The director of the Directorate for Cooperation with the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region, Arnaud Gouillon, is the recipient of the Cyrillic Charter award, and he was presented the recognition for the protection and promotion of the Cyrillic alphabet at the Cyrillic Heritage event on the Day of Slavic Literacy on 24 May in Bajina Bašta.

The rationale states that Gouillon is being rewarded for opening Serbian language schools abroad, helping schools in Kosovo and Metohija, participating in the Speech Culture Caravan, but also for using Cyrillic in social media posts, recognizing the importance of this script for the preservation of Serbian national identity.

Gouillon commended the event and the activities held in Bajina Bašta to preserve and promote the Cyrillic alphabet.

‘During my heading the Directorate for Cooperation with the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region, I have seen how important it is for people in the diaspora to know the Serbian language and to know the Cyrillic alphabet. But, it is also important that we in Serbia nurture the Cyrillic. If a child who is endeavoring to learn the script of his or her ancestors in Zurich or Paris, comes here and sees that everything is in Latin script, he or she will wonder why learn the script if no one uses it in Serbia. We need to promote, preserve, nurture both the alphabet and the language, because we are all they have’, Gouillon said.

The Cyrillic Charter is the most significant award at the event Cyrillic Heritage and represents a national recognition for exceptional contribution and special merits in preserving and promoting the Cyrillic alphabet and nurturing the Serbian language and alphabet.

The event Cyrillic Heritage, held for the fourth time in Bajina Bašta, began on Friday, 21 May, with the opening of the Cyrillic Park, which is unique in Serbia and the surrounding area.

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