The 80th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Serbia and Canada was marked

31. May 2021.
State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, Nemanja Starović, spoke today at the opening of the exhibition on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Serbia and Canada, in the Archives of Yugoslavia.

State Secretary Starović reminded that bilateral relations between Serbia and Canada were established by a Decree signed by King Peter II Karađorđević and by the opening of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in Ottawa in 1941, adding that the people of our two countries were connected by equally bright traditions even before the formal diplomatic contacts.

State Secretary Starović said that the relations between Serbia and Canada, established in times of great challenges, when our peoples showed courage, unity and solidarity in the fight to preserve common civilizational values, show that our two countries can be true allies even today.

The State Secretary pointed to the continuous Canadian support for the Serbian process of European integration, emphasizing that Serbia and Canada share the awareness of the necessity of preserving peace, stability and security, as well as a vision of prosperity in the area of the Western Balkans.

Starović expressed confidence that Canada will recognize the effort of our side in a constructive approach to the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, which is conducted under the auspices of the EU, where we clearly express our commitment to preserving peace and security.

He also referred to the fact that a large Serbian diaspora lives in Canada, which is an important integrative element and a direct link between our two countries.

Starović concluded that eight decades of diplomatic relations represent the basis for strengthening cooperation, which is also reflected in the solidarity we have shown in the fight against the crisis caused by the pandemic.

The director of the Archives of Yugoslavia, Dr. Milan Terzić, and the Canadian Ambassador to Belgrade, Giles Norman, also spoke at the opening of the exhibition, and the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Canada Robert Oliphant, as well as the Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia in Ottawa, Dejan Ralević, made themselves heard via video link.