Skopje: Ambassador Jovanović in the interview for Srbtel television on the occasion of the Statehood Day

In the interview for Srbtel TV on the occasion of the Statehood Day, Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia in Skopje Nevena Jovanović assessed that the relations between Serbia and the Republic of North Macedonia were characterised by close, unbreakable, historical, cultural and other ties, and that there were no open issues between the two countries today owing to the intensive political dialogue led by the highest state officials.

Ambassador Jovanović pointed out that the cooperation between the two countries was developing with great intensity in all areas, and that the Open Balkan initiative, a joint initiative of President Aleksandar Vučić, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, and former North Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, greatly contributed to that.

When asked to assess the position of Serbs in the North Macedonia and what the two countries could do to improve the position of members of minority communities, Ambassador Jovanović said that Serbs living in the Republic of North Macedonia and Macedonians living in the Republic of Serbia were a bridge further connecting our two very close and friendly countries.

Ambassador Jovanović also emphasised that there were many things that could be worked on in the future to improve the position of both Serbian communities in North Macedonia and the Macedonian national minority in Serbia. She noted that after 17 years the Mixed Intergovernmental Commission for minorities held its first session a few days ago, and that the Commission was an excellent institutionalised platform for resolving all issues concerning minority communities in both countries. She said that she believed the first concrete results would be visible soon.

Ambassador Jovanović announced that the ideas of establishing Cultural and Information Centres in Skopje and Belgrade were entering the final phase, adding that the Republic of Serbia systematically and consistently supported various projects organised by the Serbian community in the Republic of North Macedonia, aimed at strengthening the Serbian identity and preserving the Serbian language. She also pointed out that, in cooperation with the relevant institutions in the Republic of North Macedonia, they were working on various projects and programmes related to the improvement of education, culture and all aspects that contributed to improving the position of our communities in both countries.

Ambassador Jovanović emphasised that the Republic of Serbia was grateful for all the efforts made by the Republic of North Macedonia for the members of the Serbian community living on its territory, and that Serbia, led by President Aleksandar Vučić, was very committed to caring for Serbs living outside Serbia, and would continue to do so in the future.

When asked about the progress of implementing the Open Balkan initiative, Ambassador Jovanović said that this initiative could be considered historic, as there were not many ideas like this one in our shared past produced by the peoples of the Balkans on their own initiative. She added that louder and louder messages of support for this initiative coming from the international partners spoke in favour of its great potential. "This initiative will significantly contribute not only to the rapprochement of our economies, but also to the overall improvement of the lives of our citizens," she said.

Ambassador Jovanović stressed that the main objective of the Open Balkan initiative was to connect people and, quoting President Vučić, said that “this initiative is aimed at connecting people who in the previous period have been more focused on the past than on the future”.

On the occasion of the Statehood Day, Ambassador Jovanović emphasised that the Republic of Serbia marked the Statehood Day on February 15 and 16, in memory of the two important events in its history which had paved the way for the development of the modern Serbian state. She explained that the first event was the beginning of the First Serbian Uprising led by Karađorđe Petrović in 1804, which marked the beginning of the Serbian struggle for freedom and, as Stojan Novaković had said, the beginning of the “Resurrection of the Serbian State”, whereas the second important event was the adoption of the Sretenje Constitution in Kragujevac in 1835. "Today, the Republic of Serbia is based on the values derived from these two events, namely freedom and law, and led by President Aleksandar Vučić and the entire Government, it is committed to building a modern and stable Serbia and to improving the quality of life of all its citizens," Ambassador Jovanović concluded.