The Association of Serbs in Slovakia and the Vojvodina Journalists’ Association, in cooperation with the Faculty of Saints Cyril and Methodius Trnava (Slovakia), organized a professional conference on The Serbian Language and Script in the Media, from 11 to 13 September 2026. The patron of this significant conference was Vladimir Kokanović, Director of the Directorate for Cooperation with the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region.

Representatives of many countries of the world, including Serbia, Slovakia, Austria, Switzerland, Romania, Hungary, Slovenia, Germany, Montenegro, South Africa, and the USA, participated in the premises of the Faculty of Ss. Cyril and Methodius. In their presentations, the participants discussed how the Serbian language and the Cyrillic script are being used and preserved in their respective countries.

The conference was opened by Vladimir Kokanović, saying that the Serbian language and the Cyrillic script are far more than mere tools of communication; they are a vital part of national identity, culture, and the bond connecting the Serbian people, regardless of where in the world they live. Kokanović emphasized, ‘The Directorate for Cooperation with the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region will continue to support individuals, organizations, institutions, and media outlets working to preserve and promote the Serbian language, the Cyrillic script, and cultural heritage among Serbs in the diaspora and the region.’ At the very beginning of the conference, Prof. Svetlana Matić, President of the Austrian-Serbian Cultural Society Wilhelmina Mina Karadžić from Vienna, presented Stane Ribič with the annual Mina Karadžić Award for outstanding achievements in the fields of public and cultural activity.

On the second day of the conference, following the official proceedings, participants visited the Serbian military cemetery in Veľký Meder, which had been largely restored by Stane Ribič, President of the Association of Serbs in Slovakia, with the assistance of the Slovak government. On the third day of the conference, Stane Ribič showed the participants two monuments erected in Modra, in front of the Lyceum.

Following the presentation of professional and scholarly papers, the conclusion was reached that first and foremost, the State of Serbia had to adopt a long-term language policy to serve as basis for clear and actionable measures aimed at preserving and promoting the Serbian language and the Cyrillic script.

The conference on the Serbian language provided a unique opportunity for experience exchange, connecting and opportunities, how Serbian should be represented in the media. This significant event underscored the importance of preserving the Serbian language and the Cyrillic script within the diaspora, as they are symbols of the Serbian people’s identity and cultural heritage, wherever they may live, in view of the challenges posed by digital platforms, social media, and artificial intelligence.