THE FOLLOWING IS THE SPEECH OF THE SPEAKER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA IN ITS ENTIRETY:

"Dear children,

Welcome to our National Assembly, I hope you feel good here and that is how it should be, because you are among friends here, although a little older. You should know that we, adults, used to be children and, just like you today, we were looking forward to holidays, spending time with friends and to gifts, especially for New Year.

We have invited you to come to the National Assembly to take a look around and spend some time together, and of course to share some gifts we have prepared for you. This is the most beautiful building not only in Belgrade but in the whole of Serbia, so take the opportunity to take a little walk around it and see its beautiful halls. If you like it, maybe one day you will come here as MPs which is a big honour for everyone.

Here, we pass laws which is not a particularly fun job and your coming here has made us very happy, because we do not often have children visitors, who are always our favourite guests. I would like this to be a good memory for you and that you brag to your friends that you had a great time and wish to come again and visit us whenever you want.

I would also like to address, briefly, your foster families and say a big thank you to them on behalf of all of our citizens, because they have a big heart and great love for you. There is hardly anything more humane than being a foster parent, which is about five thousand families in Serbia today. I know that you are humble and that you do not like to brag about your foster care which makes you especially humane, so I will say it, you are doing the most beautiful thing people can do and watching your protégés’ grow up and have a beautiful childhood is your biggest reward.

On behalf of the Republic of Serbia, I promise you that this year we will support your mission with all our might, materially, financially and in every other way, because we want as many people as possible in Serbia to feel how great it is to be a foster parent and what kind of love you can give to those who lack it.

Happy New Year, may all the wishes you have imagined come true, as well as some beautiful ones that you have not yet wished, and let us see each other here again next year and celebrate.

Happy New Year!"