The participants were welcomed to the reception in the National Assembly House by National Assembly Deputy Speaker Marina Ragus. Greeting the children, she told them that it was important that they know where and what their motherland is, to cultivate ties with it and hoped that our best ambassadors, which children undoubtedly are, would present Belgrade and Serbia in the best light.

“I hope that one day, regardless of what country you currently in, you would find your way to Serbia, start families and build a beautiful future here”, said Ragus.

In addition to the organisers, the reception in the National Assembly House was attended by children from Germany, Romania, Slovenia and Croatia, their hosts, students of “Starina Novak” Elementary School, as well as Milica Djurdjevic Stamenkovski, Minister of Family Care and Demography, and there was also an exhibition of children’s paintings.

The “All-Serbian Children’s Assembly”, festival of children and youth from the region, diaspora and Serbia, gathers children aged 9 to 13 with the aim of establishing lasting ties with the motherland, developing the feeling or belonging and connection with peers from Serbia. The event is also an occasion for children and youth from the region and the diaspora to show how they maintain and nurture Serbian culture and tradition.

This years’ event is held in Belgrade, from 23 to 26 May 2024, under the patronage of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and is organised by the Children’s Cultural Centre of Belgrade and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Office for Cooperation with the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region.