The poet Đorđo Sladoje is this year’s recipient of the Dobrica Erić award, presented as part of the Meetings of Serbian Countries. The event, which is being held for the 29th time on Jahorina and in Istočno Sarajevo, aims to connect Serbs from the region and the diaspora and to strengthen shared identity.

This year’s Meetings were enriched further by a Serbian Traditions Fair. Along with song and dance, the Serbian Traditions Fair also presented handicrafts, costumes, homemade products and food as part of the folk art of Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija.

Both hosts and guests emphasize the importance of the Meetings of Serbian Countries, in which they have been actively participating for years. – In these let’s say difficult times which they are for the Serbian people, amidst attacks from all sides and efforts to take away the culture that is ours, we want to show and thank the local people in a way, that we are glad that they are with us – said Snežana Jovanović, director of the Venac Ensemble of Folk Dances and Songs of Kosovo and Metohija.

Unity, strengthening national identity, preserving tradition and culture are the foundation of Serbian Countries Meetings. – The very name Meetings of Serbian Countries aims to introduce Serbs from different regions, from different cities, and to have those friendships continue after these introductions – says Ljubinko Stojanović, president of the Assembly of the Dobrica Erić Association for the Defense of the Cyrillic Alphabet.

As part of this year’s Serbian Countries Meetings, which brought together around 300 participants from the region, the Serbia’s National Ensemble Kolo held a concert entitled Kolodrom in Pale.

Source and photo: RTRS