Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Athens has the sad duty to inform the public that due to the devastating accident at the railway station in the city of Novi Sad, in which people tragically lost their lives, a Book of Condolence will be open at the premises of the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Athens on the following dates:

Saturday: November 2, from 14:00 until 18:00
Sunday: November 3, from 14:00 until 18:00
Monday: November 4, from 10:00 until 18:00
 
For those unable to attend in person, electronic letters and messages of condolence may also be sent to the following email: embassy.athens@mfa.rs.

The Government of the Republic of Serbia has declared November 2, 2024, as the National Day of Mourning.

The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Athens expresses its deepest condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives and wishes a prompt recovery to all those injured.

September 3, 2024

The Ambassador Designate of the Republic of Serbia to the Hellenic Republic H.E. Mr. Nikola Nedeljković presented Copies of Letters of Credence during the meeting with the Head of Protocol of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic Ambassador Aglaia Balta.

During the cordial conversation, the traditional friendship and closeness of the two countries and nations was mutually confirmed, with the emphasis on readiness for further deepening of cooperation.

Following the tragic loss of lives at the “Vladislav Ribnikar” Elementary School shooting in Belgrade on 3 May 2023, the Government of Serbia has declared three days of national mourning, from 5 May to 7 May 2023.

The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Greece is grateful for all the messages of support we have received.
A book of condolence will open at the Embassy in Athens (Vasilissis Sofias Avenue 106).

Members of the public who wish to leave written tributes can do so during the following opening hours:

5 May 2023     12.00 – 14.00
8 May 2023    12.00 – 14.00

Please be advised that visitors to the Embassy will be subject to security checks.

For those unable to attend in person, an online book of condolence can be signed at: embassy.athens@mfa.rs

Mr. President,
Madam Special Representative,
Ladies and gentleman,

It gives me honor to address this distinguished body once again and to discuss the latest report of the Secretary-General on the work of the UNMIK.

I would like to thank the Secretary-General and the Special Representative for submitting the report. We take note of the efforts that Ms. Ziadeh makes in performing this very responsible duty, especially bearing in mind the necessity of a comprehensive overview and the complexity of the situation on the ground.

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

11 May 2022.

Today, in Marrakesh, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia Nikola Selaković participated in the Ministerial Meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS. Minister Selaković said that Serbia was committed to the multilateral aspect of the fight against terrorism, adding that he firmly believed the United Nations should be the key forum for international cooperation in this field.

Minister Selaković stated that Serbia was fulfilling all international obligations pertaining to the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions, especially those related to the introduction of arms embargoes, including bans aimed at non-state actors, terrorist organisations and related individuals. He emphasised that Serbia was a signatory to 15 international conventions against terrorism. “By participating in multinational UN and EU peacekeeping missions, Serbia is making a concrete contribution to preserving regional and global security,” Minister Selaković said, paying tribute to a member of the Serbian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Dejan Stanojević and his colleagues, who tragically lost their lives on March 29 in the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

“Serbia does not diminish the importance of other international forums, which is why it joined the Global Coalition from the very beginning, and selflessly contributes to international efforts to fight ISIS, primarily through various forms of donations in military equipment, ammunition, and training in Iraqi security forces”, Minister Selaković said. He added that as a candidate country for membership in the European Union, Serbia gave its full contribution through active participation in European policies on the fight against terrorism, and had developed a strategic cooperation with EUROPOL.

Minister Selaković noted that Serbian criminal legislation provided instruments to prevent and punish the encouragement, organisation, and participation of its citizens in wars or conflicts in foreign countries. He explained that the Serbian judicial authorities had completed proceedings against 7 persons engaged in foreign battlefields, and that several investigations against persons connected with terrorist activities were underway.

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

1 March 2022

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.

Minister Selaković informed the ambassadors present about the Conclusion of the National Security Council, which was adopted by the Government of Serbia on February 27 - regarding the situation in Ukraine.

The Serbian Foreign Minister said that Serbia deems the outbreak of the crisis and conflict in Ukraine deeply regretful, emphasizing that Serbia considers it very wrong to violate the territorial integrity and sovereignty of any state, as in the case of Ukraine. In this regard, Foreign Minister Selaković reiterated that Serbia very clearly insists on the respect for the principles of international law, pointing out that this is the foundation of the Serbian foreign policy.

FM Selaković underscored that Serbia gives fully supports the negotiations between the two sides and all credible international efforts to find a peaceful and political solution to the crisis in Ukraine.

Mr. Selaković pointed out that Serbia will continue to consistently maintain peace and stability in Southeast Europe in these challenging times, emphasizing that modern challenges also show that all disagreements on our continent must be resolved by peaceful means and dialogue.
 

7 February 2022

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

An important segment of the new methodology is political management of integrations. What we have done in the mandate of the new government is that we manage, together with Minister of European Integration Jadranka Joksimovic, the integration process and all reforms, first and foremost in the field of the rule of law, politically in full, and that yielded results, the Prime Minister said.

She said that the opening of the chapters is a huge motivation for further reforms in the field of the rule of law, public administration and the economy.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Selakovic met today with the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, General Konstantinos Floros.

Selakovic assessed that the highly dynamic political dialogue at the top and high levels greatly contributed to the friendly relations and excellent cooperation between our two countries.

In this context, he recalled his bilateral visit to Greece and the meeting he recently had with Minister Dendias on the fringes of the OSCE Ministerial Council in Stockholm.

The Minister underlined that the issue of Kosovo and Metohija was the main political and security challenge for Serbia, emphasizing that we were committed to dialogue and reaching a compromise solution, despite all the obstructions caused by the provisional institutions of self-government in Pristina.

Thanking his interlocutor for the principled position of his country on the issue of Kosovo and Metohija, Selakovic expressed the expectation that Greece would remain consistent in such stance.

The Head of Serbian diplomacy pointed out that Serbia was committed to preserving regional stability and security and establishing closer economic cooperation.

In line with our key foreign policy priority, namely membership of the EU, the Minister stated that our country was committed to cooperating with all EU member states and institutions in the field of the common security and defence policy.

The Minister recalled that Serbia contributed to the European and global security by participating in EU- and UN-mandated missions and operations, and that it was the first in the region and among the top ten countries in Europe in terms of contributions to peacekeeping missions.

When it comes to military cooperation between Serbia and Greece, Selakovic noted that it was good, that it was carried out through joint military exercises, training and advanced training in the educational centres of the two countries, and that we were interested in its further strengthening.

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.

He assessed that the dynamics of accession negotiations should be in line with our reform efforts, but that it is encouraging that this year's European Commission report on Serbia's progress has a more positive tone than the previous one, and that, in that sense, we expect that an Intergovernmental Conference will be held by the end of the Slovenian presidency of the EU Council, at which two clusters will be opened.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Nikola Selaković, and the Director of the Directorate for Cooperation with the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region, Arnaud Gouillon, presented the "Mother Serbia" recognition to Đorđe Mihailović, the keeper of the Zeitenlik military cemetery, in Thessaloniki today.

At a ceremony at the Serbian Consulate General in Thessaloniki, Selaković said that Đorđe Mihailović, and his father and grandfather, who were also guardians of the Zeitenlik, belonged to a generation that kept the memory, as the holy grail and ray of life.

As he said, the Serbian people bow with awe and gratitude to their fallen heroes from the First World War, because Serbia exists because they existed.

"Today, in this place, we can say that we belong to the best and bravest. That we belong to the honest people and hosts who, above all, loved their homeland and family. A century and something after they fell close to the homeland, we can proudly say: we are yours", Selaković said.

Recalling the laureate's words that Serbia remembers and that there is hope for it because of that, Selaković said that Serbia remembers exactly thanks to people like Đorđe Mihailović, his father and grandfather, because they remembered even when many were happy to forget.

"And not that there is only hope for Serbia, but Serbia will continue to win and will be a source of pride for all our heroes", Selaković said.

"If anyone has ever deserved the "Mother Serbia" recognition, then it is you, dear Đorđe. Eternal glory to you and all our fallen heroes for whom Serbia has forever remained far away", said Selaković.

The director of the Directorate for Diaspora and Serbs in the region, Arnaud Gouillon, said that Serbia was delighted because the award went to the right hands.

"The "Mother Serbia" award goes to where its children are buried, to you. You are the grandfather we all had. I first heard about Serbia from my grandfather, and you are the grandfather of the whole of Serbia and you pass on to the younger generations what you know. You are more than a guardian of the cemetery, you are a guardian of the memory and identity of the Serbian people and you show the price of freedom and that is why we guard it", Gouillon said.

Receiving the recognition, Đorđe Mihailovic pointed out that a large honour was given to him.
"I am a poor man from a poor family. I wasn't even a very good student. I only loved history and geography. I have dedicated my whole life to the cemetery", said Mihailović.

The "Mother Serbia" award is given for outstanding contribution, results and merits achieved in the field of relations between the home country and the diaspora, as well as the home country and Serbs in the region in humanitarian activities, developing and strengthening mutual ties, improving economic cooperation and other activities which contribute to the home country, diaspora and Serbs in the region.

The Directorate for Cooperation with the Diaspora and Serbs in the region has launched an initiative to award prizes to deserving individuals for their contribution to preserving the reputation of Serbia and Serbs in the world, and, at the suggestion of the Consulate General of the Republic of Serbia in Thessaloniki, as the most deserving among the deserving, the most prestigious of all the awards awarded this year went to Đorđe Mihailović.

Since 1961, Đorđe Mihailović has been performing the honorary duty of guarding the Zeitenlik military cemetery, as his father and grandfather did. Even today, at the age of 93, he maintains the graves of Serbian soldiers who fell during the First World War on the Thessaloniki front.

On the Day of Reconciliation in the First World War, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikola Selaković, visited the Serbian military cemetery Zeitenlik in Thessaloniki, where he laid a wreath and emphasized that we paid a high price to live in a sovereign, free and upright Serbia today.

"Serbia is still fighting for its own and the honour and freedom of its people in every place, and it is winning in the economy, in education, in sports, it is winning in all fields, and today's victory was made possible by our glorious ancestors and their victory 103 years ago, on 11 November 1918", said the head of Serbian diplomacy.

Minister Selaković emphasized that 11 November, our victory day, when we entered the history of the world in golden letters, is something that we should celebrate and mark in the most solemn way.

"As long as we do that and as long as we remember, we will exist. The fact that we exist today, that we stand here, that our free and sovereign Serbia exists and stands upright, is a fact that proves our victory", said the head of Serbian diplomacy.

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.

We have two clusters ready for opening, so I expect positive news and support from France for one or both clusters, but certainly significant support, the Prime Minister said.

She pointed out that Macron told her to convey greetings to the President of the Republic, Aleksandar Vucic, and the whole of Serbia, as well as that he remembers his visit to Belgrade with great joy.

Today, I had good talks with the President of Cyprus, but also with the President of Slovenia, with whom I also talked about European integration, i.e., the country's support, which is clear and unambiguous for opening a cluster and further progress of Serbia towards full EU membership, regional relations and regional cooperation, said Brnabic.

She stated that she also talked with EU High Representative Josep Borrell in Paris.

There were interesting and good talks, it seems to me that we have done good things for our country and I expect it to continue today, the Prime Minister concluded.

Source/Photo: www.srbija.gov.rs
 

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

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

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

Source/Photo: www.srbija.gov.rs
 

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Nikola Selaković, met today in Athens with the Archbishop of Athens and all Greece, Ieronymos II, to whom he conveyed the greetings of the Serbian Patriarch Porphyry and thanked for the consistent support to our country and people.

"The support and understanding that the fraternal Greek people show towards Serbia and the Serbian people, which last as long as the two peoples, is something that has helped us and helps us survive in difficult situations and times, knowing that there is someone who shares our views of the world and the value system", Selaković said.

According to Selaković, the help and support of the Greek people and the church in difficult times for the Serbian people is something that is not forgotten and that testifies to a true brotherly feeling.

As the head of Serbian diplomacy pointed out, Serbs do not have the same feeling towards any other fraternal Orthodox people as they do towards the Greek people.

Selaković also thanked his interlocutor for his consistent support on the issue of Kosovo and Metohija.

"If we did not help each other and cooperate on that issue, be sure that there would be a lot of those who would like that non-cooperation and lack of support", Selaković said.

Archbishop Ieronymos II pointed out the deep relations between the two peoples, strengthened through a common history and struggle and a common faith.

As he pointed out, the Greek Orthodox Church has always been with the Serbian Orthodox Church and cannot forget the challenges that Serbia faced, such as the 1999 bombing.

According to him, there is a historical continuity of closeness between the two fraternal peoples and our mutual cooperation should have continuity.

Expressing support for Serbia's struggle to preserve its territorial integrity and sovereignty, Archbishop Ieronymos II said that "what the Acropolis represents for Greece, Kosovo represents for Serbia".

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikola Selaković, met today in Athens with the head of Greek diplomacy, Nikos Dendias, whom he thanked for the principled and clear support of that country for preserving the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia on the issue of Kosovo and Metohija, as well as for supporting our European integration.

After the meeting, Minister Selaković said that Greece supports finding a solution to the Kosovo-Metohija problem through a dialogue on the normalization of relations that Belgrade and Pristina are conducting under the auspices of the EU.

"Also, I informed my Greek colleague about the latest events in Kosovo and Metohija and everything that happened during September and October", said the head of Serbian diplomacy.

Minister Selaković emphasized the importance of the strategic partnership between Serbia and Greece, which was made official when it was signed in 2019 during the visit of President Aleksandar Vučić to Athens and the holding of the High Council for Cooperation between Serbia and Greece.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Nikola Selaković, met today in Athens with the President of Greece, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, and on that occasion conveyed the greetings of the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, and thanked Greece for its support to our country.

Traditionally close and good historical relations, mental and spiritual closeness of our two peoples were crowned, according to Minister Selaković, in 2019 with the Strategic Partnership Agreement.

Strategic partners should help each other, and Serbia was honored to help its Greek friends when it was difficult for them during the recent fires, Selaković said, emphasizing that the fraternal Greek people will always be able to count on the help of the Serbian people.

"Greek support is present in two issues that are extremely important to us, one is support for a vital issue, and that is support for our territorial integrity and sovereignty when it comes to Kosovo and Metohija, and we express hope that this support will continue. The second is support for our EU membership", Selaković said.

According to him, Greece has firmly held the position of supporting the membership of the entire Western Balkans in the EU from the very beginning, for which Serbia is very grateful.

At the meeting, Minister Selaković expressed satisfaction with the upward trend in relations and cooperation between the two countries, adding that Serbia attaches great importance to political dialogue at the highest level with friendly Greece, and that we expect the realization of visits of top Greek officials soon.

Selaković also expressed expectation that the Fourth Meeting of the High Council for Cooperation between the two countries will be held after the epidemiological situation calms down.

The minister praised the economic cooperation between the two countries, saying that we are very satisfied that Greece is one of the largest investors in our economy, and calling on Greek companies to continue investing in Serbia.

Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou thanked Serbia for its selfless help during this summer’s fires, assessing that this is proof of deep friendly relations between the two countries and peoples.

Sakellaropoulou pointed out that Serbia and Greece maintain regular ties at the highest level and that there is a lot of room to strengthen bilateral cooperation and make it even better.

"Greece wants to strategically help Serbia, and the summit in Thessaloniki held in 2003 is a good basis for the entry of the Western Balkans into the EU. We think that is the only way towards security and stability in the region and the well-being of all its peoples", said President Sakellaropoulou.

Today in Athens, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Nikola Selaković, presented to the Greek businessmen gathered in the Greek-Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry the economic results of Serbia in the past few years and the investment potentials of our country.

At a working breakfast with Greek businessmen, which was also attended by representatives of the Greek government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Selaković said that Serbia is today the fastest growing economy in Europe.

Minister Selaković made a detailed comparative analysis of the situation we had seven years ago and the one we have today, thanks to the reforms implemented in the meantime.

"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.

We all, likewise agree, that future generations must be educated in order not to repeat the mistakes we made, by hurting the only Planet that makes life possible.

I am very honoured that the Republic of Serbia is co-chairing this year’s Conference as a Non-EU representative of the Eastern Europe Group.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Nikola Selaković, met today with the Ambassador of Greece in Belgrade, Yorgos Diacofotakis.

Selaković said that Serbia attaches great importance to friendship and bilateral cooperation with Greece, as evidenced by the strategic partnership established between our two countries. According to the minister, the opportunity to confirm such relations and continue the political dialogue will be his upcoming official visit to Athens at the beginning of next week.

The head of Serbian diplomacy conveyed that he expects that, after the epidemiological situation calms down, the Fourth Meeting of the High Council for Cooperation between Serbia and Greece will be held in Belgrade.

According to him, Serbia is also interested in further intensifying the dialogue with Greece and within the framework of regional cooperation, where the trilateral format with the Republic of Cyprus has a special place.

Minister Selaković underlined that the support of Greece in preserving the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia and efforts to achieve a lasting and sustainable solution to the issue of Kosovo and Metohija is very important, emphasizing that such support of friendly Greece always has a special sentiment for our country and our people.

Selaković thanked Greece for its continuous support for our European integration, as well as for that country's active support for the EU enlargement policy. In that sense, the Minister pointed out that we believe that the integration of all Southeast European countries into the EU as soon as possible is the only real guarantee for lasting and sustainable stabilization of the entire region.

When it comes to economic cooperation, Selaković said that we expect its further improvement and an even greater presence of Greek investments on the Serbian market.

As areas where there is significant potential, Selaković pointed to tourism, food production, but also to joint projects in the field of energy and transport infrastructure, such as the construction of the Budapest-Belgrade-Thessaloniki-Piraeus high-speed railway.
 

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.

She underlined that Serbia has continuous communication with the Delegation of the EU and all Member States and that it speaks openly about further reforms, first and foremost in the field of the rule of law.

The Prime Minister assessed that this year’s Report on the progress of Serbia gives an objective evaluation of everything the Serbian government has achieved on speeding up the political and economic reforms, by which one of the strategic priorities has been fulfilled.

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.

The President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić and President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, have attended today the ceremony of the beginning of works on the modernization and rehabilitation of Niš-Brestovac railway at the international Corridor 10 as well as signing of the agreement between the Public Company Koridori Srbije and Consortium STRABAG AG and STRABAG d.o.o. Beograd on the construction of the first phase of the Highway of peace in the section Merošina – Merošina 1.

“In Donje Međurovo the 23km long railway is build and 75 percent of it will be financed by the European Union. It is enormous money for us, great encouragement and respect. This railway and highway are important both for us and Europe. I am very grateful to Mrs Von der Leyen for coming to Niš today and Niš becomes the center of all Balkan corridors, it becomes the Balkan crossroads”, said President Vučić adding that Serbia was entirely committed to the implementation of the agreements signed so far under the auspices of the EU.

“We will do our best not only to preserve peace, but also to reach more agreements which would mean security of everyone in the Balkans and better life and economy for all of us. We know what our job is. As much as we can, taking into account the difficulties due to the relation with Priština, we will do everything to make progress on the European path”, said President Vučić and thanked the President of the European Commission for kind words and wish to see Serbia in the EU.

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, emphasized that today Serbia had already gone a long way to the EU membership, it had made an incredible progress and efforts in the past years and improved conditions in different sectors. She said that she strongly supports the European integrations of Serbia.

“This is a very special moment. Signing of this agreement is a symbol of our great cooperation and projects of connections through which we jointly build our European future, because the future of Serbia in the European Union is better. The corridor connects Serbia to Austria and Greece and is really the driving force of economy. It is the driving force for the Serbian economy, investments, the economic plan which already functions in Serbia”, said the President of the European Commission.

Source: www.predsednik.rs
Photo: Dimitrije Gol
 

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.

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

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

“The complete occupation by armored vehicles of northern Kosovo and Metohija has lasted for seven days and it is conducted by Priština and everyone in the international community “are thunderously silent”, said Serbian President. “However, everyone is worried all of a sudden when they spot Serbian helicopters and airplanes at the territory of central Serbia, because apparently they should not exist, or should not take off until they receive the approval from Kurti or someone from the international community”, says President Vučić.

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

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

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

 
Source/Photo: www.predsednik.rs

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

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. 

The President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, attended the celebration 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.

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.

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.

Minister of Health in the Government of the Republic of Serbia, Dr Zlatibor Lončar, participate in Summit organized by World Health Organization (WHO) - Regional Office for Europe about preservation of mental health in the conditions of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In Summit etitled "Summit on Addressing Mental Health Conditions, Promoting Mental Well-being and Strengthening Resilience amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic”, opened by Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece, Minister Lončar had a notable address. He presented the achievements and plans of the Republic of Serbia to protect the mental health of the population during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On the sidelines of the Summit, Minister Lončar met with WHO Regional Director for Europe Dr Hans Kluge.

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

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

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

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

5 July 2021

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic participated today in the online Summit of Leaders of the Berlin Process, which discussed the concrete results achieved during its seven-year term, plans for the next period and initiatives aimed at providing support Western Balkans on its way to the European Union.

The focus of the summit was on building a common regional market related to four fundamental freedoms: free movement of people, goods, services and capital, for which the Action Plan was adopted in November last year, and from which the region would have special benefits.

The summit said that the transport and energy infrastructure has been expanded in recent years and connected to the roads of the European Union, and praised the implementation of the agreement on the abolition of roaming fees in the Western Balkans, which began this month.

An important project of the process is the Regional Office for Youth Cooperation (RYCO) in order to connect and build understanding and tolerance in the region.

The activities of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and the Secretariat of the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) were also praised for their efforts to implement the Common Regional Market Action Plan.

Assessing that the Berlin Process is firmly based on the fundamental belief that the economy of the Western Balkans is part of Europe, German Chancellor Angela Merkel pointed out that it greatly contributes to stability and connecting the Western Balkans region, which is also in the interest of the European Union.

In her address today, Prime Minister Ana Brnabic thanked German Chancellor Angela Merkel for her strong support and active approach to regional cooperation.

Thanks to the support of Germany and Chancellor Merkel, but also to the internal initiatives of the representatives of Serbia, Albania and North Macedonia, the Prime Minister explained, the implementation of the Action Plan will enable further expansion of economic and trade cooperation in the region, which will make it more attractive for foreign investors.

Brnabic pointed out that Serbia strongly supports the Berlin Process, not only for the purpose of economic development of the region, but also as an idea of connecting and unifying the Western Balkans and its approach to the European Union.

She concluded that support in the region was particularly visible through solidarity with neighbours during the pandemic and assistance with vaccines and medical equipment.

The summit, opened by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, was attended not only by representatives of the region, but also by Slovene Prime Minister Janez Jansa, European Commission President Ursula von der Layen, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, French President Emanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Jakub Moravjecki and Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Majlinda Bregu.

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
 

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.

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.

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.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Nikola Selakovic participated today in the Adriatic and Ionian Council of the Adriatic and Ionian Initiative and the Ministerial Meeting of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region, stating that it was necessary to include all available resources of this initiative more directly in finding common answers to the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Serbian Foreign Minister pointed out that the pandemic can only be defeated by joint forces, emphasizing that solidarity was the key word in these challenging times.

“Being committed to the principles of solidarity, Serbia vaccinated a large number of foreign nationals, primarily from the region. We have donated a number of vaccine doses to neighbouring countries as well as to the secretariats of regional initiatives in which Serbia participates. In this way, although not one of the economically strongest countries in this initiative, Serbia endeavoured to demonstrate that solidarity does not solely have to be the privilege of the rich”, Minister Selakovic said.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić met today with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Greece, Nikos Dendias, to discuss the improvement of bilateral relations, the process of European integration of Serbia, economic cooperation, the covid-19 pandemic related situation and other regional issues of importance for both sides.

President Vučić expressed satisfaction with the ascending trend in relations and cooperation between the two countries, which have reached the highest level and have the character of a strategic partnership.

"I am convinced that today's visit will make a strong contribution to the continuity of the political dialogue between Serbia and Greece and further strengthening of cooperation in all segments, as well as better and more specific identification of topics of common interest for our fraternal nations," said President Vučić and added that Serbia is preparing in a serious and dedicated manner for the Fourth Meeting of the High Council for Cooperation between Serbia and Greece, to be held in Belgrade as soon as the epidemiological conditions allow it.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Nikola Selakovic visited the Church of Saint Sava today with the Heads of diplomacy of Greece and Cyprus, Nikos Dendias and Nikos Christodoulides, and informed them about the details of the construction and interior of the largest Orthodox church in the Balkans.

The high-level delegation was received by representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and the Greek and Cypriot guests showed interest in every detail in the church already at the entrance.

The Foreign Ministers did not hide their enthusiasm for the mosaic, which covers an area of 15,000 square meters, and Minister Dendias commented on his impressions by saying that he was delighted and that the church, and especially the mosaic, looked spectacular.

At the end of the visit to the church, the representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church presented gifts to the guests, for which Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides thanked them in particular.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Selakovic held today a trilateral meeting with Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, and Greece, Nikos Dendias.

On that occasion, the Serbian Foreign Minister emphasized that he talked with his colleagues about the European future of our country, but also that he reached an agreement on meetings to be held every six months, where they would discus topics from a number areas of interest to Serbia, Greece and Cyprus.

Selakovic pointed out that they also discussed economic cooperation, infrastructure, strengthening ties, energy, gas supply from various sources and various routes, and pointed out that the main goal of Serbia in regional policy was to preserve peace and stability.

He added that the Ministers agreed that greater cooperation was needed in the fields of tourism, agriculture and the IT sector.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Nikola Selakovic thanked Greece today for its clear, unambiguous and strong support to our European path, emphasizing that our Greek friends and strategic partners were among those who extended the strongest support to Serbia's full membership of the EU.

At a press conference held after the bilateral meeting with Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, Selakovic pointed out that the bilateral relations between Serbia and Greece were at an extremely high level, stating that the two countries were among the few that increased their trade in goods during the pandemic.

According to Selakovic, Serbia expressed readiness to hold the fourth session of the High-Level Cooperation Council between the two countries when epidemiological conditions permit, and for Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to visit Crete, where the opening of an honorary consulate of Serbia was planned.

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.

Σήμερα είναι η 22η επέτειος της ωμής επίθεσης του ΝΑΤΟ στην Ομοσπονδιακή Δημοκρατία της Γιουγκοσλαβίας. Σε διάστημα 78 ημερών, όσο διήρκεσε η ωμή επίθεση, πάνω από 2.500 πολίτες σκοτώθηκαν σε ολόκληρη τη Σερβία, ενώ προκλήθηκαν υλικές ζημιές ύψους άνω των 100 δισεκατομμυρίων δολαρίων.

Θα θυμόμαστε για πάντα ότι οι Έλληνες αδελφοί μας, ακόμη και σε εκείνες τις πολύ δύσκολες στιγμές, ήταν στο πλευρό του σερβικού λαού και όλων των αθώων θυμάτων που έχασαν την ζωή τους στη δίνη των βομβαρδισμών.

Στον Ιερό Ναό του Αγίου Σπυρίδωνα στην Αθήνα, Σέρβοι ιερείς τέλεσαν θεία λειτουργία εις μνήμην των αθώων θυμάτων. Λόγω των επιδημιολογικών μέτρων, παρόντες ήταν μόνο εκπρόσωποι της Πρεσβείας της Δημοκρατίας της Σερβίας στην Αθήνα.

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.
 

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Nikola Selaković talked today on the phone with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic Nikos Dendias.

Minister Selaković assessed that the bilateral relations between Serbia and Greece were very good, friendly and characterized by cooperation in all fields. He underlined Serbia's commitment to further developing the strategic partnership with Greece.

Selaković stated that Serbia was interested in further intensifying the dialogue with Greece also in the framework of regional cooperation, through a quadrilateral format with Bulgaria and Romania, as well as the establishment of a trilateral format with Cyprus.

The Serbian Foreign Minister extended an invitation to his Greek counterpart for a visit to Serbia in the period ahead, with the expectation that conditions would allow the visit to be realized as soon as possible.

Belgrade,
28 January 2021
 

Serbia is committed to the values of the Adriatic and Ionian Initiative and its corresponding Strategy, as a framework within which we conduct activities that strengthen the European path of our country, all the while creating an even better place to live in together with the participating EU Member States, Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Selaković said at the video-conference of the Fifth Forum of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region.

"Despite the difficult challenges faced amid the coronavirus pandemic, during its Chairmanship of the Adriatic and Ionian Initiative, Serbia succeeded in maintaining continuity in the implementation of the fundamental values adopted by signing the Ancona Declaration", Minister Selaković stated today.

The Serbian Foreign Minister said that our country was committed to the values of the Adriatic and Ionian Initiative (AII) and that when its assumed its yearlong Presidency of the Initiative and Chairmanship of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region, it had ambitious plans - first and foremost, Serbia had planned to continue to deepen cooperation in the framework of the Adriatic and Ionian region

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.  

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

Ο Πρέσβης της Δημοκρατία της Σερβίας κος Ντούσαν Σπάσογιεβιτς συναντήθηκε με τον Υπουργό Δικαιοσύνης κο Κώστα Τσιάρα, στις 10 Οκτωβρίου 2019, με τον οποίο συνομίλησε για θέματα συνεργασίας Σερβίας και Ελλάδας στον τομέα της δικαιοσύνης και τις προοπτικές εμβάθυνσης της μέχρι σήμερα συνεργασίας.

Με την Υπουργό Παιδείας και Θρησκευμάτων κα Νίκη Κεραμέως συναντήθηκε ο Πρέσβης της Δημοκρατία της Σερβίας κος Ντούσαν Σπάσογιεβιτς, στις 9 Οκτωβρίου 2019, εξετάζοντας από κοινού την περαιτέρω ανάπτυξη της συνεργασίας στον τομέα της εκπαίδευσης μεταξύ Σερβίας και Ελλάδας.

Στις 18 Σεπτεμβρίου 2019 ο Πρέσβης της Δημοκρατία της Σερβίας κος Ντούσαν Σπάσογιεβιτς είχε συνάντηση με τον Υπουργό Προστασίας του Πολίτη κο Μιχάλη Χρυσοχοΐδη, με τον οποίο συνομίλησε για θέματα συνεργασίας μεταξύ των δύο χωρών στον τομέα της ασφάλειας και την περαιτέρω ενδυνάμωση των σχέσεων Σερβίας – Ελλάδας.

Ο Πρέσβης της Δημοκρατίας της Σερβίας κος Ντούσαν Σπάσογιεβιτς συνομίλησε με τον Υφυπουργό Εξωτερικών κο Κωνσταντίνο Φραγκογιάννη για οικονομικά θέματα, εστιάζοντας στην εμβάθυνση και περαιτέρω ανάπτυξη της συνεργασίας μεταξύ Σερβίας και Ελλάδας. 

Με απόλυτη επιτυχία ολοκληρώθηκε την προηγούμενη εβδομάδα η επίσκεψη του Αρχηγού ΓΕΕΘΑ της Σερβίας στην Ελλάδα. Επισφραγίστηκε η στενή συνεργασία και έγινε ένα βήμα πιο κοντά στη στρατηγική σύμπραξη. Οι Σερβικές και Ελληνικές Ένοπλες Δυνάμεις αποτελούν πυλώνες σταθερότητας και ειρήνης στη ΝΑ Ευρώπη. 

Ο Πρέσβης Ντούσαν Σπάσογιεβιτς επισκέφθηκε τα γραφεία της ΠΑΕ ΑΕΚ στην Αθήνα και συνομίλησε με τον Α΄ Αντιπρόεδρο και Διευθύνοντα Σύμβουλο κο Μηνά Λυσάνδρου.

  

Η ομάδα της ΑΕΚ κατά τη διάρκεια των βομβαρδισμών της Σερβίας το 1999, με πρωτοβουλία των τότε παικτών και της διοίκησής της  (μεταξύ των υποστηρικτών αυτής της πρωτοβουλίας ήταν και ο σημερινός Πρόεδρος κος Δημήτρης Μελισσανίδης), επισκέφθηκε το Βελιγράδι στις 7 Απριλίου και έπαιξε φιλικό αγώνα με την Παρτιζάν, στηρίζοντας με την κίνηση αυτή τον σερβικό λαό. Ο Πρέσβης και Διευθύνων Σύμβουλος εξέτασαν το ενδεχόμενο στο άμεσο μέλλον και στα πλαίσια της 20ης επετείου αυτής της ιδιαιτέρως φιλικής κίνησης, η ΑΕΚ να φιλοξενηθεί και πάλι στο Βελιγράδι.

Δύο γυναίκες, η Ελληνίδα Θάλεια Φλωρά-Καραβία και η Σέρβα Νάντεζντα Πέτροβιτς, μετείχαν στους Βαλκανικούς Πολέμους και μάλιστα και με τις δύο προαναφερόμενες ιδιότητες, της νοσοκόμας και της ζωγράφου. Η βιωματική επαφή με τη βία του πολέμου, όπως αυτή αποτυπωνόταν στους χώρους των νοσοκομείων, προσέδωσε στα ζωγραφικά τους έργα έναν ιδιαίτερο χαρακτήρα, αυτόν της γυναικείας ματιάς, για την ακρίβεια, ευαισθησίας, σε μία υπόθεση που μέχρι τότε θεωρούνταν ανδρική υπόθεση.

  
Διοργάνωση: Το Μουσείο Μακεδονικού Αγώνα σε συνεργασία με το Εθνικό Ιστορικό Μουσείο Αθήνας, Εθνικό Μουσείο Βελιγραδίου, Ιστορικό Μουσείο Βελιγραδίου και Γ΄ Σώμα Στρατού.Επιμέλεια: Δρ. Σταυρούλα Μαυρογένη, Επίκουρη Καθηγήτρια και Διευθύντρια Κέντρου Έρευνας Μακεδονικής Ιστορίας και Τεκμηρίωσης, ΙΜΜΑ και Δρ. Ντούσιτσα Μπόγιτς, Διευθύντρια του Μουσείου Ιστορίας της Σερβίας.

Η έκθεση θα διαρκέσει από 29 Μαρτίου έως 30 Ιουνίου. 

Τα εγκαίνια του Προξενείου της Δημοκρατίας της Σερβίας με επικεφαλής τον Επίτιμο Πρόξενο κο Συμεών Τσομώκο, τελέσθηκαν στο ξενοδοχείο VOLOS PALACE στην πόλη του Βόλου, στις 15 Σεπτεμβρίου 2018 .

  
Στα εγκαίνια του Επίτιμου Προξενείου παρευρέθησαν εκπρόσωποι της Κυβέρνησης της Σερβίας – ο κος Μλάντεν Σάρτσεβιτς, Υπουργός Παιδείας, Επιστημών και Τεχνολογικής Ανάπτυξης της Δημοκρατίας της Σερβίας, η κα Άννα Λάγκοβιτς-Μιλίτσεβιτς, Υφυπουργός του Υπουργείου Παιδείας της Δημοκρατίας της Σερβίας, η κα Βέρα Βουκίτσεβιτς, εκπρόσωπος του Υπουργείου Εξωτερικών Υποθέσεων της Δημοκρατίας της Σερβίας, ο κος Μάρκο Πόπαντιτς, ειδικός σύμβουλος του Υπουργείου Παιδείας, εκπρόσωποι της Πρεσβείας της Σερβίας στην Αθήνα – ο Πρέσβης κος Ντούσαν Σπάσογιεβιτς και ο Πρεσβευτής – Σύμβουλος κος Μίλαν Βουκοσάβλιεβιτς, ο Γενικός Πρόξενος στην Θεσσαλονίκη κος Σίνισα Πάβιτς, υψηλοί προσκεκλημένοι της πόλης του Βόλου και της Περιφέρειας, εκπρόσωποι της τοπικής κοινωνίας, πολιτιστικών φορέων, της Εκκλησίας, των Ενόπλων Δυνάμεων, της Αστυνομίας, καθώς και γονείς και παιδιά από το Σχολείο Συμπληρωματικής Εκπαίδευσης στην Σερβική Γλώσσα στο Βόλο και τη Λάρισα με την συνοδεία της δασκάλας κας Λιούμπιτσα Ποκράγιατς-Ψαρρός.

Το Υπουργείο Παιδείας, Επιστημών και Τεχνολογικής Ανάπτυξης της Δημοκρατίας της Σερβίας, στο πλαίσιο του προκήρυξης για τη χορήγηση υποτροφιών σε αλλοδαπούς πολίτες, βάσει των διεθνών συμφωνιών και προγραμμάτων συνεργασίας σε θέματα εκπαίδευσης για το σχολικό έτος 2018/2019, όσον αφορά την Ελληνική Δημοκρατία, έχει διαθέσει υποτροφίες για μεταπτυχιακές σπουδές ή ερευνητικές εργασίες συνολικής διάρκειας 20 μηνών (ελάχιστη διάρκεια υποτροφίας 5 μήνες, μέγιστη  10 μήνες).

Η προθεσμία υποβολής των αιτήσεων υποψηφιότητας είναι μέχρι 2 Αυγούστου 2018.
Η επιλογή των υποψηφίων θα γίνει από το Υπουργείο Παιδείας, Επιστημών και Τεχνολογικής Ανάπτυξης της Δημοκρατίας της Σερβίας.

Εδώ θα βρείτε τα έντυπα των αιτήσεων.

Η αντιπροσωπεία της πόλης Νις, κατόπιν πρόσκλησης του Δημάρχου Σερρών, επισκέφτηκε την εν λόγω πόλη της Βορείου Ελλάδος. Με την ευκαιρία αυτή οι δύο δήμαρχοι Ντάρκο Μπούλατοβιτς και Πέτρος Αγγελίδης υπέγραψαν Πρωτόκολλο συνεργασίας μεταξύ των δύο δήμων.

  
Με την υπογραφή του Πρωτοκόλλου εκβαθύνεται περαιτέρω η συνεργασία μεταξύ των αδελφοποιημένων δήμων, τους οποίους συνδέει η ιστορία, η παράδοση, ο πολιτισμός και ο αθλητισμός. 

Ο Υπουργός Παιδείας, Επιστημών και Τεχνολογικής Ανάπτυξης της Δημοκρατίας της Σερβίας, κος Μλάντεν Σάρτσεβιτς, πραγματοποίησε επίσημη επίσκεψη στην Ελλάδα από τις 16 έως τις 18 Μαΐου. Κατά τη διάρκεια της επίσκεψης, ο Υπουργός κος Μ. Σάρτσεβιτς από κοινού με τον ομόλογό του, Υπουργό Παιδείας, Έρευνας και Θρησκευμάτων της Ελλάδας κο Κώστα Γαβρόγλου εξέτασαν τις δυνατότητες βελτίωσης της εκπαιδευτικής συνεργασίας μεταξύ των δύο χωρών.

  
Με την ευκαιρία της επίσκεψης του Υπουργού, η Πρεσβεία της Δημοκρατίας της Σερβίας στην Αθήνα, παρέθεσε δεξίωση στην οποία συμμετείχαν μέλη της σέρβικης διασποράς από τον ακαδημαϊκό και πολιτιστικό χώρο, καθώς και φοιτητές σερβικής γλώσσας από το Εθνικό και Καποδιστριακό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών. Με την ευκαιρία αυτή, ο Υπουργός έλαβε γνώση για την λειτουργία του σχολείου συμπληρωματικής εκπαίδευσης στην σερβική γλώσσα στην Αθήνα, αλλά και για το υπάρχον καθεστώς αναφορικά με την σερβική γλώσσα στο Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών.

Ο υπουργός κος Μλάντεν Σάρτσεβιτς, μετά την παραμονή του στην Αθήνα, συνοδευόμενος από τον Πρέσβη και τον Πρόξενο ταξίδεψε στην Κρήτη, όπου στο Ηράκλειο είχε συναντήσεις με τον Περιφερειάρχη Κρήτης, τον Δήμαρχο Ηρακλείου και τον Αρχιεπίσκοπο Κρήτης. Ο Υπουργός κατά τη διάρκεια της παραμονής του στην Κρήτη επισκέφθηκε το σχολείο συμπληρωματικής εκπαίδευσης στην σερβική γλώσσα και συνομίλησε με τους μαθητές του σχολείου και τους γονείς τους .

Την Πρεσβεία της Δημοκρατίας της Σερβίας στην Αθήνα στις 19 Απριλίου 2018 επισκέφθηκε ομάδα εκπροσώπων Πανεπιστημίων της Σερβίας, η οποία βρίσκεται σε επίσκεψη εργασίας στην Αθήνα, στο πλαίσιο του προγράμματος Beopen. Τους εκπροσώπους των Πανεπιστημίων της Σερβίας δέχθηκε ο Πρέσβης της Δημοκρατίας της Σερβίας στην Αθήνα, κος Ντούσαν Σπασόγιεβιτς.

Στην Αθήνα, εκπρόσωποι των Πανεπιστημίων και των Πανεπιστημίων Τεχνών του Βελιγραδίου, του Νόβι Σαντ, της Νις και του Κραγκούγιεβατς διερεύνησαν τις δυνατότητες ανοιχτής  συνεργασίας των πανεπιστημίων της Σερβίας, που αποτελεί και τον κύριο στόχο του προγράμματος. Το συντονισμό του προγράμματος Beopen, που υλοποιείται στο πλαίσιο του προγράμματος Erazmus plus, έχει το Πανεπιστήμιο του Novi Sad και ο εταίρος από ελληνικής πλευράς είναι το Εθνικό Τεχνικό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών.

Αντιπροσωπεία από την Κρήτη με επικεφαλής τον Πρόεδρο του Περιφερειακού Συμβουλίου Κρήτης κο Γιώργο Πιτσούλη, επισκέφτηκε τον Δήμο Τσουκάριτσα στις 23 Φεβρουαρίου.

  
   
Ο Δήμαρχος της Τσουκάριτσα κος Σρτζαν Κόλαριτς και ο Πρόεδρος του Δημοτικού Συμβουλίου του Δήμου Τσουκάριτσα κος Μίλαν Στόϊτς υποδέχθηκαν επίσης τον Αντιπεριφερειάρχη κο Νίκο Ξυλούρη και τον Δήμαρχο Μήνωα Πεδιάδας κο Ζαχαρία Καλογεράκη.  
Το θέμα συζήτησης με τα μέλη της αντιπροσωπείας από την Κρήτη ήταν η αδελφοποίηση των δήμων Τσουκάριτσα και Ηρακλείου, πρωτεύουσας της Κρήτης με δήμαρχο τον κο Βασίλη Λαμπρινό.

Την Τετάρτη 21 Φεβρουαρίου, στις εγκαταστάσεις του Δήμου Τσάγιετινα, ο Δήμαρχος Μίλαν Σταμάτοβιτς και η Δήμαρχος Ιστιαίας – Αιδηψού του νομού Εύβοιας, Ελένη Ευσταθίου, υπέγραψαν το Συμφωνητικό Αδελφοποίησης των δύο πόλεων.

Οι εκπρόσωποι των δύο δήμων δήλωσαν ότι το Συμφωνητικό Αδελφοποίησης  υπογράφηκε προς αμοιβαία ικανοποίηση και αποτελεί συνέχεια της φιλίας και της συνεργασίας μεταξύ των δύο χωρών μας σε όλα τα επίπεδα, καθώς και της φιλίας των δύο λαών μας. Τόνισαν ότι το εν λόγω Συμφωνητικό είναι μόνο η αρχή της συνεργασίας μεταξύ δύο πολύ σημαντικών τουριστικών κέντρων και ότι υπάρχουν πολλές δυνατότητες στην συνεργασία μεταξύ διαφόρων θερινών και χειμερινών τουριστικών κέντρων, στην ανάπτυξη του θρησκευτικού τουρισμού και της πολιτιστικής συνεργασίας.

Η Κυβέρνηση της Δημοκρατίας της Σερβίας, κατά τη συνεδρίαση που πραγματοποιήθηκε στις 11 Μαΐου 2017 εξέδωσε απόφαση για την κατάργηση των θεωρήσεων για τους υπηκόους της Δημοκρατίας του Περού. Οι υπήκοοι της Δημοκρατίας του Περού μπορούν να εισέλθουν, να διέλθουν και να διαμείνουν στην επικράτεια της Δημοκρατίας της Σερβίας μέχρι 90 ημέρες μέσα σε διάστημα έξι μηνών από την ημερομηνία εισόδου στην Δημοκρατία της Σερβίας.

Η απόφαση τίθεται σε ισχύ στις 20 Μαΐου το 2017.
 

Αθήνα, 27, Ιανουαρίου 2017 - Στην Αθήνα στις 27 Ιανουαρίου διοργανώθηκε η καθιερωμένη  εκδήλωση αφιερωμένη στην εορτή του Αγίου Σάββα. Το πρωί  με τις ευλογίες της Αρχιεπισκοπής Αθηνών, ετελέσθη θεία λειτουργία με την ευκαιρία της εορτής του Αγίου Σάββα, στον ιερό ναό του Αγίου Σπυρίδωνα στο κέντρο της Αθήνας, στην οποία παρέστησαν ο Πρέσβης Ντούσαν Σπάσογιεβιτς και μέλη της Πρεσβείας, καθώς και μέλη της σερβικής διασποράς.

Κατά τις βραδινές ώρες στους χώρους της Πρεσβείας της Δημοκρατίας της Σερβίας έλαβε χώρα η εκδήλωση αφιερωμένη στην εορτή του Αγίου Σάββα, η οποία ξεκίνησε με την ευλογία του σιταριού και το κόψιμο του παραδοσιακού άρτου, ενώ στην συνέχεια απευθύνθηκαν στους παρευρισκομένους ο ιερέας Σάσα Στανόγιεβιτς και ο Πρέσβης Ντούσαν Σπάσογιεβιτς, οικοδεσπότης της εκδήλωσης. Στην συνέχεια ακολούθησε το πρόγραμμα το οποίο προετοίμασαν και εκτέλεσαν μαθητές των σερβικών σχολείων συμπληρωματικής εκπαίδευσης στην Αθήνα  και οι φοιτητές του Τμήματος Ρώσικης Γλώσσας και Φιλολογίας και Σλαβικών Σπουδών του Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών, που διδάσκονται την σερβική γλώσσα ως πρόσθετο θέμα.

Μετά την ολοκλήρωση του προγράμματος ακολούθησε κοκτέιλ για τους συμμετέχοντες και τους γονείς.

Βελιγράδι, Ιανουάριος 2017 - Το Υπουργείο Πολιτισμού και Ενημέρωσης της Δημοκρατίας της Σερβίας ανακοίνωσε διαγωνισμό για τη χρηματοδότηση ή συγχρηματοδότηση προγραμμάτων στον τομέα των πολιτιστικών δραστηριοτήτων των Σέρβων στο εξωτερικό για το έτος 2017.

Ο διαγωνισμός απευθύνεται σε σερβικούς φορείς, καλλιτεχνικές και άλλες ενώσεις και οργανώσεις / νομικά πρόσωπα, τα οποία έχουν την έδρα τους εκτός της επικράτειας της  Δημοκρατίας της Σερβίας.

Επίσης ανακοινώθηκε και ο διαγωνισμός για την συγχρηματοδότηση προγραμμάτων στον τομέα της μετάφρασης αντιπροσωπευτικών έργων της σερβικής λογοτεχνίας στο εξωτερικό για το έτος 2017.

Το κείμενο του διαγωνισμού, τα έντυπα των αιτήσεων και τα λοιπά έγγραφα μπορείτε να τα βρείτε στην ιστοσελίδα του Υπουργείου Πολιτισμού και Ενημέρωσης: www.kultura.gov.rs/cyr/konkurs
 

Αθήνα, 26 Ιανουαρίου 2017 - Ο Πρέσβης της Δημοκρατίας της Σερβίας στην Αθήνα, συναντήθηκε σήμερα με τον Πρωθυπουργό Αλέξη Τσίπρα. Η συνάντηση έλαβε χώρα λίγο πριν από την πρώτη επίσημη επίσκεψη του Πρωθυπουργού στην Δημοκρατία της Σερβίας.

Σε μια ειλικρινή και εγκάρδια συνομιλία ο Πρέσβης κος Σπάσογιεβιτς εξέφρασε την εκτίμησή του ότι ξεκίνησε μια περίοδος ακόμα πιο εντατικών σχέσεων μεταξύ των δύο παραδοσιακά φιλικών χωρών, υπενθυμίζοντας ότι φέτος είναι η 150 επέτειος της σύναψης της Συνθήκης Συμμαχίας. Όπως τόνισε στην συνάντηση, από την επίσκεψη του Πρωθυπουργού Αλέξη Τσίπρα αναμένεται η έναρξη ουσιαστικού διαλόγου σε όλα τα επίπεδα, τόσο σε διμερές επίπεδο όσο και στο πλαίσιο της ευρωπαϊκής πορείας της Δημοκρατίας της Σερβίας. Ο Πρέσβης εξέφρασε την ευγνωμοσύνη του για τη συνεχή υποστήριξη της Ελλάδας στην προσπάθεια της Σερβίας να γίνει μέλος της ΕΕ το συντομότερο δυνατόν, καθώς και για την υποστήριξη αναφορικά με την εδαφική ακεραιότητα  και την μη αναγνώριση της μονομερούς ανακήρυξης της ανεξαρτησίας του Κοσόβου και Μετόχια, το οποίο για την Σερβία αποτελεί ένα από τα βασικά ζητήματα.

Από την άλλη πλευρά, ο Πρωθυπουργός Αλέξης Τσίπρας εξέφρασε την προσδοκία ότι η επικείμενη επίσκεψη στο Βελιγράδι, εκτός από τον εντατικό πολιτικό διάλογο, θα αποτελέσει μια νέα ώθηση στην ήδη ανεπτυγμένη οικονομική συνεργασία μεταξύ των δύο χωρών. Ο Πρωθυπουργός ανέφερε ότι σε αυτόν τον τομέα υπάρχει μεγάλο περιθώριο για οικονομική συνεργασία μεταξύ της Σερβίας και της Ελλάδας. Στο πλαίσιο αυτό και κατά την διάρκεια της επίσκεψης, στις 31 του Ιανουαρίου 2017 διοργανώνεται Σερβο-ελληνικό Επιχειρηματικού Φόρουμ στο Βελιγράδι, με την παρουσία των δύο πρωθυπουργών και ένα μεγάλο αριθμό επιχειρηματιών από τις δύο χώρες
 

Βελιγράδι, 17 Ιανουαρίου 2017 – Η Κυβέρνηση της Δημοκρατίας της Σερβίας ανακοίνωσε σήμερα ότι ο Πρωθυπουργός της Ελλάδας κος Αλέξης Τσίπρας θα πραγματοποιήσει επίσημη επίσκεψη στην Σερβία στις 31 Ιανουαρίου και 1 Φεβρουαρίου.

Φέτος η 150 επέτειος για Σερβία και Ελλάδα της σύναψης της Συνθήκης Συμμαχίας το 1867.

Τις διαπραγματεύσεις για την Συνθήκη Συμμαχίας διεξήγαγαν ο Σέρβος και ο Έλληνας πρεσβευτής στην Κωνσταντινούπολη, Γιόβαν Ρίστιτς και Νικόλαος Δεληγιάννης.

Σημαντικό ρόλο στην σύναψη της Συνθήκης Συμμαχίας έπαιξαν οι πρωθυπουργοί και υπουργοί εξωτερικών Ίλια Γκαράσανιν, Αλέξανδρος Κουμουνδούρος και Χαρίλαος Τρικούπης.

Η Συνθήκη Συμμαχίας υπεγράφη στις 26 Αυγούστου. Ο πρίγκιπας Μιχάιλο και ο βασιλιάς Τζόρτζε την επικύρωσαν στις 5 Οκτωβρίου 1867.

Βελιγράδι, 19 Δεκεμβρίου 2016. Ο Πρωθυπουργός Αλεξάνταρ Βούτσιτς και ο Πρόεδρος της Βουλής των Ελλήνων Νικόλαος Βούτσης συμφώνησαν ότι η επίσκεψη του Έλληνα Πρωθυπουργού Αλέξη Τσίπρα στην Σερβία,, που έχει προγραμματιστεί για το τέλος Ιανουαρίου, θα είναι ένα επιπλέον κίνητρο για τις καλές σχέσεις μεταξύ των δύο χωρών.

Ο Πρωθυπουργός της Δημοκρατίας της Σερβίας Αλεξάνταρ Βούτσιτς συναντήθηκε σήμερα με τον Πρόεδρο του Κοινοβουλίου της Ελληνικής Δημοκρατίας Νικόλαο Βούτση, με τον οποίο συζήτησε για τις σχέσεις μεταξύ των δύο χωρών, για την ενίσχυση της οικονομικής συνεργασίας και την κατάσταση στην περιοχή.

Ο Πρωθυπουργός κος Βούτσιτς εξέφρασε την ευγνωμοσύνη του για την υποστήριξη της Ελλάδας στην ευρωπαϊκή πορεία της Σερβίας και την συνεπή θέση και την θέση αρχής σχετικά με τη μη αναγνώριση της μονομερούς ανακήρυξης της ανεξαρτησίας του Κοσσόβου.

Η Σερβία προσδίδει μεγάλη σημασία στις σχέσεις με την Ελλάδα, οι οποίες βασίζονται σε μια σταθερή φιλία μεταξύ των δύο λαών. Πρέπει να εργαστούμε για την αύξηση των εμπορικών ανταλλαγών επειδή υπάρχουν πολλές δυνατότητες που δεν έχουν χρησιμοποιηθεί ακόμα, τόνισε.

Ο Πρωθυπουργός κος Βούτσιτς και ο Πρόεδρος του Κοινοβουλίου κος Βούτσης συνομίλησαν και την μεταναστευτική κρίση, η οποία, και μετά το κλείσιμο της βαλκανικής οδού, εξακολουθεί να επιβαρύνει τις δύο χώρες.

Τόσο για την Σερβία όσο και για την Ελλάδα είναι ζωτικής σημασίας η διαφύλαξη της σταθερότητας στην περιοχή και η πλέον εντατική συνεργασία στον τομέα της ασφάλειας, διότι μόνο η σταθερότητα στην περιοχή εξασφαλίζει μια βιώσιμη ανάπτυξη όλων των χωρών, τόνισαν οι συνομιλητές.
Η Σερβία από την αρχή της μεταναστευτικής κρίσης υποστήριζε την επίτευξη κοινής ευρωπαϊκής προσέγγισης, καθώς και την ενίσχυση του συντονισμού των ενεργειών, ιδίως με τις χώρες της λεγόμενης δυτικοβαλκανικής οδού, ανέφερε ο Πρωθυπουργός κος Βούτσιτς.

Επεσήμανε ότι η Σερβία αποδίδει ιδιαίτερη σημασία στον διακοινοβουλευτικό διάλογο και ότι ενδιαφέρεται για την εντατικοποίηση της συνεργασίας στον τομέα αυτό.

Οι δύο συνομιλητές συμφώνησαν ότι η επίσκεψη του Έλληνα Πρωθυπουργού κου Τσίπρα στην Σερβία, που έχει προγραμματιστεί για το τέλος Ιανουαρίου, θα δώσει μια πρόσθετη ώθηση στις καλές σχέσεις μεταξύ των δύο χωρών.

Διμερείς πολιτικές διαβουλεύσεις μεταξύ του Υπουργείου Εξωτερικών Υποθέσεων της Δημοκρατίας της Σερβίας και του Υπουργείου Εξωτερικών της Ελληνικής Δημοκρατίας διεξήχθησαν στις 2 Δεκεμβρίου 2016 στο Βελιγράδι.

Ο πολιτικός Διευθυντής του Υπουργείου Εξωτερικών της Ελληνικής Δημοκρατίας Πρέσβης κος Πέτρος Μαυροειδής ήταν ο επικεφαλής της ελληνικής αντιπροσωπείας, ενώ επικεφαλής της σερβικής αντιπροσωπείας ήταν ο εκτελών χρέη Υφυπουργού για θέματα διμερούς συνεργασίας ο Πρέσβης κος Γκόραν Άλεξιτς.

Επιβεβαιώθηκαν από κοινού οι παραδοσιακά στενές και φιλικές σχέσεις των δύο χωρών και η επιθυμία για την περεταίρω ανάπτυξή τους, καθώς επίσης και η ισχυρή υποστήριξη της Ελληνικής Δημοκρατίας της διαδικασίας της ευρωπαϊκής ολοκλήρωσης της χώρας μας.

Από πλευράς μας ευχαριστήσαμε για άλλη μια φορά την Ελληνική Δημοκρατία για την θέση της σχετικά με τον σεβασμό της εδαφικής ακεραιότητας και της εθνικής κυριαρχίας της Δημοκρατίας της Σερβίας, εκφράζοντας την προσδοκία ότι η θέση της Ελλάδας θα παραμείνει σταθερή. Κατά την συνάντηση εξετάσθηκαν επίσης μια σειρά θεμάτων από την διμερή ατζέντα και αντάλλαξαν απόψεις για την επίκαιρη κατάσταση στις χώρες των Δυτικών Βαλκανίων, την μεταναστευτική κρίση καθώς και για θέματα ευρύτερης διεθνούς σημασίας.

Η καλή συνεργασία υπό αυτήν την σύνθεση θα συνεχιστεί εντός του πρώτου τετραμήνου του 2017.

Ο Πρέσβης κος Ντούσαν Σπάσογιεβιτς συναντήθηκε σήμερα με τον κο Σταύρο Θεοδωράκη, Πρόεδρο του κοινοβουλευτικού κόμματος Το Ποτάμι. Σε μια φιλική συνάντηση εξετάσθηκαν θέματα κοινού ενδιαφέροντος, καθώς επίσης και οι δυνατότητες βελτίωσης της σερβοελληνικής διμερούς συνεργασίας.

Η εφημερίδα  "Politika" γράφει:

Αθήνα – «Η Σερβία αναμένει την επίσκεψη του Πρωθυπουργού κου Αλέξη Τσίπρα και του Προέδρου της Δημοκρατίας κου Προκόπη Παυλόπουλου» είναι το μήνυμα που μετέφερε στην ελληνική πλευρά εκ μέρους της κυβέρνησης της Σερβίας ο Πρόεδρος της Επιτροπής Εξωτερικών Υποθέσεων της Εθνοσυνέλευσης στης Σερβίας κος Ζάρκο Ομπράντοβιτς, ο οποίος είναι ο πρώτος αξιωματούχος που επισκέπτεται επίσημα την Ελλάδα μετά από ένα μεγάλο χρονικό διάστημα.
Στις συναντήσεις με τον Αναπληρωτή Υπουργό Εξωτερικών Ευρωπαϊκών Υποθέσεων κο Γιώργο Κατρούγκαλο και τον Πρόεδρο της Επιτροπής Εθνικής Άμυνας και Εξωτερικών Υποθέσεων της Βουλής των Ελλήνων κο Κωνσταντίνο Δουζίνα, τα βασικά θέματα που συζητήθηκαν ήταν η ενδυνάμωση και εντατικοποίηση της ελληνοσερβικής διμερούς συνεργασίας, η προσφυγική κρίση και ο σημαντικός ρόλος των δύο χωρών σ΄ αυτήν την δύσκολο χρονική περίοδο, καθώς και η μελλοντική συνεργασία σε όλους τους τομείς και σε θέματα σημαντικά για τα Βαλκάνια και την ευρύτερη περιοχή. Επιβεβαιώθηκε η επίσημη επίσκεψη του Προέδρου της Βουλής των Ελλήνων κου Νίκου Βούτση στην Σερβία στις 19 Δεκεμβρίου.
Ο κύριος Ζάρκο Ομπράντοβιτς έδωσε διάλεξη στον Ευρωπαϊκό Οργανισμού Δημοσίου Δικαίου με θέμα: «Τα Βαλκάνια στην Ευρώπη: ο ρόλος της Σερβίας και της Ελλάδας», κατά την οποία υπενθύμισε  ότι οι δύο χώρες έχουν συνάψει διπλωματικές σχέσεις εδώ και 148 χρόνια χωρίς να έχουν ποτέ κανένα πρόβλημα, επισημαίνοντας ότι από κοινού θα πρέπει να καταβάλουν κάθε δυνατή προσπάθεια ώστε η Ευρώπη να κατανοήσει τα Βαλκάνια και τα προβλήματά τους. 
 

The service OF REMEMBRANCE will be held at the Serbian Military Cemetery "Zejtinlik" in Thessaloniki at 10.30 am on Friday 11th November 2016.

Με την ευκαιρία της εθνικής εορτής, την Ημέρα Ανακωχής του Α΄ Παγκόσμιου Πολέμου – 11 Νοεμβρίου 2016, θα γίνει κατάθεση στεφάνων στο Σερβικό Στρατιωτικό Νεκροταφείο – Ζέϊτινλικ, και ώρα 10.30.

On the occasion of the Armistice Day November 11  we are informing you that Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Athens and Consular Section will be closed on November 11, 2016.

ΑΝΑΚΟΙΝΩΣΗ

Με την ευκαιρία της Ημέρας Ανακωχής του Α΄ Παγκοσμίου Πολέμου σας ενημερώνουμε ότι η Πρεσβεία της Δημοκρατίας της Σερβίας στην Αθήνα και το Προξενικό Τμήμα θα παραμείνουν κλειστά την Παρασκευή 11 Νοεμβρίου 2016.

Στους χώρους της Πρεσβείας της Δημοκρατίας της Σερβίας στην Αθήνα χθες το βράδυ παρατέθηκε δεξίωση με την ευκαιρία της επισκέψεως του εκπροσώπου του Υπουργείου Δικαιοσύνης της Δημοκρατίας της Σερβίας, των μελών του Ανωτάτου Δικαστικού Συμβουλίου και του Κρατικού Συμβουλίου Εισαγγελέων της Δημοκρατίας της Σερβίας στην Ελλάδα.

Στην δεξίωση εκτός από τους εκπροσώπους του διπλωματικού σώματος παρευρέθησαν εκπρόσωποι του Υπουργείου Δικαιοσύνης της Ελληνικής Δημοκρατίας και του Ευρωπαϊκού Οργανισμού Δημοσίου Δικαίου (EPLO), ο οποίος είναι και ο διοργανωτής της επισκέψεως της υψηλής αντιπροσωπείας μας.

Ο Πρέσβης κος Ντούσαν Σπάσογιεβιτς αφού χαιρέτησε και καλωσόρισε όλους τους παρευρισκομένους τους ευχήθηκε κάθε επιτυχία στην έργο τους.

INVITATION TO TENDER FOR THE PROVISION OF REAL ESTATE SALES SERVICES – THE SALE OF DIPLOMATIC REAL ESTATE IN NEW YORK (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA), TOKYO (JAPAN), BONN (GERMANY), AND BERNE (SWITZERLAND)

- Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia, the Republic of Slovenia, and the Republic of Serbia – as the sole Successor States to the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (hereinafter “the SFRY”) – and the co-owners of diplomatic and consular property of the SFRY, as the previous title owner, hereby issue an invitation to tender for the provision of the service of brokering the sale of the following immovable property :

a) Permanent Mission of the SFRY to the UN, New York, USA (854 Fifth Avenue, N.Y. 10065); additional indicative data: block 1391, Lot 6, site area 3,600 sq. ft./30 x 120, gross living area 16,125 sq. ft, est. 1910;

b) Residence of the Permanent Representative of the SFRY to the UN, New York, USA (730 Park Avenue, N.Y. 10021); additional indicative data: Apt. 16/17B, cooperative interest, 718/30.000 shares, block 1385, Lot 37, project name: Park 71st St. Corp., gross living area above grade 4,294 sq. ft., Act. Age: 1929;

c) Embassy and residence of the SFRY in Tokyo, Japan (7-24, 4-chome, Kitashinagawa Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo); additional indicative data: land 316-37 Kita Shinagawa 4-Chome, Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo, registered total area 995.27 m2 (app. 28 m x 30 m), building 316-37 Kita Shinagawa 4-Chome, Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo, total floor area 1,725.70 m2 (size in building design document), time of completion 1965;

d) Embassy of the SFRY in Bonn, Germany (Schlossallee 5, 5300 Bonn 2), additional indicative data: land register Mehlem, entry no. 2,865, building and garden/courtyard area 5,441 m2, Schlossallee 1 and 5, floor area 1,565 m2 (ground floor, cellar, attic, underground garage with 14 parking spaces);

e) Embassy and residence of the SFRY in Berne, Switzerland (Seminarstrasse 5, 3006 Bern), additional indicative data: estate: nr. 199 Bern 4, land area: total 1,760 m2, building gross area 540 m2, garden area/courtyard 1,220 m2, construction year: 1978.

The Successor States underline the following:

- The service of brokering the sale of all the immovable property listed above will be awarded to a single real estate agency, which will be awarded the contract by the Successor States;

- The deadline for submitting tenders is 30 days from the day following the issuing of this invitation to tender, while the Successor States will notify tenderers of their decision within 50 days from the deadline for submitting tenders;

- Among the references qualifying them to successfully broker the sale of the listed property, interested tenderers will submit the following documents, and define their conditions for providing brokerage services. In their offer, the interested tenderers will include:

a) Documents certifying that the tenderer is a registered company;

b) Documents proving that the tenderer has offices, branches, or partner organisations in the countries where the property on sale is located, operating in the listed cities (New York, USA; Tokyo, Japan; Bonn, Germany; Bern, Switzerland);

c) Documents showing the tenderer’s turnover amounted to at least US$ 100 million  in the last three years;

d) Guarantee for the offer in the amount of US$ 50,000.00 (the guarantee will be returned to the tenderer upon the signing of the brokerage contract); 

e) Performance guarantee in the amount of US$ 100,000.00 (the performance guarantee will be returned to the tenderer upon the completion of the contract);

f) Evidence of financial and business solvency;

g) Evidence of technical and professional capacities and references proving the successful provision of brokerage services;

h) Certificate of no conviction of the tenderer/legal entity and its CEO, in accordance with the legal provisions of the country of the registered seat of the tenderer and permanent residence of its CEO;

- The period of validity of the tender shall be at least 90 days from the date of submission;

- Interested tenderers will specify their tenders as a brokerage fee, which is a percentage of the total gross sales price of the property listed above;

- The lowest brokerage fee shall be the decisive criterion in selecting the successful tenderer, provided that the tenderer meets all the above conditions;

- Interested tenderers will submit their tenders (in a sealed envelope, marked with the designation ‘Do not open’) by registered mail addressed to:

Stanislav Vidovič, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia, SI-1001 Ljubljana, Prešernova cesta 25.

- The Successor States will provide appraisals of the market value of all the listed immovable property to the successful tenderer; the property’s appraised market value will represent the minimum asking price for the property concerned, unless otherwise decided by the Successor States;

- The sale of the immovable property will be conducted preferably by way of public auction or by any other method in accordance with the local real estate market practice for each immovable property concerned, as advised by interested tenderers in their tenders;

- The Successor States reserve the right not to select any tenderer, even if all conditions are met;

- The immovable property listed in this invitation to tender may be sold separately or not. Each Successor State must confirm the sale of each immovable property under the terms to be negotiated with the best offer/potential buyer prior to concluding the sale if the purchase price offered is below the appraised market value or the minimum asking price.

- Contact details for additional information: gp.mzz@gov.si or sekretariat.mzz@gov.si.

Tender information sheet

Tender Bond (Guarantee) Form B-1

Performance Bond (Guarantee) Form B-2

  1 The information on property in this invitation to tender are only indicative. The Successor States accept no responsibility for their accuracy. Precise information may be obtained by consulting public databases of the countries where the immovable property is located. The Successor States will submit relevant data in their possession regarding the immovable property listed in this invitation to tender to the successful tenderer after the completion of the selection process.

  2  Or the equivalent in €, CHF, or ¥.

Ambassador Dušan Spasojević, accompanied by Captain Goran Arsić, Defence Attache, met with the HNDGS Chief, Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis. During the meeting the two sides discussed the potentials for further strenghtening of the bilateral realtions in the relevant fields, issues of mutual concern, as well as the problems arising from the refugee/migratory crisis and the recent developments on it.

At the Headquarters of the Ministry of Interior and Administrative Reconstruction of the Hellenic Republic, Minister Panagiotis Kouroumplis and Ambassador Spasojević, in a friendly conversation, talked about potentials for further promotion of bilateral cooperation in the field of internal affairs and cooperation between Police of the two countries.

During the visit to Thessaloniki, on the occasion of taking part in business forum of the Chambers of Commerce of Serbia and Greece, Ambassador Spasojević met Ms. Maria Kolloa-Tsarouha, Alternate Minister for Macedonia-Thrace. In cordial conversation, interlocutors talked about traditional friendship between the two countries and two peoples, with mutual assessment that there is significant potential for further strenghtening of the relations in all segments, especially in the fields of economy and tourism.  

Σχετικά με τα δημοσιεύματα ορισμένων ελληνικών μέσων ενημέρωσης για διάβημα της Αθήνας προς το Βελιγράδι αναφορικά με την προσφυγική κρίση,  ο πρόεδρος της Ομάδας Εργασίας για την Επίλυση Θεμάτων Μεικτών Μεταναστευτικών Ροών και υπουργός Εργασίας, Απασχόλησης, Αγωνιστικών και Κοινωνικών θεμάτων της Σερβίας κος Αλεξάνταρ Βούλιν προέβει την κάτωθι ανακοίνωση:

„Η Σερβία από την αρχή της προσφυγικής κρίσης ζητά να υπάρξει μια ενιαία ευρωπαϊκή προσέγγιση για την επίλυσή της. Σε όλες τις συναντήσεις υπό την διοργάνωση της Σερβίας, εκλήθησαν και εκπρόσωποι της Ελλάδος, καθώς και όλων των υπολοίπων χωρών οι οποίες πλήττονται από την κρίση, προσπαθώντας εργαζόμενοι από κοινού για την εξεύρεση κοινής λύσης. Θεωρούμε ότι μόνο εργαζόμενοι από κοινού και απέχοντας από μονομερείς ενέργειες μπορούμε να διαχειριστούμε τις μεταναστευτικές ροές και να βοηθήσουμε κάθε χώρα που πλήττεται, αλλά και τους ανθρώπους που προσπαθούν να ξεφύγουν από τον πόλεμο. Η Ελλάδα έχει στην Σερβία μια φίλη πρόθυμη να συμμετάσχει στην από κοινού εξεύρεση λύσης και από αυτήν την προσπάθεια δεν πρέπει να λείπει καμία από τις χώρες που βρίσκονται κατά μήκος της μεταναστευτικής οδού.  Για τον λόγο αυτό η Σερβία ζητά τα κονδύλια της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης που προορίζονται ως βοήθεια για την επίλυση της προσφυγικής κρίσης να διατίθενται και στις χώρες μη μέλη της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης, οι οποίες όμως αντιμετωπίζουν τα ίδια προβλήματα σαν να είναι και οι ίδιες μέλη. Η Ελλάδα και η Σερβία έχουν καλές και φιλικές σχέσεις, οι οποίες θα συνεχίσουν να αναπτύσσονται.  Η Σερβία αντιμετωπίζει υπεύθυνα τους πρόσφυγες, τους γείτονές της, αλλά και τους πολίτες της. Η πολιτικής μας είναι σαφής και ξεκάθαρη: όπως συμπεριφέρονται οι άλλες χώρες της μεταναστευτικής οδού και ιδιαίτερα οι χώρες που είναι αποδέκτες προσφύγων, έτσι θα συμπεριφερθεί και η Σερβία.“

On 1 March 2016, Ambassador Dušan Spasojević presented to His Excellency Mr. Prokopios Pavlopulos, President of the Hellenic Republic, the Letters of Credence, accrediting him as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Serbia to the Hellenic Republic.

In a cordial conversation with Greek President, Ambassador Spasojević expresed his convictions that Serbia and Greece will continue to further strenghtening traditionally close and friendly ties between two peoples and two countries in all segments of bilateral relations.

President Pavlopoulos thanked to Serbia for its support and understanding regarding positions of Greece in the context of refugee and migratory crisis, respectively on Serbia's commitment for this crisis to being solved in the spirit of European solidarity.

Ambassador Spasojević expressed his gratitude for Greece's hitherto principled position on non-recognizing unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo and Metohija, as well as for Greece's support to European integration process of Serbia. 

On the occasion of tragic death of Mrs. Sladjana Stanković and Mr. Jovica Stepić, staff members of the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Libya, who were kidnapped in November 2015, and tragically lost their lives on 19 February 2016 in Libyan town Sabratha, a Book of Condolences will be open at the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Athens (Vas. Sofias 106), on 22 and 23 February 2016, in the period from 12,00 to 15,00 hrs.

Upon the invitation of the Chief of Staff of the Hellenic Army Lieutenant-General Mr. Vasilios Telidis, Mr. Milosav Simović, Lieutenant-General, the commander and a delegation of the Army of Serbia, visited Greece in the period from 24 to 26 November 2015. 

Besides Mr. Telidis, Mr. Simović was also received by the Alternate Minister of National Defense Mr. Dimitris Vitsas, as well as the Chief of Staff of National Defense Admiral Evangelis Apostolakis.

During the three-day visit to Greece, Serbian delegation visited the Centre for training of armored units of the Army of Greece (in Avlona) and the Military Academy "Evelpidon" (In Vari Atiki) near Athens.

On the next link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kU1JwflxFg you can find the video "THE TRUTH - NO KOSOVO UNESCO".

- Because the request for its membership is a serious breach of the international law, the Constitution of UNESCO,  the legally binding UN Security Council resolution 1244 (1999) and the Charter of the UN whose Article 25 says that “The Members of the UN agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council in accordance with the present Charter”.
- Because according to the UN Security Council resolution 1244, which reaffirms the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (now Serbia), Kosovo and Metohija is an integral part of the Republic of Serbia, under the administration of the UN. Since Kosovo cannot be considered a State, it does not fulfill the basic requirement for membership set out by the UNESCO Constitution.
- Because unilateral attempts such as this one seriously harm and disrupt the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, under the auspices of the European Union in which mutually acceptable solutions for many complex issues have been devised so far. The issue of the Serbian cultural heritage and the property of the Serbia Orthodox Church has not yet been discussed within the dialogue where it belongs.

Political consultations between Serbia and Greece on the basis of the MoU on European integration issues were held in Athens on 9 October 2015. The consultations were headed by Mr. Dimitrios Tziras, Director General for EU Affairs of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Mrs. Marina Jovićević, acting Assistant Foreign Minister of the Republic of Serbia. There was also held a courtesy call to Mr. Nikos Xydakis, Alternate Minister for European Affairs. The main topics on the agenda included: migratory and asylum crisis, dynamic of the opening of the first negotiating chapters with Serbia, Chapter 31 and EU CFSP, preparation of the Progress Report for Serbia, regional cooperation, dialogue Belgarde-Priština, Chapters 23 and 24 and next meeting of the Joint Commission for the implementation of the MoU.   

Having in mind the increased inflow of refugees in the Republic of Serbia, Serbian Government has initiated the action of collecting humanitarian aid abroad, in order to provide better conditions for temporary reception and accommodation of refugees on its territory. All the information regarding the procedure for importing humanitarian aid in Serbia, as well as the list of urgent needs, can be found here. 

On the occasion of marking important historical moments of the WWI, in organization of the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia, with support of Greece-Serbia Business Council, at the Cinema Hall of the "Michael Cacoyannis Foundation" there was held a premier projection of the feature documentary film "Serbia in the Great War", made in co-production of the Radio-Television of Serbia and the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia. After the opening speech of Mr. Branko Lazarević, Charge d'Affairs a.i. of the Embassy, attendees were addresses by Mr. Nickolas Papastratigakis, Professor of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Mr. Kostas Nikolouzos, Mayor of Corfu and Mrs. Sladjana Zarić, the author of the film. The event was attended by members of the diplomatic corps in Athens, as well as numerous eminent representatives of Greek public and political life.

On Monday, 22 June 2015, at the premises of the Embassy of Serbia in Athens there was held a ceremony of delivering the Decorations of H.E. Mr. Tomislav Nikolić, President of the Republic of Serbia, to Mr. Mikis Theodorakis (gold medal) and Mrs. Liana Kanelli (silver medal) for their outstanding merits in public and cultural activities, as well as a gesture of deep appreciation for their support and friendship to Serbia and its people during one of the most difficult periods of Serbia's contemporary history.  

On Monday, 30 March 2015, at the premises of the Embassy of Serbia in Athens there was held a ceremony of delivering the Decoration of H.E. Mr. Tomislav Nikolić, President of the Republic of Serbia, to Mrs. Gaga Rosić, literary translator, for her outstanding merits in public and cultural activities. The event was attended by numerous eminent representatives of Greek public, cultural and political life, as well as members of Serbian diaspora in Greece and Greek and Serbian medias. 

Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Serbia has opened a call for submission of project proposals in the following areas:

1. Translation projects of renowned works of Serbian authors into foreign languages

2. Cultural activities of Serbs abroad

The overall objective of the competition is to support the translation of representative works of Serbian literature into foreign languages, as well as to support and encourage realization of projects in the cultural field of the Serbian nationals abroad with the aim of preserving of their cultural identity.

The competition is open until 31 March 2015.

Information about application procedure and required forms are available on the website of the Ministry of Culture www.kultura.gov.rs

For more information about the open call, please contact:

Mr. Mladen Veskovic - mladen.veskovic@kultura.gov.rs , + 381 11 3398 026.

Minister of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs Mr. Aleksandar Vulin visited Greece in the period from 24 to 26 July 2014. During his visit to Athens, Mr. Vulin had a meeting with the Minister of Justice, Transparency and Human Rights of the Hellenic Republic Mr. Charalampos Athanassiou, when he informed about the interest of Serbian side to renew the negotiations on the Agreement of social insurance between the two countries, whose last round was held in December 2009. In Thessaloniki, Mr. Vulin talked with the Minister for Macedonia and Trace Mr. Giorgos Orfanos, when the two sides agreed to conclude the Agreement on the protection of military memorials, in the shortest possible period.  

In cooperation of the TV station "SKAI" and the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia, on Saturday 31 May 2014, in the period from 10,00 to 14,00 hrs, on the five locations in the city (Glyfada, Neo Psychiko, Maroussi, Peristeri and Agia Paraskevi) it was organized an action of collecting humanitarian aid for the people affected by the terrible floods that hit Serbia recently.

The Embassy would like to inform that on the occasion of the death and suffering of numerous people of the Republic of Serbia, caused by the devastating floods that hit large part of the country, the Government of the Republic of Serbia declared 21, 22 and 23 May 2014 for Days of Mourning.

On this sad occasion, a Book of Condolences will be open at the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Athens, on 21, 22 and 23 May 2014, from 11,00 to 14,00 hrs.

The Serbian government stated that starting from 18 May it will be possible to donate humanitarian assistance to victims of floods in Serbia through PayPal service from 193 countries and the region.

The account belongs to the diplomatic mission of Serbia in Brussels, from where the funds will be sent directly to the account of the Republic of Serbia intended for the assistance to victims of floods.

The payment of humanitarian assistance, through the PayPal service, can be made on the address

floodrelief.gov.rs

First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Republic of Serbia Mr. I. Dačić took part in the Ministerial Conference EU-Western Balkans, held in Thessaloniki,  7-8 May 2014. This conference was an opportunity for reaffirmation of the European perspective of the region and at the same time it symbolically marked a decade since adopting Thessaloniki agenda, that traced the path for European integration of the Western Balkans.

Foreign Minister of the Republic of Serbia I. Mrkic took part in the informal meeting of Foreign Ministers of the EU member states with the candidate countries, held in Athens on 5 April 2014, at the invitation of Greek Deputy Prime Minister and Ministry of Foreign Affairs E. in his capacity as President of the EU Council, and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy C. Ashton. On the margins of this event, Minister Mrkić had bilateral meetings with the Italian Foreign Minister F. Mogherini and Spanish Foreign Minster J. M. Garcia-Margallo.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivan Mrkic paid two-day visit to the Republic of Armenia, from 10 to 11 March 2014. During his visit to Yerevan, Minister Mrkic had separate talks with President Serzh Sargsyan, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, President of the National Assembly Hovik Abrahamyan and Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandian. Minister Mrkić took part in the first Serbian-Armenian Business Forum, and the Heads of Diplomacy of the two countries signed the Agreement on the avoidance of double taxation. During his visit to Yerevan, Minister Mrkić had an audience with Karekin II, Head of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

On the occasion of marking the 10th anniversary of the pogrom happened on Kosovo and Metohija, 17-18 March 2004, the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Athens will organize a projection of the documentary "Crime without punishment", at the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia (106 Vasilissis Sofias Avenue), on Thursday, March 20th, 2014 at 19:00 hrs. The screening of the abovementioned film for the members of Serbian Diaspora in Greece will be organized on Friday, 21 March 2014 at 13,00 hrs. For more information regarding the issue of Kosovo and Metohija, please visit the official website of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Government of the Republic of Serbia - http://www.kim.gov.rs/en/

Minister of Defence of the Republic of Serbia Mr. Nebojsa Rodic paid an offical visit to Athens on 25 and 26 February 2014, when he talked with the Minister of Defence of the Hellenic Republic Mr. Dimitris Avramopoulos, as well as with Mr. Karolos Papoulias, President of the Hellenic Republic. On the second day of the visit, Minister Rodic visited the 13th Army Special Operations Command, where he attended the demonstration of the capacities of the members of that unit, and later on he was presented also the capacities of the Hellenic National Defence College.

On the occasion of February 15, National Day and the Day of Armed Forces of the Republic of Serbia, the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Athens organized a reception in the premises of the Embassy, on 17 February 2014. The reception was very well attended by numerous representatives of the Greek state institutions, diplomatic and military corps, public and cultural life, Greek and foreign medias, as well as Serbian diaspora.

On the occasion of the National Day of the Republic of Serbia, the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Athens will be closed on Monday, 17 February 2014. 

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivan Mrkić participated in the Conference on the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR), held in Athens 6-7 February 2014. This Conference has been preceded by XVI Ministerial Meeting of the Adriatic and Ionian Council. On the margins of this event, Minister Mrkić talked to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic Evangelos Venizelos, and he also had a bilateral meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Zlatko Lagumdžija.

On the occasion of the opening accession negotiations between Serbia and the EU, that coinciding with the Greece’s presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Greece, the Konstantinos G. Karamanlis Foundation and the Business Council Greece-Serbia organized the “European Rhapsody” concert, based on the worldwide known piano-opera plays, performed by one of the leading baritones of Belgrade Opera Mr. Nikola Mijailović and the pianist Mr. Miloš Pavlović (both professors at the Faculty of Music, Belgrade University of Arts).

The event was held on Tuesday 21 January 2014, at the Goulandris Natural History Museum in Athens and was well attended by numerous representatives of the Greek state institutions, diplomatic and military corps, public and cultural life, medias, as well as Serbian diaspora in Greece. 

The first Serbia-EU intergovernmental conference started on 21 January 2014 in Brussels, which marked the official beginning of accession talks at a political level.

The delegation of Serbia was led by Prime Minister Ivica Dacic, and also included First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkic, Minister without Portfolio in charge of EU integration Branko Ruzic, head of the negotiating team Tanja Miscevic and Serbian president's foreign policy advisor Marko Djuric.

The European Union was represented by Greek Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos and the EU enlargement commissioner Stefan Fuele.

Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia has opened a call for submission of project proposals in the following areas:

1. Translation projects of renowned works of Serbian authors into foreign languages

2. Cultural activities of Serbs abroad

The overall objective of the competition is to support the translation of representative works of Serbian literature into foreign languages, as well as to support and encourage realization of projects in the cultural field of the Serbian nationals abroad with the aim of preserving of their cultural identity.

 Minister without portfolio of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, responsible for European integration issues, Mr. Branko Ružić paid a working visit to Athens on 12 and 13 December 2013, when he met Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Dimitris Kourkoulas, with whom he discussed Serbia's European perspective, as well as preparations and priorities of the forthcoming Greece’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2014. Minister Ružić had separated meetings with Mr. Panos Carvounis, Head of the Representation of the European Commission in Greece, Ms. Marietta Giannakou, Head of the Parliamentary Delegation of the New Democracy in the European Parliament and Mr. Panayiotis Michalos, Secretary General for International Economic Relations and Development of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On this occasion it was organized working lunch with the representatives of the Greek-Serbian Business Council.

The Audience Award  for Best Film in this year's 26th Panorama of European Cinema has been awarded to the Serbian Film "Withering" by Milos Pušić. The Panorama of European Cinema is a film festival dedicated to European Cinema taking place in Athens for the past 25 years with the collaboration of the Greek Ministry of Culture and the Municipality of Athens. 

Greek President Mr. Karolos Papoulias has bestowed the Officer of the Order of Honor to the Professor Dušan Sidjanski. Professor Sidjanski is the President of the European Cultural Centre, Professor Emeritus at the Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences and of the European Institute in Geneva. He is also the founder of the Department of Political Science at the  University of Geneva and Special Advisor to the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso. 

The promotion of the Greek edition of the book "This is how it began", the anthology of the stories about Greece, composed of 27 stories, written by the 27 prominent Serbian writers, was  held on Monday, 7 October 2013, at the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Athens.

Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of the Republic of Serbia, H.E. Mr. Ivica Dačić paid a working visit to Athens on 26 and 27 September 2013, when he had meetings with H.E. Mr. Karolos Papoulias, President of the Hellenic Republic and H.E. Mr. Antonis Samaras, Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic. On that occasion it was organized working lunch with the representatives of the Greek-Serbian Business Council, that was also attended by H.E. Mr. Kostis Hatzidakis, the Greek Minister of Development. Previously, Prime Minister Mr. Dačić attended  the commemorative ceremonies on Corfu and Vido, dedicated to the Serbian soldiers who lost their lives in the First World War.

Minister without portfolio of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, responsible for Kosovo and Metohija, Mr. Alexandar Vulin took part in the roundtable discussion with the topic “The question of Kosovo and Metohija and Serbia's EU accession process: The view from Belgrade”, on 19 September 2013. The event was organized by the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP). 

Folklore-artistic group “Hajduk Stanko” from Šabac (Serbia) took part in the International folklore festival, held in Nikoleika (near Patra, Greece), at the and of July 2013. Participants of this festival were also the folklore associations from Turkey, Cyprus, Albania, Italy, Belarus, China, Republic of Korea, Egypt, Chile and Greece, and the performance of the Folklore-artistic group “Hajduk Stanko” was very prominent and well accepted by the audience. The Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to Greece H.E. Mr. Dragan Županjevac and his wife also attended this event. 

The delegation of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, headed by the Vice President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia  Mr. Nenad Popović, PhD, took part in the 20th Anniversary General Assembly of the Interparlamentary Assembly on Ortodoxy, held in Athens, 26 June - 1 July 2013. Two members of the Serbian Parliament, Mr. Mileta Poskurica and Mr. Aleksandar Čotrić were also in the delegation of the Republic of Serbia.  

Since April 8th, 2013, Consular Department of the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia has been relocated to the Embassy's building,  Vas. Sofias 106, Athens. The telephone numbers of the Consular Department remain unchanged. 

On the occasion of February 15 - the National Day and the Day of Armed Forces of the Republic of Serbia, the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Athens organized a reception on February 14, 2013. The highest guest -representative of the Government of the Hellenic Republic was Ms. Olga Kefalogianni, minister of tourism. The reception was very well attended by numerous representatives of the Greek state institutions, diplomatic and military corps, public and cultural life, Greek and foreign medias, as well as Serbian diaspora.

The President of the Republic of Serbia Tomislav Nikolic officially visited the Hellenic Republic on 9 - 11 November 2012, specifically Athens, Thessaloniki, the Monastery of Chilandar and the island of Corfu. He had talks with the President Papoulias, Prime Minister Samaras, Parliament Speaker Meimarakis, leader of the PASOK Venizelos and leader of SIRIZA Tsipras. At the premises of the Serbian Embassy a meeting of the Greek - Serbian Business Council was held, to which about 80 Greek investors, present or showing interest at the Serbian market, were invited. The Serbian President Nikolic and the Greek Minister for Development, Competitiveness, Infrastructure and Transport Hadzidakis addressed the participants.

“Serbs in Greek sports”, Megaro Mousikis, 5th October 2012

Greece and Serbia were always together!