Patriarch, PM meet with diaspora Serbs

SPC Patriarch Irinej meet with representatives of the diaspora and Serbs from the region in Belgrade on Sunday, said reports. The head of the Serbian Orthodox Church told them "not to forget their origin and roots", adding that they should revive, strengthen and maintain their relation with the mother country. Patriarch, PM meet with diaspora Serbs During the talks between the patriarch and a delegation of the Assembly of the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region, Minister for Diaspora Srdjan Sreckovic expressed his gratitude to Patriarch Irinej for having blessed the assembly, adding that in the manner, an important message was sent that the state and the church will in future work together on the preservation of cultural, language and religious identity. Minister of Religion Bogoljub Sijakovic pointed out that the diaspora should be a role model to the Serbian citizens, "in terms of purity of religion and patriotic feeling". President of the Assembly of the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region Slavomir Gvozdenovic said that the role of the Assembly is defined within legal and institutional frameworks, adding that it has to be based on mutual appreciation and respect. The three-day meeting of the assembly will end today in Belgrade, as its representatives met with Serbian PM Mirko Cvetkovic. Cvetkovic called on the Serbs from the diaspora and region to seriously take into consideration all possible investments in Serbia. Cvetkovic pointed out that Serbia's GDP was positive early in 2010, but insufficient for considerable increase of the standard of living and production. “If we want to achieve high growth rates, we need foreign investments,” Cvetkovic said and called on Serbs in the diaspora to invest in Serbia not only for patriotic reasons, but also because they will benefit from that. The people in the diaspora have certain advantages, since they know the language and are familiar with the culture and specific circumstances, and I hope that they will have an interest in investing in Serbia which will be of assistance in that respect, the prime minister underlined. He was also quoted as saying that the constitution of the Assembly of the Diaspora and the Serbs in the Region represents a new phase in the relations between Serbia and Serbs in the diaspora, "whose voice will be more influential in future". The assembly participants and the patriarch in front of St. Sava's Temple (Tanjug)

Patriarch, PM meet with diaspora Serbs

During the talks between the patriarch and a delegation of the Assembly of the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region, Minister for Diaspora Srđan Srećković expressed his gratitude to Patriarch Irinej for having blessed the assembly, adding that in the manner, an important message was sent that the state and the church will in future work together on the preservation of cultural, language and religious identity.

Minister of Religion Bogoljub Šijaković pointed out that the diaspora should be a role model to the Serbian citizens, "in terms of purity of religion and patriotic feeling".

President of the Assembly of the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region Slavomir Gvozdenović said that the role of the Assembly is defined within legal and institutional frameworks, adding that it has to be based on mutual appreciation and respect.

The three-day meeting of the assembly will end today in Belgrade, as its representatives met with Serbian PM Mirko Cvetković.

Cvetković called on the Serbs from the diaspora and region to seriously take into consideration all possible investments in Serbia.

Cvetković pointed out that Serbia's GDP was positive early in 2010, but insufficient for considerable increase of the standard of living and production.

“If we want to achieve high growth rates, we need foreign investments,” Cvetković said and called on Serbs in the diaspora to invest in Serbia not only for patriotic reasons, but also because they will benefit from that.

The people in the diaspora have certain advantages, since they know the language and are familiar with the culture and specific circumstances, and I hope that they will have an interest in investing in Serbia which will be of assistance in that respect, the prime minister underlined.

He was also quoted as saying that the constitution of the Assembly of the Diaspora and the Serbs in the Region represents a new phase in the relations between Serbia and Serbs in the diaspora, "whose voice will be more influential in future".