The ceremonial session of the Assembly of the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region was held on 3 July 2010, starting at 12 p.m. in the Great Hall of the National Assembly House. The President of the Republic of Serbia, Boris Tadic, NARS Speaker Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic and Minister of Diaspora Srdjan Sreckovic held an opening address. The session was attended by many of the ministers of the Serbian Government, representatives of other relevant institutions, delegates of the Assembly of the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region. The Assembly of the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region was formed in line with the Law on the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region.

The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic stressed that the Law on the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region, adopted under the roof of the NARS, confirms the state’s concern for the real and legal position of the diaspora, as does the concurrence of all relevant state bodies to cultivate the relationship with the diaspora and Serbs in the region – a relationship based on the constitutional tenet “the Republic of Serbia shall protect the rights and interests of its citizens abroad and shall develop and promote relations of Serbs living abroad with the kin state”.

Stressing that about three and a half million citizens live outside of Serbian borders, the NARS Speaker pointed out that Serbs in the diaspora are the true representatives of Serbia’s national interests, culture and identity and can best influence the elimination of negative misconceptions and prejudice about Serbia and properly promote the validity of Serbia’s state goals and the reasons for their priority status.

“I am truly glad to directly feel the readiness of eminent members of the diaspora to assist the overall development of the country, particularly in the sphere of economy – by investing into the motherland’s wellbeing. The importance of such investments is manifold because through them, in addition to introducing “fresh” capital into the motherland, our compatriots abroad also promote the transfer of knowledge, skills and modern European and global business measures and standards”.