SERBIA CELEBRATES FRIENDSHIP, CELEBRATES DIFFERENT LANGUAGES AND CULTURES

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In the presence of a large number of members of the diplomatic corps and prestigious members of the academic and cultural community, on the occasion of the National Day of the Republic of Serbia at the University Library in Copenhagen, the first diplomatic library in Denmark was founded, with the initiator, Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia Jasmina Mitrović Marić. Thus, this year's celebration of the Serbian National Day was forever remembered by a collection that celebrates different languages and cultures.

On this occasion, in the same space, a multimedia exhibition "Belgrade-Copenhagen, 102 years of diplomatic relations" was opened by the Archives of Serbia and Yugoslavia from Belgrade, the Embassy of the Kingdom of Denmark in Serbia and the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Denmark, Film News, and the Royal State archive in a special way. Curiosities, surprises, respectable speakers and, above all, many distinguished guests, contributed to the unique cross-cultural event worth of attention.

Together with the initiative of our ambassador, my colleagues, accredited to Copenhagen, had carefully chosen for weeks, and at our reception, they donated books in their native language, and together they created a unique multilingual collection of books as a symbol of respect for different cultures and languages.

Everything from the beginning was unusual: the invitation in which was written "Please do not bring this invitation with you, instead bring a book, or better yet - books in your mother language," and then an explanation of why we all participate in this unusual and different event, why is precious and what message we leave to students of the University of Copenhagen.

The idea came from the Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia, Jasmina Mitrović Marić, who greeted the guests and thanked for the extraordinary response and support that ambassadors pointed to the newly founded diplomatic library as a joint memory of this year's National Day of Serbia and a gift that we leave to the University Library with a message that looks like Serbia, which is tolerance, respect and celebration of different cultures and languages.

The first speaker, the director of the University Library Hans Kristian Mikkelsen, thanked all ambassadors for the multilingual collection of books and stressed that in this library, which is otherwise known as the favourite diplomatic place, a larger number of ambassadors have never been gathered before as they did today the occasion of the National Day of Serbia, an exhibition on the centenary of diplomatic relations, as well as the idea of communion and the desire that all ambassadors be the founders of a new library.

On this occasion, at the University Library, a multimedia exhibition "Belgrade-Copenhagen, 102 years of diplomatic relations" was opened by the Archives of Serbia and Yugoslavia from Belgrade, the Embassy of the Kingdom of Denmark in Serbia and the Republic of Serbia in Denmark, the Belgrade Film News, and in a very special way, Danish Royal State Archives.

Great curiosity and a truly remarkable compliment to Serbia from the Danish side is the decision to exhibit the originals of the documents from 1909 between the Kingdom of Serbia and the Kingdom of Denmark, which for the first time was exposed, in honour of the anniversary of the two states, and on the National Day of Serbia (and beyond that) Danish Royal State Archives. So far, this honour did not have any embassy before. Due to its exceptional value, the original is only exposed on the opening day of the exhibition (with enormous security measures that gave the reception and exhibition a special glamour).

Dr Steen Andersen, senior researcher of the Royal State Archives spoke about the significance of original documents, artefacts from the collection of the Royal State Archives, which were created eight years before than the official diplomatic relations were established.

Dr. Karsten Fledelius, the historian, expert for the Balkans and the President of the DANJUS (Danish-Jugoslav Society) spoke about the significance of the beginning of the second century of diplomatic relations, geo-strategic changes and the development of the relationship between Copenhagen and Belgrade, but also the significance of the exhibition itself in a context of changes and better knowledge of the situation and circumstances.

Serbian Ambassador Jasmina Mitrović Maric excited for the exceptional response of her colleagues who supported the initiative, as well as the presence of eminent representatives from the Danish academic, cultural, scientific, economic and political community, in the spirit of the host-moderator between the three speakers, highlighted the specialty of Serbia through stories and anecdotes of Serbia of exceptional spirit and gifts, made the atmosphere visibly pleasant, smiley, relaxed, domestic and different than expected on such receptions.

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Also the singing of the Serbian hymn at the beginning of the program was unusual - one mezzo-soprano with one violin, as well as the Serbian ethno jazz, that was playing of the atmosphere during the duration of the reception, and who, surprised by the new sound, inquired the guests. Finally, with the TOS brochure "Serbian food for the soul", it is understood in English, served carefully selected and especially artfully decorated snacks of Serbian traditional cuisine.

Photo: Hasse Ferrold

During the past year, our DKP has especially developed cooperation with the Tourist Organization of Serbia (TOS), and on this occasion we have accompanied every guest with a tourist monograph on Serbia, a small bottle of desert fruit wine produced in our country, all in the beautiful bags of TOS with the clear, colourful printed name of our country.

In one word - carefully designed, in every detail, which is the real and absolutely successful promotion of Serbia as a bearer of European values in culture, science, education, history, tradition, heritage ...