18. Oct. 2022.

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.

Ladies and gentlemen,

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

Photo: www.mfa.gov.rs

18. Feb 2022.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia Nikola Selaković talked over the phone today with the newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala, Mario Adolfo Búcaro Flores.

Congratulating to Minister Búcaro on his hew position, Selaković emphasised that Serbia is dedicated to cultivating friendship and enhancing overall cooperation with Guatemala, particularly in the light of the significant jubilee we are marking this year: 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

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.

12 November 2021

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

2nd November 2021

"Your Excellences,

distinguished delegates,

dear Sarah,

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

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

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

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.

15th October 2021

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.

25 September 2021

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

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

26 September 2021

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

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

25 September 2021

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

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

22 September 2021

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

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

5 August 2021

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

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

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

22 July 2021 

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

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

"We are connected by history, common culture, EU members are already undoubtedly our most important partners", he explained and added that the trade exchange between Germany and China is 3,000 times higher than between Serbia and China, and, as he noted, even despite that, Serbia's business operations with China are portrayed as a problem. To the statement that the German Chancellor Angela Merkel did not congratulate the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of China, and that he did so, he replied that Serbia is not Germany, but a small country. On additional insistence on what Serbia will do if it has to choose between the EU and China, he underlined that Serbia has already decided, that its goal was and remains the EU membership.

20 July 2021

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

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

She stated that, when she took office as Prime Minister, she knew what her priorities were and that first of all, digitalization needed to be raised to a higher level, that the education reform was supposed to begin, as well as work on strengthening the economy.

13. July 2021.

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

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

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

21 June 2021

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic talked today with the newly appointed Ambassador of the United States of Mexico to Serbia Carlos Felix about the continuation and strengthening of economic cooperation, especially in the pharmaceutical and IT industry, telecommunications, construction and in the field of tourism and trade development.

Brnabic welcomed the ambassador, expressing satisfaction on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Serbia and Mexico.

The Prime Minister also congratulated the Ambassador of Mexico on the three important anniversaries that the country is marking during 2021.
 

09. June 2021.

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

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

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

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

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

20 May 2021

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

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

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

21st April 2021

President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić talked today via a video link with the representatives of the delegation of the International Monetary Fund led by the Head of the Mission, Jan Kees Martijn. The interlocutors concluded that Serbia's main goal remains to preserve the hard-earned reputation of a fiscally secure country, as well as to continue with a responsible fiscal policy so that public debt does not exceed 60 per cent of GDP, whereby Serbia continues to work on further economic growth.

During the conversation, President Vučić and Jan Kees Martijn especially referred to the incentive measures and adopted three packages of measures to help the economy and citizens, which preserved macroeconomic stability and even achieved a higher employment rate. Martijn commended the responsible economic policy of Serbia and the successful crisis management during the pandemic.

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

20th April 2021

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

President Vučić thanked Dr Kluge for his personal engagement and support during the current pandemic, especially for technical assistance and expertise. On this occasion, he informed the WHO official about the results of immunisation in Serbia and plans on how to provide the vaccine to all citizens who want to get it.
 

19 April 2021

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic talked today with World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge about the epidemiological situation and the course of immunisation of citizens in Serbia.

Brnabic expressed gratitude for the cooperation in the fight against the pandemic, technical assistance and expertise, emphasising that the support of this organisation is very important for our country.

She informed the WHO Regional Director for Europe about the course of immunisation of citizens in Serbia, expressing her belief that, thanks to the large number of vaccinated people, we will be able to create collective immunity and return to normal life.

13 April 2021

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia Nikola Selakovic stated today that Pristina further persisted in its campaign of hatred against the Serbian people, which was most drastically seen in the unfounded accusations of mass rapes and genocide.

At the UN Security Council meeting discussing the Report of the UN Secretary-General on the work of UNMIK, Selakovic emphasized that the efforts of the provisional institutions in Kosovo and Metohija to create a narrative about mass rapes of Albanian women were obvious, and that propaganda methods and lies were used for that purpose.

"It is clear that there were victims on all sides in the conflict, as well as that our side has evidence of numerous Serb victims. But the precondition for ensuring the protection of rights that belong to each individual victim is a rational and well-argued approach", Selakovic said responding to the slander of the Pristina representative.

13 April 2021

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia Nikola Selakovic warned, at the United Nations Security Council meeting, that the political extremism among Albanians in Kosovo and Metohija was not decreasing, but on the contrary, was becoming stronger.

At the meeting discussing the Report of the UN Secretary-General on the work of UNMIK, Minister Selakovic recalled that the obligation to form the Community of Serb Municipalities  remained unfulfilled for 2,917 days now and that, in fact, 19 April marked eight full years since the agreement was reached in Brussels, while Pristina still refused to follow up on its commitment and enable the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities. 

The Minister reminded that the current Prime Minister of the provisional institutions of self-government in Pristina repeatedly threatened to unite the self-proclaimed Kosovo and Albania, and that he also stated that the dialogue with Belgrade was low on the list of his priorities.

President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic received today the letters of credence from the newly-appointed Ambassador of the United Mexican States Carlos Félix, and wished him welcome and successful work in our country, which begins in the year marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two countries.
President Vucic expressed his belief that Ambassador Félix, with his diplomatic skills and with the help of our side, would make a significant contribution to the development of comprehensive ties between Serbia and Mexico.
Ambassador Félix expressed special satisfaction that he would spend this diplomatic mandate in Belgrade, where he had already served.

Source: www.predsednik.rs

Photo: Dimitrije Goll

24 March 2021

President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic made a statement on the occasion of marking the Day of Remembrance of the victims of the NATO aggression.

"Your Holiness, distinguished Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, distinguished Speakers of the National Assemblies of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Srpska, distinguished Prime Ministers of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Srpska, distinguished Ministers of both Governments, dear guests and friends, representatives of the Serbian People from Montenegro, North Macedonia, Croatia, thank you for the fact that we are all together tonight and that the Serbian spirit is unbreakable and invincible.

One child a day and a little more than that. That is the most difficult, sickening and painful number of the NATO aggression from 1999. Killed, stopped, guilty of nothing, having committed no sin, without the right to defence, without the right to justice and without the right to life.

No one has ever been held accountable for this crime, a crime greater than a crime. No one, for the 2,500 killed civilians, but also soldiers and policemen who were only guilty of guarding, protecting themselves and their homes. No one has ever been held accountable for more than 6,000 persons injured.

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

Source:www.predsednik.rs

Photo:www.predsednik.rs

17 March 2021

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.

Photo: Dimitrije Goll

8 March 2021

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia Nikola Selakovic said today that the fight against all forms of crime was a top priority of the Serbian Government and an integral part of the EU accession process.

"It is also our moral duty, in order to leave a better world for the generations to come", Selakovic said participating via video-link at the 14th UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, held in Kyoto.    

Minister Selakovic emphasized that Serbia, in its Second Serious and Organized Crime Threat Assessment from 2019, identified as its goal to eliminate cybercrime, human trafficking, terrorism and irregular migration.

https://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFcsVSnZorw

18 February 2021

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.

Happy Statehood Day of the Republic of Serbia!

Video message prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on this occasion, can be seen here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jh6idN_HKsQ&ab_channel=MFAoftheRepublicofSerbia

Photo: Presidency of Serbia / Dimitrije Goll

Belgrade, 7 February 2021

President of the Republic and Supreme Commander of the Serbian Army Aleksandar Vucicattended a demonstration of capabilities of one part of Serbian Army units in the "RastkoNemanjić" barracks in Pancevo. On this occasion, President Vucic stated that Serbia was ready to continue the EU-facilitated dialogue with Pristinaat 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 arecognition 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 delegationleave the meeting, that he told the U.S. delegation that Serbiawould 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.

26 January 2021

Serbia's foreign policy positions are naturallybeing 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.

12 January 2021

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic pointed out that Serbia is the first in Europe in terms of economic growth, which will be officially confirmed at the end of March, and that this was possible owing to the reform measures taken since 2014 and the rapid opening of the country after the first wave of corona virus.

The President pointed out that Serbia had a growth of 5.2 percent in the first quarter, while the Eurozone was at minus 3.2 percent, in the second quarter Serbia had a 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.

2 January 2021

This year, Serbia could finally have Ambassadors and Consuls General appointed to about a third of the currently vacant positions in the country's diplomatic and consular missions in the world, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Selakovic is convinced that most of these positions will be filled, as he points out, by the best possible people.

"In the next year, I am convinced that the majority of these vacancies will be filled", Selakovic told Tanjug, emphasizing that the work is being done gradually, because the state wants to show that is has a quality staff who will represent Serbia's interests in the best possible way.

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.

29 December 2020

Preservation of peace, taking care of the health and better living standard are key for Serbia in 2021, underlined President of the Republic Aleksandar Vucic, convinced that even though the completion of this ambitious and by no means easy task will be anything but straightforward, best results can be achieved by working in concert with the Government, while ensuring security and a future of certainty for the citizens.

The President said that Serbia has set for itself great and ambitious goals for the next year, notwithstanding the complex international and regional circumstances, and that it will endeavour to fully preserve peace and stability in the region and the country, while safeguarding the vital national and state interests.

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

Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia Ana Brnabic received today the first vaccine against the coronavirus made by Pfizer company, at the Torlak Institute of Virology, Vaccines and Sera. Brnabic, who is the first European Prime Minister to receive the vaccine, pointed out that this day may be the first since 6 March that we have a reason for a smile on our faces as it marks the beginning of the end of the coronavirus pandemic in Serbia, but also in Europe and the world. As Prime Minister and as someone who leads the COVID-19 Crisis Response Team, I felt obliged to be the first to receive the vaccine, to show that we believe in it, as well as in our institutions - the Medicines and Medical Devices Agency of Serbia and experts who worked round the clock to test the vaccine, she said.

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.  

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

Why Kosovo is ineliglibe for membership in UNESKO

We would like to inform you that as of 18.05.2014.g. an active PayPal account has been opened through which it is possible to make donations for humanitarian assistance for flood victims in the Republic of Serbia and can be used from 193 countries and regions . The account belongs to the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Brussels, and all the funds sent through this PayPal account are directly transferred to the special account of the Government of the Republic of Serbia which has been opened in order to help relieve the consequences of the floods.

Donations through PayPal can be paid to: floodrelief@gov.rs

In light of the unprecedented natural disasters that struck the Republic of Serbia, we would like to to inform you that in order to collect donations and help eliminate the consequences of flooding, a domestic and foreign currency account have been opened: - Serbian Dinar bank account - Removal of extraordinary circumstances floods , the number 840-3456721-89 ; - Foreign currency bank account 01-504619-100193230-000000-0000 - Ministry of Finance - Treasury , Belgrade - special purpose account for funds for the elimination of flood effects, IBAN code : RS35908504619019323080 .

Assets may be also submitted directly to the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Mexico in a account of the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Mexico specially opened for this purpose in the bank BBVA Bankomer (currency in Mexican pesos) to help the affected areas in the Republic of Serbia.

Account No. 0196036600, clave 012180001960366005

Competent services of the Republic of Serbia are currently mostly in need of: aluminum boats with engines, helicopters , tents and blankets. In case the funds are sent directly to Serbia, please proceed with the following payment instructions in EUR and USD.

Instructions for payment in EUR and USD:

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Wednesday, 23 October 2013.

Foreign Minister of Nicaragua Samuel Santos Lopez is paying an official visit to the Republic of Serbia, from 23 to 25 October 2013. In addition to having discussions with Foreign Minister Mrkić, he also met with Prime Minister I. Dačić, the representatives of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Serbian Parliament, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management D. Glamočić and President of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce Z. Sertic. Foreign Minister Lopez also gave a lecture at Megatrend University.

During the talks, the two Ministers exchanged views on issues of primary concern to both countries. In this regard, our gratitude and appreciation was expressed for the consistent position of Nicaragua regarding the non-recognition of Kosovo's UDI. The possibilities of improving the overall bilateral cooperation were also discussed, particularly in terms of contractual and economic relations.

The visit of Foreign Minister Lopez comes in the context of Serbia's commitment to renew and promote the cooperation with the countries of Central and South America, especially taking into account the positive historical legacy of joint action within the Non-Aligned Movement.
(From the web page of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia)
 

25 September 2013
Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia in Mexico Goran Mesic visited the National Museum of Culture in Mexico City, on 25 September 2013, and discussed with Director of this cultural institution Carlos Vasquez Olvera the possibilities of improving bilateral cooperation in the field of culture.
During the meeting, the future framework for cooperation between Serbian museums and cultural institutions with the National Museum of Culture in Mexico City, including the organization of exhibitions, conferences, film series presentation and other cultural events, has been agreed in detail.
 

Dear Madam/Sir,

The Civic Association “KULTURA ĆIRILICE” (The Culture of Cyrillic) has been organizing for several years now exhibitions of the typographic alphabets and graphic design.  This year, however, we are launching a new project:

INTERNATIONAL CALLIGRAPHY EXHIBITION

We are hereby inviting calligraphy artists, members of arts associations as well as free-lance artists in the field of typographic alphabets to take part in this Exhibition. 
All caligraphy works submitted for the Exhibition should represent their relevant national language and alphabet.
All entries should be sent in a digital form and in size of 300 points per inch for the exhibition format 50 x 70cm by 15 February 2014 for the main event, to the following address:

kulturacirilice@gmail.com

The International Calligraphy Exhibition will be first staged in the spring 2014 in a large gallery in Belgrade but will later be organized as a travelling exhibition through various countries in the world.

All works will be handled with utmost care, but the organizer shall not be responsible for possible loss and/or damage during transport and display of works.

The Civic Association “Kultura  Ćirilice” (The Culture of Cyrillic) will organize as well prepare printing of all designated works at our own expense and with assistance by our sponsors.  Please enclose your photo and CV to go with your relevant work(s).

The Organizer shall exercise their right to freely use any and all accepted works in related publicity, exhibitions, etc. without payment in any form.
It is implicit that authors submitting their works accept the rules mentioned above, but the authors will remain in control of their portrait right, copyright and fame concerned in their relevant works.

Please note that “Kultura Ćirilice” is a non-profit organization and that all our activities, including the Exhibition, are non-profit as well.

For the Civic Association “Kultura Ćirilice”  (The Culture of Cyrillic):

Ivan Stratimirovich 

Pop Lukina 12

103607 Belgrade

Serbia

kulturacirilice@gmail.com

www. kulturacirilice.org           www.култураћирилице.срб 
 

INTERNATIONAL CALLIGRAPHY  EXHIBITION   is a project presented for the first time during the 56th Belgrade’s International Book Fair in October 2012, to continue as an independent exhibition throughout 2014.

The Exhibition is an opportunity for gathering of calligraphy artists from all over the world to display beauty of their respective alphabets and cultures, in Belgrade, the capital city of Serbia, a place surrounded by archeological artifacts of  the very beginning of human literacy.

The next edition of the INTERNATIONAL CALLIPGRAPHY EXHIBITION will be held in the spring 2014.  

The Exhibition Details:

Subject: Calligraphy in Different Cultures of the World;

Participants: Calligraphy artists selected by their relevant national associations participating in the Project as well as freelance  calligraphy artists;

Exhibition display format: digital prints

Final deadline for the main event: 15 February  2014;

All art works should be digital prints of size 50cm  x  70cm with 300 lines per inch;

The works should be sent to the following address: kulturacirilice@gmail.com

Venue: Belgrade at first and then the Exhibition will be organized as a travelling one, starting with participating countries.

There will be organized also a special program to go along with the Exhibition:
Calligraphy workshops - organized by artists from participating countries

The Exhibition’s patrons are:
• Relevant institutions of the participating countries
• Serbian government
• NGOs from the field of culture
• Business community

SUMMARY

• Spring 2014, INTRENATIONAL CALLIGRAPHY EXHIBITION in Belgrade
• Organization of the Exhibition in the participating countries as agreed

 
In Belgrade,   10 September 2013

         Citizens Association

        “CYRILLIC CULTURE”

Belgrade

Pop Lukina 12

    103607   Belgrade

      Serbia
     
kulturacirilice@gmail.com

www. kulturacirilice.org           www.култураћирилице.срб
 

Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) between Serbia and the EU has entered into force today, as the EU informed Belgrade, on 24 July, that the SAA ratification process was completed in the Member States.

Application of the SAA will be followed by the setting-up of the bodies where Serbia and the EU will have their representatives: the Stabilisation and Association Council, the Stabilisation and Association Board and the Parliamentary Committee for Stabilisation and Association. Upon the entry into force of the SAA, the Interim Trade Agreement with the EU has ceased to apply and the deadlines set at the beginning of its application on 1 January 2009 will be respected without interruption even after its termination. 

With the entry into force of the SAA, Serbia has become an associate member of the EU, which is an important step in the further process of European integration of Serbia.
 

4 September 2013

Ms. Ivana Nikolovski, Second Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, participated at the "9th Course on the Foreign Policy of Mexico for Foreign Diplomats", which was held from 21 August to 4 September in Mexico City.

In addition to the foreign policy and organization of the diplomatic service in Mexico, the participants had the opportunity to get to know the historical and cultural landmarks of Mexico.
 

Serbia's Ana Bajic won a bronze medal at the world championship in taekwondo in Mexico. Bajic, who competes in the over 73 kg category, beat Spain's Ana Rosana 2-1 in the fight for bronze after losing to Mexico's Briseide Acosta 5-2.
(Source: Radio Serbia Internacional)
 

8 July 2013

Ms. Jagoda Jovanovic, Third Secretary in the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, participates in the Sixth Course in Spanish for Foreign Diplomats, co-organized by the Mexican Matias Romero Institute and UNAM in Mexico City until December 2013.

On 8 July 2013, the organizers arranged an opening ceremony which was presided over by the Institute Director General, Ambassador Alfonso de Maria y Campos Castello. The purpose of this traditional course in Spanish intended for foreign diplomatic representatives is, above all, command of Spanish as one of the most widespread world languages with great prospect, and familiarization with Mexican culture, history and their present political moment in time. This year’s course will be attended by some 20 young diplomats from all over the world. 
 

European-Commission-008European Council decided today to open accession negotiations with Serbia in January, at the latest, and without further conditions.

European Council President Herman Van Rompuy stated in Brussels that "the decision on the negotiation platform is a political decision".  

"The decision on the negotiation platform is a political decision and needs to be confirmed by the European Council. This is the customary procedure and there are no new conditions. The wording "needs to be confirmed" has been chosen very carefully, said Van Rompuy, indicating that the Council will not take further decisions on the commencement of negotiations.
 

The publishing house Cedus Empresarial SC printed in Mexico City, in 2013, a book of Serbian folk stories and fairy tales in Spanish, translated by Milena Markovic and adapted by Daniel Castillo Briones. The book contains eight popular fairy tales, including “Midget”, “Emperor Trojan’s Goat Ears” and “Golden Apple and Nine Peacocks”, etc. In addition, this publication was richly illustrated by M. Markovic.

The Centre for Serbian as a Foreign Language of the Faculty of Philology, University of Belgrade, initiated a distance learning programme of the Serbian language. The programme is available to the students of Slavistics abroad, the Serbian diaspora, and all those who are interested in studying the Serbian language.

This Centre, which has a long tradition of teaching the Serbian language, offers  not only language courses but also courses in Serbian history and culture.

More information on this programme is available at www.learnserbian.fil.bg.ac.rs.
 

25 May 2013

Ambassador Miomir Udovicki, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs in charge of security policy, visited Mexico on 23-24 May 2013 to take part in the work of the Eighth plenary session of the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism and the meeting of the Implementation and Assessment Group.
Furthermore, during his visit, bilateral consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Serbia and Mexico were also held, at which a high level of agreement was noted both with regard to bilateral and global issues and further close cooperation between the two institutions was agreed upon.
 

13 May 2013

Bishop of Western American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Mr. Maxim, made a working visit to Mexico from 9-12 May 2013. On that occasion, he held the liturgy for Serbian nationals belonging to the Serbian Orthodox Church, at the Russian Monastery in central Mexico City, and also visited the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia to Mexico, where he talked with the members of the mission.
On this visit, Bishop Maxim expressed his wish to establish closer and stronger contacts with the Serbian Orthodox Christians living in Mexico, as well as with the academic and other institutions in that country.
 

28 April 2013

The traditional Easter meeting of the Serbian expatriate community was organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Mexico, on 28 April 2013. In a very cozy atmosphere, Serbian citizens, their families and friends mingled and treated themselves with the delicious, traditional Serbian dishes which they cooked themselves and thus contributed to the rich, pre-holiday feast prepared for all guests.
The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Mexico takes this opportunity to wish Happy Easter to all our citizens of the Eastern Orthodox faith and their family members!
 

11 April 2013

Chargé d' Affaires a.i. of the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Mexico Ms. Tatjana Conic gave a lecture on Serbia to the students of the prestigious Mexican University TEC Monterrey, Campus Norte, on 11 April 2013. The lecture was held at the invitation of the Association of Students of the University’s Department of International Relations, and in the framework of the Fair of Nations, which is held twice a year at this higher education institution.

Collected poems of the famous Serbian poet Vasko Popa, entitled "El cansancio ajeno" translated by Dubravka Sužnjević, have been recently published by the Autonomous University of Sinaloa and the publishing house "Vaso roto".

This famous and admired poet, a contemporary and the friend of Octavio Paz and Jorge Luis Borges, is considered as one of the greatest poets of 20th century. Unfortunately, until now, the poems of Vasko Popa have never been translated in Mexico, and therefore this publishing and translation venture is truly praiseworthy.

March 2013 marks the ninth anniversary of the March pogrom of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, when 19 people were killed, 954 injured and more than 4,000 Serbs expelled from their homes in a wave of violence, from 17 to 19 March 2004. 35 Serbian Orthodox churches and monasteries were destroyed or burned to the ground, including 18 heritage cites, like Virgin Ljeviska in Prizren, back to the 14th century. 72 UN vehicles were demolished, six towns and nine villages "ethnically cleansed", 935 Serbian houses and ten public buildings were destroyed, burned or severely damaged.

"The Edict of Milan 313–2013, Serbia" Project is a national programme of marking the Jubilee Year – 17 centuries of the proclamation of the Edict of Milan, a legal document which put a historical end to the three centuries-long persecution of Christians and ensured “the authority of every person to profess the religion that he or she preferred”.

The Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Organizing Committee for the Event co-chaired by the President of the Republic of Serbia, His Excellency Mr Tomislav Nikolić, and His Holiness the Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Mr Irinej have decided that this Jubilee Year be observed by a number of events and celebrations. The calendar of celebrations, historical background of events related to the proclamation of the Edict of Milan, Constantine the Great, and Nis, his birthplace, are available on the web-page www.edictofmilan2013.com in both Serbian and English languages.

 13 March 2013

On 13 March 2013, the prestigious Instituto Tecnologico Autonomo de Mexico (ITAM) of the Mexican University organized a lecture and a working breakfast with Filip Brkovic, a PhD student who is on a two-month study visit at the ITAM. The lecture was arranged by the Department of International Relations of the University, i.e. full-time Professor Stéphan Sberro,  and was attended by academics from this department, representatives of the EU Delegation in Mexico City, as well as UNAM scholars.
Philip Brković graduated from the Faculty of Political Science in Belgrade, completed his master's studies at Cambridge University and is now a PhD student of the Erasmus Mundus Programme. The subject of his doctoral dissertation and also of this lecture was "An Assessment of Possibilities for Inclusion of Upper-Middle-Income Economies in the Fair Trade System - Case Study Serbia".
The lecture had two parts: the first one related to his research work on the modalities of "fair trade" and the second was devoted to the presentation of economic, cultural and tourism resources of Serbia, as well as a background of Serbia's European path.
 

10 March 2013

The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Mexico hosted a reception on 10 March 2013 in honour of the famous Serbian conductor Mr. Srboljub Dinic.   Mr. Dinic was invited by the National Institute of Fine Arts of Mexico to hold concerts at this renowned institution (Gala shows in honour of the 200th birthday anniversary of composer Giuseppe Verdi, Verdi's Requiem, as well as George Bizet’s opera Carmen, on 17 and 19 March 2013).
The reception was attended by more than 60 guests, including a large number of representatives of the Serbian expatriate community in Mexico, officials from the National Institute of Fine Arts, colleagues from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Director of the National Watercolours Institute Mrs. Beatriz Gaminde.