February 15, 2022

The Statehood Day of the Republic of Serbia - Sretenje

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, Nikola Selaković, conveyed a congratulation to the citizens of Serbia on the occasion of the Statehood Day of Serbia, which reads as follows:

"None of what we have today would exist without what happened on Sretenje 1804, in the Marićević Gully near Topola. That moment made ourselves and our state possible owing to the heroism of our ancestors and their awareness that freedom is more important than anything. And much like as Karadjordje’s insugrents gathered to fight for freedom and the resurrection of the Serbian state, we should be united as a nation today, in the fight for the Serbia of the future. We owe that to our ancestors, but above all to our descendants.

Today, Serbia is among  the fastest growing economies in Europe. We have made it a country of fast roads, strong economy and modern technologies. After years of stagnation and lagging behind, we caught up with the world and became the engine of development of the entire region.

The number of friends of Serbia is growing, and those who were not always so willing to hear us out on our state and national interests in the past, are ready to listen to us today, which is a result of remarkable efforts Serbia made to secure that, as a successful democratic state.

The symbolism of Sretenje is not something that should make us feel superior as a nation, but it is certanily a reason for us not to feel less valuable than some others in our immediate or distant enviroment. Serbia and the Serbian people today are equally freedom-loving and have the same desire to organize their society on the basis of the most advanced achievements of civilization. We are obliged to do that by countless sacrifices of our compatriots who built their lives into the foundations of this state – so that our people would be independent in its own country, so that it would grow and prosper.

On this great day, we remember our glorious ancestors, all those who gave their lives for the existence of Serbia, and we vow to live to make it better and more successful every day. Our struggle today needs to be a democratic one, our pistols and sabres will be knowledge and hard work, and our ammunition our unity and patience. Stability and peace are the requirements of our success.

Let us meet on Sretenje for our Serbia, a country of hardworking and successful people, which our glorious ancestors would be proud of, and which our children will love and fight for with all their hearts. Happy Statehood Day."