The Director of the Directorate for Cooperation with the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region, Vladimir Kokanović, opened the Brojanica festival in Folgaria, Italy, an event that brought together numerous Serbian cultural and artistic societies and participants from several European countries. Addressing the attendees, Kokanović emphasized the importance of preserving the Serbian language, tradition, culture and national identity among our people in the diaspora, saying that such gatherings are much more than cultural events and rather places of meeting, unity and connection of the Serbian people regardless of borders and distance. ‘The Serbian diaspora is an important part of our national being and Serbia will always be with its people, no matter where they live,’ said the Director of the Directorate.

The Director of the Directorate for Cooperation with the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region attended the opening ceremony of the event Children’s Games Without Borders in Vicenza, organized by the Sloga Serbian Cultural Association, the Saint Sava Serbian Supplementary School and the Association of Serbs in Italy. Addressing the attendees, he emphasized the importance of preserving the Serbian language, culture and identity among the youngest in the diaspora, saying that children are the strongest bridges connecting Serbia with our people around the world. The event brought together a large number of children, parents and representatives of Serbian associations from Italy, where play, socializing and togetherness sent a strong message of unity of the Serbian people, regardless of borders and distance from the homeland.

The visit to Italy also included a working meeting with representatives of the Association of Serbs in Italy, Serbian associations and teachers of Serbian supplementary schools, focused on the preservation of national identity, the Serbian language, culture and strengthening institutional cooperation with our people in the diaspora. The meeting was attended by representatives of the associations Sloga from Vicenza and Bassano del Grappa, Kruna from Schio, Mladost from Lonigo, Jelek from Arzignano, Sveti Sava from Valdagno, Sloga srpske dijaspore from Udine and Pontes/Mostovi from Trieste, as well as the Consul General of the Republic of Serbia in Trieste Nemanja Sekicki, the coordinator of Serbian supplementary education Tatjana Hot and teachers of Serbian supplementary schools in Italy. Special emphasis was placed on the importance of Serbian supplementary schools, the role of associations in bringing our people together, and the need for even stronger connections between the institutions of the Republic of Serbia and the Serbian community in Italy and the region.

Directorate delegation, led by Director Vladimir Kokanović, visited the Sloga Serbian Cultural Association in Vicenza, where they saw their premises and discussed with the management about further strengthening cooperation, preserving the Serbian language, culture, and identity in Italy. The meeting emphasized the importance of the work of our associations in the diaspora, which for years have been a support for the Serbian people and a place of gathering, unity, and nurturing national and cultural heritage.

The delegation of the Directorate visited the Association of Serbs Kruna in Schio, where they discussed with the association management the position of the Serbian community in Italy, the activities of the society and the importance of preserving the national, cultural and spiritual identity of our people in the diaspora. The visit emphasized the importance of unity and the role of Serbian associations in preserving the language, tradition and connection with the homeland, as well as the importance of institutional support for organizations that have been working dedicatedly in the interests of the Serbian community for years. The Directorate for Cooperation with the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region continues to strengthen cooperation with our organizations around the world, recognizing their enormous contribution to the preservation of Serbian identity.

Source and photo: Directorate for Cooperation with the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region