Duaa Mohamed
The Serbian Embassy in Cairo celebrated the National Day of the Republic of Serbia in the presence of Ambassador Miroslav Šeštović, Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia in Cairo, and the Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Mr. Alaa Farouk.
In his speech, the Serbian Ambassador welcomed the invitees and added,
Let me welcome you on behalf of the Military Attaché, Lieutenant Colonel/ Zdravko Perić, as we also celebrate the Serbian Armed Forces Day tonight.
The State Day of the Republic of Serbia, February 15, coincides with two important events in Serbian history that symbolically combine our national identity and statehood.
On this day, in 1804, a historic revolution broke out against the Ottoman Empire. It was not just a struggle for national liberation – it was a Serbian revolution to dismantle feudalism in our region. This struggle led to the establishment of the Principality of Serbia and the adoption of the first Serbian Constitution on February 15, 1835, one of the most advanced and modern constitutions in Europe at that time.
As fate would have it, February was also a turning point in the relations between Serbia and Egypt.
On February 1, 1908, diplomatic relations were established between the Kingdom of Serbia and the Khedive of Egypt. The letter of King Peter I of Serbia to His Majesty King Abbas II of Egypt, appointing the first diplomatic representative of Serbia, is presented, along with other documents that testify to the exceptional history of our bilateral relations.
During the 117 years of our official relations, strong ties have been established between our countries. From the golden age of friendship and cooperation within the Non-Aligned Movement – we all remember Presidents Tito and Nasser – to the Strategic Partnership Framework announced during the visit of the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt in July 2022 and the signing of the Free Trade Agreement during the return visit of the President of Serbia, in July last year.
I am pleased to have with us tonight Egyptian diplomats who served at the Egyptian Embassy in Belgrade and contributed significantly to strengthening our bilateral relations. Allow me to pay tribute to them on this occasion.
Two major presidential visits have heralded a new golden age in our relations. They confirm the Egyptian proverb that “the best friend is the one who does not change with time or fortune.” Equally important, they reflect the fact that relations between states, based on mutual respect, international law and the basic principles of international relations, as is the case with Egypt and Serbia, will continue to face the challenges posed by the disintegrating world order that we all witness today with great concern.
Despite the many challenges, Egypt and Serbia have continued to reap the benefits of sound historical foundations, especially the two important presidential visits in the past three years. For example, in 2024 alone, we have signed 11 agreements, including the Free Trade Agreement, which stands out as the crown jewel and is of utmost importance for our business communities and comprehensive cooperation. Over the past year, besides the Serbian Presidential visit in July and the First Lady’s visit in November, we had the visit of the Senate Chairmen and the Minister of Communications, and most recently the visit of the Egyptian Foreign Minister to Serbia.
On that occasion, we have come together with a very ambitious roadmap for the future, confident that the best years of our relations and especially our economic cooperation are yet to come. Therefore, I am happy to announce that the Serbian Chamber of Commerce has officially started the process of opening its representative office in Cairo, the first in Africa. In addition, our most important and well-known companies, such as Delta Holding, are planning to establish the Serbian Business Club with a representative office in Cairo.
As for the Serbian Armed Forces, since military neutrality is a fundamental principle of Serbian foreign and security policy, it is a guarantee of our defense and a tool for building confidence. In this way, joint training, international military cooperation and participation in international missions become key factors for building trust between the Serbian Armed Forces and its international partners, among whom Egypt holds a special historical place.
As a non-resident Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the State of Palestine, allow me to express my admiration and appreciation for the pivotal contribution of Egypt to the coordinated efforts aimed at ending hostilities, releasing prisoners and delivering much-needed humanitarian aid to the suffering people of Gaza. Achieving peace through the recognition of the legitimate interests and rights of the Palestinians, as affirmed by multiple UN resolutions, is of great importance for both peoples.
I would also like to take this opportunity to extend a warm welcome to our diaspora and to Egyptian citizens with Serbian roots, who have found happiness and livelihood in this beautiful country among its hospitable people.
Finally, I would also like to thank all members of the Embassy staff for their commitment to organizing this event.
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