The main celebration of European Heritage Day is being held in Belgrade from 20 to 23 September as part of Serbia’s chairing the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

In front of the National Assembly House, a celebration was held on 21 September, honouring the European Flag Day where the European Flag was ceremoniously raised for the first time, to the tune of the European anthem.

Addressing all present, Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Oliver Dulic said that this is an important day for Serbia, because the European flag will now fly next to the Serbian. “We will do all in our power to soon become part of Europe and accept European values”, said the Speaker of the Assembly and stated that Serbia can become part of developed Europe only if all citizens start changing and intensively improving themselves.

Dulic expressed an expectation that the National Assembly House will soon become the place to pass Serbian Bills which will bring the state closer to the European Union.

On 21 September an International Round Table was held in the National Assembly House, dedicated to common European heritage, where the common experience of the Council of Europe and European Commission was presented about the projects of rehabilitation of the heritage as a contribution to the improvement of the quality of life of the citizens – the experience of Southeastern Europe.

On the press conference held before the plenary session, members of the domestic and foreign press were addressed by the Council of Europe Secretary General Terry Davis, Head of the European Commission delegation in Serbia Josep Lloveras, Speaker of the National Assembly Oliver Dulic and Deputy Mayoress of Belgrade Radmila Hrustanovic.

Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Oliver Dulic said that the European Heritage Days are an important indicator that Serbia is a strong and influential part of the European heritage. Celebrating this event in Belgrade gives Serbia the chance to show how much it has taken part, as a nation and a state, in something that can be considered European integrity.

Speaker Dulic expressed his pleasure at the fact that the European flag will be raised in front of the National Assembly House which, according to him, should mark the first step in respecting the flag as a symbol of what Serbian society aspires to, namely becoming part of a united Europe. “On the way, Serbia enjoys a great support of European friends staying today in Belgrade”, the Speaker of the National Assembly said at the end of his address to the press.

In his opening speech at the International Round Table, the Speaker of the National Assembly said that Serbia wants to be the “engine” of integration in the region and the leader of regional development in the area of exchange of experience, goods, cultural values and ideas. He deemed that regional cooperation is of great importance for the development of all societies in the Balkans and that Serbia is quite aware of the importance of the region which it occupies.

Dulic emphasised that he will, as Parliament Speaker, battle against discrimination and for the development of the spirit of tolerance adding that he expects that Serbia will have regions that will be capable of being worthy partners to each other and to other regions in Europe.

At the end of the plenary session in the Greater Hall of the National Assembly House, the Republic of Serbia signed three conventions of the Council of Europe pertaining to heritage.