The Minister without Portfolio responsible for monitoring the situation, proposing measures and participating in the coordination of activities in the field of relations between the Republic of Serbia and the diaspora, Đorđe Milićević, met with young people at the Belgrade Youth Center, at a gathering dedicated to presenting and discussing the most important conclusions of the program On a First-Name Basis with the Minister, implemented in the past months with young people from Serbia, the diaspora and the region. More than eleven forums were held as part of the Program, with more than 700 young people participating from Serbia and seven countries of the diaspora and the region.

He said that the topics discussed by the young people the most included education, employment, the possibility of building an independent life and family from their work, but also the question of a kind of future they see for themselves in Serbia. Young people from the diaspora and the region spoke in particular about preserving the Serbian language, culture and identity and the need to remain firmly connected to Serbia.

‘I was particularly encouraged by how much young people care about Serbia. Both those living here and those currently living abroad. I heard young people wanting to study at the world’s top universities and gain new knowledge, but at the same time thinking about how they can one day bring that knowledge back. I heard young people from the diaspora for whom it is important to preserve the Serbian language and the connection with the country of their parents and ancestors, as well as young people from the region for whom it means a lot to know that they have their homeland and support in Serbia,’ said Milićević.

The most important insights and conclusions drawn from the conversation with the young people were presented by Professor Branko Rakić, who systematized the questions, positions and messages of the participants in all seven panels.

Milićević announced that he would continue direct conversations with young people from Serbia, the diaspora and the region. ‘I will continue to talk to you, to listen to you, to hear what is important to you, what worries you, what you expect from your state, what you think we are doing well, but also what we can and must do better. I am certain that I will learn many new things from you. What we hear must not remain only noted in a report – our job is to try to do as much as possible from it’ – concluded Milićević.

Source: Office of the Minister without Portfolio Responsible for Monitoring the Situation, Proposing Measures and Participating in the Coordination of Activities in the Field of Relations between the Republic of Serbia and the Diaspora

Photo: Denis Živković