK Ljubljana Short FF, 2017 – Grand Prize | ACID Cannes FF, 2017 | Interfilm, International Short FF Berlin, 2017
http://enff.nl/film/a-handful-of-stones/

November 10, 2018 at 13,15
November 11, 2018 at 14,00
Filmhuis Den Haag
 

Government of the Republic of Serbia has made a Decision to abolish the Decision on visa exemption for citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran, holders of national passports.

The Decision was publihed on "Official Gazette of the RS" number 75/48 of 09.10.2018. and it will take effect on 17.10.2018. From this date, visa is required for Iranian citizens, holders of national passports, for entry, transit and stay on the territory of the Republic of Serbia.

Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in The Hague and organization for the promotion of Serbian art and culture in the Netherlands, "Mreža" jointly organized, on October 7, 2018, the fifth edition of "Serbian Cinematography Day" in the Rialto cinema in Amsterdam.
Manifestation was officially opened by ambassador Petar Vico and the movie "The Other Side of Everything" directed by Mila Turajlić - last year's winner of the IDFA festival in Amsterdam, was screened.

Memorial service for Serbian soldiers deceased in the Netherlands in World War I was held in Garderen, on October 6, 2018.
Memorial service was attended by representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Serbian diaspora and Dutch citizens.
First Counsellor Mr. Bojan Kljajić, laid the wrath at the Monument on behalf of the Serbian Embassy. 

On 21 September 2018, the delegation of the State Council of Prosecutors and the High Judicial Council of the Republic of Serbia visited the Embassy. The delegation whom was visiting to the Dutch judicial institutions, had a meeting with Serbian Ambassador Petar Vico.

Ambassador Petar Vico met with the newly appointed Director-General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, Ambassador Fernand Arias Gonzalez. During the meeting, Ambassador Vico and Director General Arias discussed current developments regarding the use of chemical weapons and implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and its Destruction. The meeting also discussed the existing cooperation between the Republic of Serbia and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, as well as ways for its enhancement.

Ambassador P. Vico attended on July 6th, the closing ceremony of this year’s edition of the Training programme for junior diplomats from South-eastern Europe, at the Clingendael Institute’s Academy for International Relations. Four young diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia participated in this course. On that occasion, Ambassador Vico gave a short speech to the participants from the SEE region.

Tatjana Vendrig, Fabian Vendrig and John Stienen, authors of the publication about Serbian soldiers from the First World War who died on the territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, visited Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in The Hague on 11 June 2018 and had a meeting with Ambassador Petar Vico and First Counsellor Bojan Kljajić.
During the meeting they presented a new details of their research regarding the fate of Serbian soldiers from the First World War and presented a new edition of their publication "Serbian soldiers of World War I who died in the Netherlands 1917-1919" published by the Association of Descendants of Soldiers 1912-1920 Požarevac.
Their research is also posted online, and the publication can be downloaded via link https://www.secanje.nl/fileadmin/content/others/Brochure/Serbian_Soldiers_of_WWI.pdf

On June 7, 2018, Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in The Hague, organized the meeting of the Eastern European regional group of member states of the Rome Statute. The meeting was chaired by Ambassador Petar Vico, and the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Fatou Bensouda, was also present. Republic of Serbia is currently presiding Eastern European regional group in the ICC.

On June 4, 2018 a meeting of the members of the Bureau of the Assembly of the State Parties of the Rome Statute with the ASP President O-Gon Kwon was organized at the Austrian Embassy in The Hague. The meeting was organized by Austria, as part of preparations for taking over the EU presidency. Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia Mr. Petar Vico also attended the meeting. Republic of Serbia is the current coordinator of the Eastern European group of ASP of the International Criminal Court.

Ambassador Petar Vico met the group of students from the University of Novi Sad Law School, who have participated at the 2018 Moot Court Competition and 2018 Telders International Law Moot Court Competition, in The Hague, from 24-26 May 2018. 

PLMA’s annual “World of Private Label” International Trade Show was held in Amsterdam on May 29th and 30th. More than 15 companies from the Republic of Serbia presented their products. In addition to the representatives of Serbian companies, the Fair was attended by the representatives of the Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of Serbia, and the exhibitors were also visited by Ambassador Petar Vico.
Participants from the Republic of Serbia presented their products from the food industry (frozen fruits and vegetables, bakery and confectionery products, clothing, household hygiene products, dishes, etc.) and had meetings with potential buyers and distributors.
The International Trade Show in Amsterdam is a world-renowned event that has a thirty-year tradition and more than 2,500 companies from more than 60 countries participated this year.

On Sunday, 20 May 2018, Rotterdam hosted the eleventh RTS Race in the Netherlands.
The organizer of the race was Association of Serbian Youth Friendship from Rotterdam (Stichting SOP Rotterdam), and around 110 children of different ages participated in the race.
Event was opened by Mr. Milan Vukas, President of the Association of SOP Rotterdam and Mr. Bojan Kljajić, First Counsellor at the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in The Hague.

Organized by Clingendael Institute in The Hague, on May 22, 2018. a panel discussion was held as a part of series of discussions on the topic "Western Balkans-EU relations". Tanja Miščević, Chief of the Negotiating Team for Accession of the Republic of Serbia to the European Union, addressed the participants, presenting current situation in the negotiations between Republic of Serbia and EU.

Olufemi Elias, the Registrar of the United Nations United Nations Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals visited the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia on May 16, 2018. During the meeting, Ambassador Petar Vico and Olufemi Elias discussed the current aspects of cooperation between the Republic of Serbia and the Registry of the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals.

On Saturday, May 12, 2018, the Embassy hosted an event for a number of colleagues in charge of the work of international organizations and judicial institutions in The Hague. Informal event, attended by approximately forty diplomats from different parts of the world, contributed to understanding the specificity and importance of linking different cultures and customs in the light of joint multilateral action. The event was organized in cooperation and with the valuable help of representatives of several European and African diplomatic missions in The Hague, to which the Embassy expresses its deep appreciation.
In the last year and a half, the Embassy organized several informal gatherings for colleagues involved in multilateral and legal issues in order to consolidate the existing and develop new professional networks.

On April 25, 2018, representatives of non-governmental organizations from the Republic of Serbia gathered in the coalition "PrEUgovor" visited the Embassy. "PrEUgovor" monitors the progress of the Republic of Serbia in the areas covered by negotiation chapters 23 and 24 and their representatives had a meeting with Ambassador Petar Vico on that occasion.
Representatives of "PrEUgovor" were in a study visit to Belgium and the Netherlands, which was organized by the Embassy of the Netherlands in Belgrade through the MATRA program.

The first meeting of the informal association of Serbian-Dutch business people was held at the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in The Hague on 19 April 2018. The meeting was attended by thirty representatives of various companies, and the aim of this informal association is to try to gather at one place, mostly small and medium-sized, Serbian and Dutch companies operating in both countries.

The guests were greeted by Ambassador P. Vico and M. Luli from the Dutch Agency for Entrepreneurship, who noted that there is a great potential for improving economic cooperation between the Republic of Serbia and the Kingdom of the Netherlands and that they will work together to complete that task.

The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in The Hague will be closed on Friday, April 6, 2018 and Monday, April 9, 2018.

On Saturday, March 17th, Second International Folklore Festival was held in Amsterdam.  Around 400 participants from 11 countries took a part in the festival. Serbia was represented by Choir of elementary school "Duško Radović" from Belgrade. "KUD Sveti Sava" and "KUD Tamo daleko" from Rotterdam, "KUD Jugosi" from Munich and "SKUD Pontes - Mostovi" from Trieste, also participated at the festival. Besides Serbia, representatives of the following countries participated at the festival: Russia, Indonesia, Bulgaria, Belarus, Mongolia, India, Italy, Germany and Netherlands.
The event was opened by Mr. Bojan Kljajić, First Counsellor in the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Office for Cooperation with the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region, announced an Open competition for co-financing projects that contribute to the preservation and strengthening of the homeland and diaspora relations, which will be open in the period from March 12 to March 30, 2018 .

Further information, terms and conditions of the Open competition can be found on the following link:

http://www.dijaspora.gov.rs/lat/konkurs-za-sufinansiranje-projekata-organizacija-iz-dijaspore/

On February 23, 2018, Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in The Hague, organized the first meeting of the Eastern European regional group of member states of the Rome Statute. The meeting was chaired by Ambassador Petar Vico, and the President of the International Criminal Court, Silvia Fernandez de Gurmendi, was also present. Republic of Serbia is currently presiding Eastern European regional group in ICC.

Representatives of the company "Companies Connected" Ed Dubeldam and Djordje Petrović visited the Serbian Embassy in The Hague. During the meeting with Ambassador Petar Vico, the projects implemented so far in the field of cooperation between Serbian and Dutch companies have been discussed, as well as the possibilities for improving cooperation in the future, with a special emphasis on the initiative for the establishment of an informal association of "Dutch-Serbian Entrepreneurs Club".

Chief Legal Adviser in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Mr. Aleksandar Gajić, visited The Hague on February 27, 2018 on the occasion of a meeting with the Registrar of the International Court of Justice Mr. Philippe Couvreur.

Open Сall is primarily intended for foreign publishers interested in Serbian literature and culture.

The deadline for submission of the applications is March 16, 2018.

The text of Open Call, application forms and other documentation can be found on the website of the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Serbia:

http://www.kultura.gov.rs/lat/konkursi/konkurs-za-sufinansiranje-projekata-u-oblasti-prevodjenja-reprezentativnih-dela-srpske-knjizevnosti-u-inostranstvu--u-2018--godini-

On the occasion of the celebration of the National Day of the Republic of Serbia, the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in The Hague will be closed on Thursday, 15th February and Friday, 16th February 2018.

Representatives of the Commission for Missing Persons of the Government of the Republic of Serbia visited The Hague on the occasion of a meeting with Mr. Serge Brammertz, Chief Prosecutor of the United Nations Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals, held on January 23, 2018. 

At its meeting of December 28, 2017, the Government of the Republic of Serbia adopted the Decision on visa exemption for the nationals of the Republic of Suriname, holders of all passports. The Decision is published in the "Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia" No.119/2017 of December 29, 2017, and enter into force of January 5, 2018. Under the Decision, the nationals of the Republic of Suriname can enter, transit through and stay in the territory of the Republic of Serbia without a visa, during a period not exceeding 30 days from the date of entry, within period of one year, if there are no hindrances defined in Article 11 of the Law on Foreigners.

The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia will be closed on Monday, 1 January and Tuesday, 2 January 2018.

On Thursday, December 14, the Embassy was visited by a delegation of agricultural companies and producers, together with representatives of the Municipality of Pirot, who were in the Kingdom of the Netherlands as part of a study visit.

More info:

http://tvpirot.rs/tv/video/pirotski_poljoprivrednici_posetili_eku_holandiju_i_slovaku

The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia will be closed on Monday, 25 December and Tuesday, 26 December 2017.

The prestigious International Documentary Film Festival in Amsterdam, IDFA (International Documentary Film Festival in Amsterdam) will be held from November 15 to 26, 2017.

At the largest and most important documentary film festival, from the Republic of Serbia, the following performances will be presented: "The Same" by Dejan Petrović, who participates in the competition program, in the category of short documentary film; "The Other Side of Everything" by Mira Turajlić, in the category of feature-length documentary film and "In Praise of Nothing" by Boris Mitić in the Masters program.

More information on the International Documentary Film Festival in Amsterdam can be found at: www.idfa.nl

On the occasion of the Armistice Day, First Counsellor Bojan Kljajić laid a wreath at the Monument in Garderen, dedicated to Serbian soldiers who died in The Netherlands during First World War.

Eastern Neighbor Film Festival 2017 brings from Serbia:

FICTION FEATURE
“Requiem for Mrs. J” that premiered at Berlinale 2017. For the fourth time, Mirjana Karanović is back at the Eastern Neighbors Film Festival with the impressive role in black comedy about life in transition.

Screenings:
November 3, Filmhuis Den Haag, 21:45
November 4, Filmhuis Den Haag, 19:30

MEET & GREET Ms. Mirjana Karanović, November 4, Filmhuis Den Haag, 11,30

SHORT FILM/Discovering Great Eastern-European Talents Program
“Ferris Wheel” by Dusko Stanivuk is a story of a little girl within disturbed family conditions. She is trying to improve her relationship with her mother by merging her imaginary world with the world of adults.

Screening:
November 4, short films within this program are set to start at 13:15

You can find more information about ENFF 2017 here: http://enff.nl/

Memorial service for Serbian soldiers deceased in the Netherlands in World War I was held in Garderen, on October 7, 2017.

Memorial service was attended by representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Serbian diaspora and Dutch citizens who are helping in maintaining the monument. First Counsellor Mr. Bojan Kljajić, laid the wrath at the Monument on behalf of the Serbian Embassy.  
 

Contemporary Art Fair „Art The Hague“ was held in The Hague from October October 4 – 8, 2017.  Selection of 52 galleries presented their collections, along with works of international top artists and guided tours to leading art collections in the The Hague region.
Mr. Vladimir Radujkov, from Senta, artist currently living and working in Rotterdam was one of the participants at this manifestation.
Ambassador Petar Vico also visited Contemporary Art Fair „Art The Hague“.

We are delighted to announce the fifth edition of the “Serbian Cinematography Day”.  As before, it has been a result of a cooperation between the Organization for promotion of Serbian art and culture in the Netherlands “Mreža” and the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in The Hague.
“Serbian Cinematography Day” will be held in “Rialto” Cinema in Amsterdam (Ceintuurban 338, 1072 GN Amsterdam), on October 8, 2017.
On this occasion, the following movies will be presented:

1. “The Promise” (by Željko Mirković) at 15h00

 http://www.rialtofilm.nl/podium/hallo%20servi%C3%AB:%20the%20promise/

2. “Land of Gods” (by Goran Paskaljević) at 17h00

http://www.rialtofilm.nl/podium/hallo%20servi%C3%AB:%20land%20of%20gods/

Dear citizens of the Republic of Serbia, if you are currently on the Dutch island of Sint Maarten or any other Dutch island affected by hurricane Irma or if you are in contact with some of our citizens who are there, please contact the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in The Hague by phone number +31703632397, via e-mail or via the Facebook page of the Consular Department of the Serbian Embassy in The Hague. Please note that we have been informed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands that it is necessary to provide as much information as possible about Serbian citizens at Sint Maarten before they make any decisions regarding possibility of assisting during evacuation.

Governemnt of the Republic of Serbia, on the session held on August 22, 2017, adopted the Decision on abolishing visas for citizens of the Republic of India, holders of ordinary passport and the Decision on abolishing visas for citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran, holders of ordinary passports. According to those decisions holders of ordinary passports may enter, transit and stay on the territory of the Republic of Serbia, no longer than 30 days within a period of one year from the date of entry into the Republic of Serbia.

H.E. Mr. Petar Vico, Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, deposited the Instrument of Ratification of the Agreement on the Status and Functions of the International Commission on Missing Persons in the Treaty Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of The Netherlands.

The Agreement will enter into force for the Republic of Serbia on August 20, 2017.

In the newly opened "Street of the World" museum in Zandaam (photographs of the world's capital cities taken during the 7 years of travel by Dutch photographer Jerome Svolvs), first weekend in July was dedicated to the Republic of Serbia.

Spectacular concerts of Mr. Slobodan Trkulja and Balkanopolis band, accompanied by the children's choir Zvonce, were held on Saturday, 1 July 2017 and Sunday, 2 July 2017.

The event was opened by the author Jerun Svolfs and the ambassador of the Republic of Serbia, H.E. Mr. Petar Vico.

The audience had also the opportunity to see promotional photos of the Republic of Serbia and to take the printed materials of the Tourist Organization of Serbia, who financially supported the organization of the event.

Thank you all for a wonderful event!

In June this year, the chamber choir JIP from Utrecht will present the project "... and I become a wall" through 4 concerts that will be held in Den Bosch, Den Haag, Amsterdam and Utrecht.

Project title is a reference to the poem "The Wall" of Serbian poet Vasko Popa, which is also the basis of a composition of the Dutch-Serbian composer Gagi Petrović. In addition to composition “The Wall”, compositions of Stevan Mokranjac as well as compositions from other parts of the former Yugoslavia will be performed.

Concerts will be held:

- Den Bosch 02/06/2017.
- The Hague (Paleiskerk) 03.06.2017.
- Amsterdam (Zuiderkerk) 06.09.2017.
- Utrecht (Geertekerk) 06.10.2017.

Тhe Republic Public Prosecutor, Ms. Zagorka Dolovac, was in a worrking visit to The Hague from 28 to 30 May 2017.

Ms. Zagorka Dolovac and Mr. Gerrit van der Burg, Chairman of the Board of Prosecutors-General, signed the Memorandum of Understanding between the public prosecution offices of the Republic of Serbia and The Kingdom of the Netherlands.

During her visit to The Hague, Mrs. Dolovac met with H.E. Mr. Petar Vico, Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the Kingdom ofg the Netherlands.

Ambassador Petar Vico received on 17 May 2017 the delegation of students and professors of the Faculty of Law in Novi Sad who are participating at the 2017 Moot Court Competition and 2017 Telders International Law Moot Court Competition, in The Hague, from 14-20 May 2017.

On the occasion of the Pentecost Monday, the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia will be closed on Monday, 5 June 2017.

Ambassador P. Vico received on 12 Мay 2017 Mr. Filip Filipi Janković, founder and director and Mr. Sergej Dojčinović, European director of the International humanitarian diaspora organization „28. Jun”.

On the occasion of the Ascension Day, the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia will be closed on Thursday, 25 of May 2017.

Serbian company “Dunavnet doo” from Novi Sad, among couple of hundreds companies in the field of agriculture, participated at the European edition of the Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture, held in Utrecht, 9-10 May 2017.

H.E. Mr. Petar Vico, ambassador of the Republic of Serbia in The Netherlands, visited the pavilion of “Dunavnet doo”.

Embassy of the Republic of Serbia is proud to announce that the composition of the Serbian author Djura Živković “The Mystical Sacrifice“, will be performed by The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam as the part of its “De nieuwe Passie” concert, on Friday 7 April 2017 from 20h15 untill 22h15 and on Sunday 9 April from 14h15 until 16h15.

Additional information can be found H E R E.
 

The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia would like to inform that the Belgrade City Administration, Secretariat for Culture, has announced a "Public international two-phase open competition for the design of a conceptual solution for the Zoran Đinđić memorial at the Students square in Belgrade".

Additional information can be found HERE.

On the occasion of the Liberation Day, the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia will be closed on Friday, 5 of May 2017.

On the occasion of the Labour Day, the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia will be closed on Monday, 1st of May and Tuesday, 2nd of May 2017.

On the occasion of the Kings Day, the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia will be closed on Thursday, 27 of April 2017.

On the occasion of Easter, the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia will be closed on Friday, 14 of April 2017 and Monday, 17 of April 2017.

Directorial debut “A Good Wife” by Mrs. Mirjana Karanovic will be screned at the „Movies that Matter Festival” that will take place in the „Filmhuis Den Haag”, (Spui 191, 2511 BN Den Haag), from 24 of March untill 1 of April 2017.

The movie will be screened on the following dates:

Saturday, 25 March 2017 at 12,00 h
Thursday, 30 March 2017 at 21,15 h
Friday, 31 March 2017 at 19,00 h
Saturday, 1 april 2017 at 19,15 h

Embassy of teh Republic of Serbia would kindly like to invite citizens of the Republic of Serbia living in The Netherlands, who would like to register for vote on the presidential elections in Serbia, scheduled for 2 April 2017, to contact the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in The Hague no later than 11 March 2017. 

National Tourism Organisation оf Serbia, participated, among more than 500 exhibiting companies, at "Fiets en Wandelbeurs 2017 Fair", held in Utrecht on 11-12 February 2017.

H.E. Mr. Petar Vico, ambassador of the Republic of Serbia in The Netherlands, visited the stand of the National Tourism Organisation оf Serbia who was exhibiting, with other Danube countries, under the “Danube center for competence – DCC”.

On 30 January 2017, the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Serbia, Vladan Vukosavljević, signed the Convention, making Serbia, along with The Netherlands, Greece, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Luxemburg, Norway, Malta and Italy, one of the first European countries to sign the Convention. Other countries are expected to follow suit during the course of the year.

On the occasion of the celebration of the National Day of the Republic of Serbia, the Embassy will be closed on Wednesday, 15th February and Thursday, 16th February 2017.

The Dutch premiere of the movie “Zona Zamfirova 2”, will take place in „Pathe Arena“ in Amsterdam (Arena Boulevard 600, 1101 DS Amsterdam) on 2 of February 2017 at 22,20 hours.

“Zona Zamfirova 2” will also be screened in „Pathe de Kuip“ in Rotterdam (Cor Kieboomplein 501, 3077 MK Rotterdam) on 4 of February 2017 at 18,10 hours.

“Zona Zamfirova 2” will stay on the schedule during next week. Details about the screenings can be found on:  https://www.pathe.nl/film/22739/zona-zamfirova-2.

On the occasion of the Armistice Day, First Counsellor Dragan Milojevic laid a wreath at the Monument in Garderen, dedicated to Serbian soldiers who died in The Netherlands in 1919.

The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia will be closed on Monday, 2nd of January and Tuesday, 3rd of January 2017.

In cooperation between Embassy of the Republic of Serbia and the Western Front Association Nederland), a documentary movie about Milunka Savić, Serbian combattant from First World War, directed by Mrs. S. Zarić, was screened during the 8e Tino Prins Eerste Wereld Oorlog Film Festival, in De Meern, on Saturday, 22 of October 2016.

Before screening of the movie about Milunka Savic, as the first movie screend during the Festival, ambassador of the Republic of Serbia Mr. P. Vico addressed the audience, with brief remarks about the life of Mrs. Savic, as well as about the importance of the First World War for the Republic of Serbia.

H.E. Mr. Vico also paid tribute to several Dutch citizens that helped Serbian fight for freedom in 19th and 20th century (dr Van Tienhoven, Louis Remaker, Jenny Markus).

On the occasion of the celebration of the Armistice Day, the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia will be closed on Friday, 11th of November 2016.

We are very glad to announce that, thanks to the cooperation between the Organization for promotion of Serbian art and culture in the Netherlands “Mreza” and the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in The Hague, this year’s edition of the “Serbian Cinematography Day” will be held in cinema “Rialto” in Amsterdam (Ceintuurban 338, 1072 GN Amsterdam) on October 30th, 2016.

During this manifestation, the following movies will be shown:

1. Open cage (by Siniša Galić) at 15h00

http://www.rialtofilm.nl/podium/open%20cage%20-%20hallo%20servi%C3%AB!/

2. Four passports (by Mihajlo Jevtić) at 16h45

http://www.rialtofilm.nl/podium/four%20passports%20-%20hallo%20servi%C3%AB!/

The Dutch premiere of the directorial debut “A Good Wife” by Mrs. Mirjana Karanovic, director and a famous Serbian actress will take place in De Balie Theater in Amsterdam (Kleine Gartmanplantsoen 10, 1017 RR Amsterdam) on 26 of October 2016 at 19,30 hours. Mirjana Karanović will be present at this exclusive Dutch première and the Q&A.

”A Good Wife” will also be screened in Het Huis in The Hague (Riviervismarkt 5, 2513 AM Den Haag) on 28 of October 2016 at 20,00 hours in the presence of Mr. Karanović. 

At 18.00 hours you are welcome in Het Nutshuis for a Masterclass acting of Mrs. Karanovic, dedicated to anyone who is interested in acting: students, amateur actors and professionals.

Memorial service for Serbian soldiers deceased in the Netherlands in World War I was held in Garderen, on 01st October 2016.

The service was attended by representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Serbian diaspora and Dutch citizens who are helping in maintaining the monument, as well as by Ambassador P. Vico and First Counsellor D. Milojevic. The Mayor of Barneveld, Mr. A. van Dijk was also attending the Memorial service. 

,     

Ambassador P. Vico received on 14 July 2016 a group of students of the 2016 Summer Course on Public International Law, organized by The Hague Academy of the International Law.

Serbian artists Sonja Lončar and Andrija Pavlović - LP Duo (http://www.lpduo.com/) will be participating in this year’s 10th Edition of the Festival Classique Den Haag.

They will be among 10 pianists who will play simultaneously on 5 grand piano's the public favourite Canto Ostinato, written by the Dutch composer Simeon ten Holt. This is a unique performance presented by Festival Classique and an absolutely must-see, must-be.

The concert will take place on Sunday, June 12th at 16,00 hours at Kuurzaal (Gevers Deynootplein 30, 2586 CK Den Haag).

More information about the event and tickets could be found on: http://www.festivalclassique.nl/en/agenda-and-tickets/37/canto-ostinato/ or http://www.festivalclassique.nl/nl/agenda-en-kaarten/37/canto-ostinato/

We will be glad to see you there!
 

Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as well as nine Serbian companies, participated, among more than 4,300 exhibiting companies from more than 60 countries, at PLMA’s 2016 “World of Private Label” International Trade Show, held in Amsterdam 24 and 25 May 2016.

H.E. Mr. Petar Vico, ambassador of the Republic of Serbia in The Netherlands, visited Serbian Pavilion.

Ambassador P. Vico received on 19 May 2016 the delegation of representatives of the Serbian public administration during their Study Tour in The Netherlands, organized by the Serbian Secretariat for Public Policies.

Ambassador P. Vico received on 16 May 2016 the delegation of the Supreme Court of Cassation of the Republic of Serbia.

Ambassador P. Vico received on 12 May 2016 the delegation of the Judicial Academy and the Anti-Corruption Agency of the Republic of Serbia.

Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Marina Jovićević participated at the Informal Meeting of EU Ministers and State Secretaries for European Affairs, held in Amsterdam, on April 11, 2016.

Duting her visit, Assistant Minister M. Jovićević met with B. Kunders, Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as with a number of ministers and state secretaries who attended the Meeting.

The eighth edition of Go Short – International Short Film Festival takes place from 6-10 April 2016. The best recent short films from Europe are displayed in five festival days. More than 300 films will be screened, of which 101 are selected for competition programs.

Two Serbian short movies will be screened at Go Short 2016. One is selected for the European competition program of Go Short 2016, which means that it is running to win one of the Go Short awards. The winners of the Go Short Awards will be announced on Saturday 9 April.

In European Competition:

Of Slaves And Robots (Miloš Tomić / Art film / Serbia / 2015 / 1’)

Stop motion animation that combines drawings, embroidery, found objects and paper collage. Inspired by an audio story from legendary professor Radivoj Kašanin from the Institute of Mathematics in Belgrade, found in the audio archive of Radio Belgrade, about how not to be a slave or a robot.

In Program:

Our Body (Dane Komljen / Art film / Serbia, Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina / 2015 / 15’)

From here, you can see everything: the sea to the right, the mountains to the left, the sky in between.

As part of the preparations for the visit of a Dutch economic delegation to the Republic of Serbia on 30 March 2016, a preparatory meeting was held on 15 March 2016 in the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in The Hague.

The meeting was hosted by H.E. Mr. Petar Vico, Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia in the Netherands and co-organized by Mr. Dusko Krsmanovic, Senior Economic and Trade Advisor in the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Belgrade as well as Mr. Bojan Lekovic, Founder of the company "Kupujemprodajem.com".

The meeting was attended by representatives of eight Dutch companies - "TAZ NL", "Altfel", "DGMC", "Catchyourhealth", "Funkyrunners", "Adamasgroep", "Innodeck", and "Dreamgame".

On the occasion of the Ascension Day, the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia will be closed on Thursday, 5 of May 2016.

On the occasion of Easter, the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia will be closed on Friday, 29 of April 2016 and Monday, 02 of May 2016.

On the occasion of the International Workers Day, The Embassy will also be closed on Tuesday, 3 May 2016.

On the occasion of the Kings Day, the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia will be closed on Wednesday, 27 of April 2016. 

We would kindly like to invite citizens of the Republic of Serbia living in The Netherlands, who would like to register for vote on the parliamentary elections in Serbia, scheduled for 24 April 2016, to contact the Embasy of the Republic of Serbia in The Hague no later than 2 April 2016. MORE INFORMATION 

The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in The Hague with deep sorrow has to inform about the tragic death of our colleagues, two officials of the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Tripoli.

Ms. Sladjana Stanković and Mr. Jovica Stepić, who had been kidnapped and held hostage since last November near the Libyan city Sabratha, were killed on 19 February 2016 during US air strike on a terrorist base in that city.

A Book of Condolences will be opened at the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia, Burgemeester van Karnebeeklaan 19, 2585 BA The Hague, on Monday, 22 February and Tuesday, 23 February 2016 from 11:00 to 16:00 hours.

The lecture dedicated to the great Serbian scientist Nikola Tesla "Celebrating Nikola Tesla - from inventions to arts and back" was held at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences in Delft on February 18, 2016.

The list of speakers included H.E. Mr. Petar Vico, Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia in the Netherlands, Lazar Jovanović (Nikola Tesla – Life and Legacy), Dr Paolo Sberna (Liquid silicon technology) and Bastiaan Zwanenburg (Hyperloop – Travel faster, no pressure).

Bilateral Defense Consultations between Republic of Serbia and the Kingdom of the Netheralnds were held in The Hague on 17 of February 2016. Serbian delegation was headed by the Chief of the Department for International Military Cooperation, Colonel Milan Konjikovac. The delegation of the Ministry of Defense of the Kingdom of the Netherlands was headed by Assistant Chief of Staff for the International Military Cooperation, Brigadier General Toine Beukering.

Bilateral Defense Cooperation Program for 2016 was signed during these consultations.

Delegation of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia participated at a Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the European Union (COSAC), held in The Hague, February 7-8, 2016.

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic participated at the Informal Meeting of EU Foreign Ministers (GYMNICH), held in Amsterdam, on February 6-7, 2016.

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic stated that the Republic of Serbia is ready to take part and to make a contribution to the future plan of the European Union to reduce the migratory pressure.

Minister Dacic also asked for a support of all members of the European Union in regard to acceleration of the negotiating process of the Republic of Serbia with the EU during 2016.

On the margins of the meeting, Minister Dacic met with the Ministers of Foreign Affiars of Hungary, Croatia and Turkey.

Chief Negotiator for Serbia's accession negotiations with the EU Tanja Miščević participated at the Informal EU Directors General meeting, dedicated to the actual migratory crisis, held in Amsterdam, on January 29, 2016.

Minister of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Policy of the Republic of Serbia Mr. Aleksandar Vulin participated at a meeting of the countries of the Western Balkans route, held in Amsterdam on January 25, 2016. This meeting was held on the sidelines of an informal meeting of EU interior ministers.

“The conclusion of the meeting is actually what Serbia has been proposing and seeking all this time- that all must restrain from unilateral moves and that we have to act together”, Minister Vulin said after the meeting.

Minister A. Vulin also said that the European Commission and participants of the meeting recognized that Serbia had demonstrated a high level of organization and humanity, serving as an example of how countries should resolve problems along the migrant routes.

On Friday, 15 January 2016, Republic of Serbia deposited its instrument of accession to the Hague Convention of 19 October 1996 on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforcement and Co-operation in Respect of Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children.

At the ceremony, which took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, the Embassy of Serbia was represented by H.E. Mr Petar Vico, Ambassador, and Mr Saša Obradovic, Legal Adviser. Secretary General Christophe Bernasconi and Legal Officer Frédéric Breger represented the Permanent Bureau of the Hague Conference.

Republic of Serbia is the 43rd Contracting State to the Convention. The Convention will enter into force for Serbia on 1 November 2016. Serbia is now a Contracting State to 12 Conventions of the Hague Conference on Private International Law.

On January 12, the Tourism Organization of Serbia presented Serbia as a touristic destination to Dutch journalists and tour operators, at the tourism and leisure fair "Vakantiebeurs 2016" in Utrecht. The audience was addressed by the Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia in the Netherlands Petar Vico and the representatives of the Tourism Organization of Serbia.

Vakantiebeurs is one of the largest fairs in this part of Europe, which brings together more than 100,000 people in the Netherlands. During the fair (12-17 January 2016), Serbia will be represented at the stand 062.

Ambassador Petar Vico with Mr. Ralph Van Der Zijden, founder and owner of the “iBikeBelgrade”, who introduced to the audience the interesting ways to discover Belgrade, Novi Sad and the rest of Serbia by bike, passing on his personal experiences and love for our country.

H.E. Petar Vico, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Serbia to the Kingldom of The Netherlands, signed, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, the Agreement on the Status and Functions of the International Commission on Missing Persons.

The Republic of Serbia has become the ninth country to sign the Agreement on the Status and Functions of the International Commission on Missing Persons.

The other signatories to the ICMP Agreement are the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium, Luxembourg, El Salvador, Cyprus, and Chile.

H.E. Ambassador Petar Vico attended the meeting of the ambassadors of EU Member States and EU candidate countries with H.E. Mr. Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The Meeting took place on 09th of December 2015 at the Hilton Hotel in The Hague.

The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia will be closed on Friday, 25 of December 2015.

The Embassy will also be closed on Friday, 1 of January 2016 and Thursday, 7 of January 2016.

H.E. Ambassador Petar Vico, Head of the Delegation of the Republic of Serbia made the national statement at the Fourteenth Session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute, held in The Hage, from 18 to 26 November 2015.

State Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior and Head of the Negotiating Group on Chapter 24 of the accession negotiations of the Republic of Serbia with the European Union Aleksandar Nikolic visited on November 23 and 24, 2015, the Kingdom of the Netherlands a country which will chair the EU from January to June 2016.

During his visit, Mr. Djordjevic met with State Secretary of Security and Justice and Minister for Immigration Klaas Dijkhoff and Deputy National Coordinator for security and the fight against terrorism in the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Patricia Zorko.

He also met with the Deputy Director at European Integration Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Joost Flamand and Coordinator for EU Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy Mrs. Suzanne de Groot.

On the occasion of the Armistice Day, Ambassador Petar Vico and First Counsellor Dragan Milojevic laid a wreath at the Monument in Garderen, dedicated to Serbian soldiers who died in The Netherlands in 1918 and 1919.

On the occasion of the celebration of the Armistice Day, the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia will be closed on Wednesday, 11th of November 2015.

Third edition of the “Serbian Cinematography Day”, jointly organized by the Organization for promotion of Serbian art and culture in the Netherlands “Mreza” and the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in The Hague, was held on November 08th, 2015 in cinema “Rialto” in Amsterdam.

During this manifestation, officially opened by Mr. Petar Vico, Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia in the Netherlands, the following movies were screened:

1. LogBook Serbistan (Director Želimir Žilnik) 

2. Enclave (Director Goran Todorović) 

The 2015 edition of the “Eastern Neighbours Film Festival” will take place in The Hague from 4th-14th of November 2015. Film production from Serbia is specially honoured this year by having the biggest number of films so far, four fiction features and two documentaries.

1. We are very proud to announce that the award-winning Serbian film “No One's Child” (Ničije dete), directed by Vuk Ršumović, is the opening film of the Festival. The editor Mirko Bojović will be ENFF's guest this year as well.

The programme of the opening night on November 4th („Filmhuis Den Haag“, Spui 191, 2511 BN Den Haag):

18:45: Doors open
19:00: Opening ceremony and screening of the film “No One`s Child”
21:15: Cocktail ceremony

http://enff.nl/video/index.php?a=i&i=140 

In the spring of 1988 a wild boy is found deep in the Bosnian mountains living amongst wolves. He is randomly given the name Haris and sent to an orphanage in Belgrade to be taken care of by Ilke. He becomes inseparable with another boy Žika and slowly starts to show progress. The film "No One’s Child" is based on a true story.

“No One's Child” will have its rerun in the “Filmhuis Den Haag“ on November 11th  2015 at 19:30.

2. Serbian Oscar nominee “Enclave” (Enklava), directed by Goran Radovanović, will be screened in the “Filmhuis Den Haag“ on November 7th 2015 at 20:00 hours. “Enclave” will have its rerun in the Filmhuis on November 8th 2015 at 14:00 hours.

http://enff.nl/video/index.php?a=i&i=150

“Enclave” is a movie about a Christian boy, determined to create a proper community burial for his late grandfather, who crosses enemy lines and makes friends among the Muslim majority in deeply divided, war-torn Kosovo.

3. “The sky above us” (Nebo iznad nas) will be screened in the “Filmhuis Den Haag“ on November 7th 2015 at 18:00 hours, in the presence of director Marinus Groothof.

http://enff.nl/video/index.php?a=i&i=175

Belgrade silently gets ready for yet another night of NATO bombings. Every day Ana, Sloba and Bojan put their lives at great risk, simply by going to work. All three force themselves to deal with the fear, in order to hold on to their ordinary lives. But "ordinary" has ceased to exist some time ago.

4. Yugoslav film „Rondo” (1966), by Zvonimir Berković, with Serbian actress Milena Dravić, arguably the biggest female film star of ex-Yugoslav cinema. will be screened in the “Filmhuis Den Haag“ on November 8th 2015 at 19:15.
 

http://enff.nl/video/index.php?a=i&i=157

Two friends play chess every Sunday, the beautiful wife Neda is in charge of making the atmosphere pleasant and homely. Love triangle enters their friendship almost unnoticeably. Subtle eroticism underlines the superb black and white photography and creative usage of the claustrophobic space of the small attic apartment.

5.  Želimir Žilnik`s new film “Logbook_Serbistan”, will be screened in Humanity House (Prinsegracht 8, 2512 GA Den Haag) on November 11th 2015 at 19:30. The debate will follow after the screening. 

http://enff.nl/video/index.php?a=i&i=179

Refugees and asylum-seekers are streaming into Europe, escaping the violence and economic hardship of many areas in North Africa and the Middle East. Serbia is one of the first stops for these migrants where they are housed in refugee centres.

6. The documentary “Serbian Lawyer”, by Aleksandar Nikolić, in the presence of  the lawyer Marko Sladojević, will be screened in Het Huthuis (Riviervismarkt 5, 2513 AM Den Haag) on November 13th 2015 at 20:00.

http://enff.nl/video/index.php?a=i&i=174

A documentary that follows the challenge in answering the question: is it ethical to defend a war criminal?

Don`t miss the other programs of ENFF, new films from Eastern and Southern Europe. Connect with the Festival through Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/easternneighboursfilmfestival and keep an eye on the festival website - http://www.enff.nl/. We kindly invite you to a memorable festival experience!

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H.E. Ambassador Petar Vico attended the meeting of the ambassadors of EU Member States and EU candidate countries with Mr. Sybrand van Haersma Buma, CDA party leader in the House of Representatives of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The Meeting took place on 26th of October 2015 in the Embassy of Luxembourg in The Hague.

In collaboration with Diplomat Magazine and the Art Gallery Patries van Dorst, Embassy of the Republic of Serbia participates in the first edition of the Embassy Art Exhibition.

During the first week, from 13th to 18th October 2015, the visitors visiting the exhibition in the Art Gallery Patries van Dorst in Wassenaar (Landgoed de Wittenburg 3, 2244 BV Wassenaar) will be able to see the work of four Serbian artists:

Tomislav Paunković

Ivana Milenković

Nina Šrajber

Jasmina Pejčić

The “vernissage” reception, co-hosted by the embassies of the exhibiting artists, Serbia, China, Ukraine and Lebanon, was held on Wednesday, 14th of October 2015.

We kindly invite you to visit this Exhibition.

* * * * * * *

The 2015 edition of the “Eastern Neighbours Film Festival” will take place from 4th to 14th of November 2015 in The Hague.

As a warm up for this year’s edition, the Eastern Neighbours Film Festival on-tour brings one of the two most successfull movies of last year's edition to Utrecht.

Screening of the movie „Barbarians” by Ivan Ikic will take place on 24th October 2015 at 21,30 in the film theater “t’Hoogt” in Utrecht (Hoogt 4, 3512 GW Utrecht).

Оn the occasion of the current crisis with the increased influx of refugees, the Government of the Republic of Serbia is taking a number of steps  in order to secure better conditions for temporary reception and accommodation of migrants.

Several foreign countries, NGOs, business and other organizations, have expressed their interest to provide financial and material assistance to the Republic of Serbia.

We take this opportunity to inform you that the Government of the Republic of Serbia opened a multipurpose bank account at the National bank of Serbia. All relevant information about this account can be found HERE.

Regarding the possibility of donating humanitarian aid in goods, we would like also to inform you in detail about the documents adopted and established by the Red Cross of Serbia:

1. The procedure of import of humanitarian aid
2. The required humanitarian assistance to refugees and migrants during winter

Contact with the Red Cross of Serbia - е-mail: indep@redcross.org.rs; Phone: +381 11 30 32 125 ext. 214, 215, 217.

Also, useful information can be found on the official website of the Customs Administration of the Republic of Serbia - www.upravacarina.rs.
 

H.E. Ambassador Petar Vico attended the meeting of the ambassadors of EU Member States and EU candidate countries with H.E. Mr. Bert Koenders, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The Meeting took place in Europe House in The Hague on 7th September 2015.

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dačić met with the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, on Saturday 11 July 2015.

The two Ministers considered current issues of bilateral relations, putting special emphasis on economic cooperation. The Ministers also exchanged views on current political developments in Europe and worldwide.

More information can be found HERE. 

Exhibition of the Serbian artist Ana Kala will be opened in the Galerie Ariana (Vondelstraat 20, 2513 EV  Den Haag) from 18 June to 18 July 2015.

Official opening will take place Sunday, 21 of June 2015 at 15:00 hours.

More information about the exposition can be found on http://www.galerieariana.nl/expositie%20actueel01.html.

The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia would like to inform you about the “Canto Ostinato XL Music Festival”, which is going to be held on 13th of June in the Zuiderstrandtheater in the Hague.

We are proud to announce that duet “LP duo” from Serbia will also take part in this event from 15:00-16:30 in Zee Foyer and from 19.30-22.00 in “Piano Ensemble+” in Grote Zaal. 

For more than a decade, “LP Duo” has experimented with the endless possibilities of performing on two pianos, while developing a new approach to contemporary classical music that combines classical elegance, jazz freedom, and rock ‘n’ roll power. Pianists Sonja Loncar and Andrija Pavlovic have performed more than 200 concerts in Europe and the United States, have won prizes at international competitions, and were listed as one of the top ten piano duos at Miami’s Dranoff International Two Piano Competition in 2008. 

More information about the event and tickets could be found on http://www.zuiderstrandtheater.nl/informatie/Agenda/13_juni_Canto_Ostinato_XL/

We will be glad to see you there!

The second Serbian Cinematography Day “HALLO SERVIË!” will take place in cinema “Rialto” in Amsterdam (Ceintuurbaan 338, 1072 GN Amsterdam) on 31 May 2015, from 14,00 to 19,20 hours.

“HALLO SERVIË!” will be opened by H.E. Mr. Petar Vico, Amabsador of the Republic of Serbia in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

This project has been organized by “Mreza”, Serbian organization for promotion of Serbian art and culture in the Netherlands, in close cooperation with the Embassy of Republic of Serbia in The Hague and Film Center Serbia.

The audience will be able to see two Serbian movies:

At 14,30 – “See you in Montevideo”, by Dragan Bjelogrlic (Serbia, 2014)

http://montevideoproject.com/engleski/

At 17,30 – “Witthering”, by Miloš Pušić (Serbia, 2013)

http://www.odumiranje.rs/

Serbian minister of Mining and Energy Aleksandar Antic participated at Ministerial Conference on the International Energy Charter, held in The Hague 20 and 21 of May 2015. Ministers of Energy and other representatives of 66 states attended the Conference.

During the Conference, minister Antic signed International Energy Charter in the name of the Republic of Serbia.

In his speech, minister Antic emphasized the importance of the Charter for the international cooperation in this field. He also stressed that the Republic of Serbia is prepared to sign the Energy Charter Treaty.

Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as well as ten Serbian companies, participated, among more than 2,400 exhibiting companies from more than 70 countries, at PLMA’s 2015 “World of Private Label” International Trade Show, held in Amsterdam 19 and 20 May 2015.

H.E. Mr. Petar Vico, ambassador of the Republic of Serbia in The Netherlands, visited Serbian Pavilion.

On the occasion of the Pentecost Monday, the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia will be closed on Monday, 25 of May 2015.

On the occasion of the Ascension Day, the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia will be closed on Thursday, 14 of May 2015.

On the occasion of the Kings Day, the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia will be closed on Monday, 27 of April 2015.

Serbian Piano LP Duo (http://www.lpduo.com/), one of the most successful European chamber ensembles, composed by pianists Sonja Loncar and Andrija Pavlovic, will be giving a concert at the ToetsdesTijds Concerten, on April 26, 2015 (15.00 hrs) in Werkgebouw HET VEEM, Van Diemenstraat 408, Amsterdam.

The LP Duo will present the World premiere of the piece that Hans Christian Détlefsen wrote for them: ‘The Seasons’, a suite for two pianos. They will also play Ravel’s ‘La valse’ and Stravinsky’s ‘Petruschka’.
 

OSCE Chairman-in-Office/First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic attended the 2015 Global Conference on Cyberspace, held in The Hague, 16-17 April 2015.

Speech by Ivica Dačić at the 2015 Global Conference on Cyberspace can be found H E R E.

During his stay in The Hague, Minister Dacic also met with the Foreign Ministers of the Netherlands, Bangladesh, Ukraine, South Korea and Australia.

Ambassador P. Vico received on 02 of April 2015 Mr. Tomislav Paunkovic, Serbian artist who lives in Germany.
Mr. Paunkovic donated to the Embassy one of his most valuable paintings „Tribute to Rembrandt“.

On the occasion of Easter, the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia will be closed on Monday, 6 of April 2015.

On the occasion of Orthodoxe Easter celebrations, the Embassy will also be closed on Friday, 10 of April 2015 and Monday, 13 of April 2015.

Ambassador P. Vico received on 02 March 2015 the delegation of students, members of the United Nations Club of the Faculty of Political Sciences in Belgrade.

Ambassador P. Vico received on 20 February 2015 the delegation of students, members of the Academic Committee of the Leiden University at the Hague.

The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia will be closed on Monday, 16th February and Tuesday, 17th of February 2015.

The fifteen-year case Serbia v. Croatia concerning the application of the Genocide Convention has been completed by today’s ruling in The Hague of the International Court of Justice, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations.
Overall, the legal team of Serbia believes that there is no room for dissatisfaction. The Court rejected Croatia’s claims finding that they had no legal grounds and that the crimes committed in Croatia were not in breach of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, and that Serbia committed no acts of genocide.

Although the Court rejected the Serbian counter-claims as well, it found that grave crimes were committed against Krajina Serbs. In addition, the ICJ established the intent on the part of Croatian most senior officials to have Serbs driven out of the Krajina.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia respects the recommendation issued by the Court for both sides to invest efforts to resolve the fate of missing persons and will redouble efforts to that effect, believing that conditions will thereby be created to solve the fate of Serbs missing in Croatia as soon as possible.
The Court hearings on the crimes is a warning for everyone that something like this must not happen ever again, and the obligation resulting therefrom is that all those responsible for crimes should be tracked down and brought to justice.

An interview with His Exellency, Mr Petar Vico, Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, published in Diplomat Magazine, the First Official Diplomat Magazine in the Hague, on February 1st 2015.

You can find full text here.

The 44th edition of International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) will take place from 21 January to 1 February 2015. The festival's Official Selection includes some 220 feature films and 320 short films out of 60 countries.

The audience will also be able to see three Serbian movies:

Zivan Makes a Punk Festival (Serbia)

(https://www.iffr.com/en/films/ivan-pravi-pank-festival)

Like Don Quixote, Zivan Pujic Jimmy fights for his annual punk festival. A film about failure, ambition, friendship and clinging to your dreams. Glavonic received much praise for this exceptional film that doesn't reveal what's fact and what's fiction.

Screenings:
Cinerama 3, Wednesday, 28 January 2015 at 17:00 hrs
Cinerama 7, Thursday, 29 January 2015 at 12:00 hrs

Our Body (World Premiere; Serbia, Germany)

(https://www.iffr.com/en/films/na-e-telo )

Director Komljen opens the door to the world of contrasts that Our Body consists of with a bang.

Screenings:
Lantaren Venster 1, Sunday, 25 January 2015 at 19:30 hrs
Lantaren Venster 2, Monday, 26 January 2015 at 14:15 hrs
Pathé, Friday, 30 January 2015 at 12:30 hrs

The Sky Above Us (World Premiere; Serbia, Netherlands, Belgium, Greece)

(https://www.iffr.com/en/films/the-sky-above-us)

While NATO has been bombing military and civilian targets for months in 1999, three inhabitants of Belgrade attempt to lead a more or less normal life in spite of all the death around them. The city itself is not only a backdrop but also a protagonist in this story of fear, love, loyalty and the madness of war.

Screenings:
Schouwburg Grote Zaal, Wednesday, 28 January 2015 at 19:00 hours
Pathé 3, Thursday, 29 January 2015 at 13:00 hours
Lantaren Venster 5, Friday, 30 January 2015 at 22:00 hours
Cinerama 6,  Saturday, 31 January 2015 at 16:30 hours

The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia will be closed on Thursday, 25 of December 2014 and Friday, 26 of December 2014.

The Embassy will also be closed on Thursday, 1 of January 2015; Friday, 2 of January 2015 and Wednesday, 7 of January 2015.

On the evening of the 20th of December 2014 at 20,00 hours the Christmas Concert at the Paleiskerk will take place where, amongst five outstanding young performers, a Serbian pianist Stefan Petrovic will perform chamber music of Robert Schumann and Gabriel Faure.

Ambassador Petar Vico attended the ceremony held on 12 December 2014 at the Cultural Center "Rode Hoed" in Amsterdam where Prof. dr. Jelica Novakovic Lopušina was awarded 10th Annual Award for the Interpretation given by the Dutch Foundation for literary creation and interpretation (Nederlands Literair Productie- en vertalingenfonds).

The exhibition of the Serbian artist Milan Glozic will be open from Wednesday 19th November untill Friday 21st November 2014 in the gallery “Arps&Co”, Arubastraat 1 in Amsterdam.

The opening of the exhibition, in the presence of ambassador of the Republic of Serbia Mr. Petar Vico, was held on Wedneday 19th November 2014.