The traditional Vidovdan Assembly of the Diaspora will be held on 1 and 2 July 2023, in the National Assembly building in Belgrade. Serbian diaspora will thus revisit the Serbian parliament after 13 years.

Embassies of the Republic of Serbia throughout the world have elected 250 delegates from the diaspora to discuss in the parliament the Law on the diaspora and Serbs in the region, the Diaspora Assembly, the economy and culture of our people in the world and in the motherland. The agenda will also include the Strategy for preserving and strengthening relations between the motherland and the diaspora and motherland and Serbs in the region.

The organizer is the Office of the Minister without portfolio in charge of coordinating activities and measures in the area of relations between the Republic of Serbia and the diaspora, i.e. the Diaspora Minister, Đorđe Milićević.

‘The topic of the discussions will be encouraging investments and connecting Serbia and our people in the diaspora. Connecting businessmen from the diaspora and Serbia to exchange experiences and encourage the diaspora to invest in Serbia. Discussing potential incentives for investment by our citizens living abroad and in motherland’, reads the statement from the Diaspora Minister’s Office.

Improving the cultural, ethnic and religious identity of our citizens abroad for their preservation and nurturing. Discussing the best ways to support the development of cultural activities of Serbs abroad and the media of Serbs from the region. Defining potential programs to present Serbian culture and art abroad. Potential ways to implement programs that bring together members of Serbian communities from the diaspora and from the region to the motherland to learn about the national culture, history, art, etc.

Also programs connecting youth from the motherland and the diaspora. Improving the image of our country abroad through our diaspora as cultural ambassador.

Many Serbian diaspora members hold the highest academic degrees and today work in successful companies, prestigious universities and institutes. A great potential of the Serbian diaspora is in its know-how.

Data and estimates indicate that around 6,000 – 8,000 of our people abroad hold the title of Doctor of Science, with many of them working on new technologies development, including genetic engineering, research into new materials, energy sources and nature protection.

The plan of the Diaspora Ministry is, in cooperation with other line ministries, the Government of Serbia, the President of the Republic, the Point of Return organization, to establish communication with the academic diaspora in order to map them and the institutions where they work, because they represent the potential for the development of our science and society as a whole. Their involvement in the work of our institutes and universities would provide an opportunity to link our academic institutions in even more international projects, and to ensure the exchange of people and transfer of knowledge.

The organizer, the Office of the minister without portfolio in charge of coordinating activities and measures in the area of relations between the Republic of Serbia and the diaspora, i.e. the Diaspora Minister, Đorđe Milićević, announces that Ana Brnabić, Serbian Government’s Prime Minister, will speak at the Vidovdan Assembly in the national parliament. The Assembly will adopt a Declaration on the Serbian Diaspora and Motherland of Serbia. And I hope that they will also elect the first deputies from the diaspora to Serbian National Assembly.

We have 17 delegates coming from Austria, as many from Switzerland, the most from Germany, etc. The participants in the Vidovdan Assembly pay for their own transportation from abroad to their fatherland, and Serbia provides them with accommodation and meals in Slavija hotel in Belgrade.

Welcome and good luck!

Source: Radio Television of Serbia

Photo: Wikipedia