2016 - "Belgrade - Ottawa: Diplomatic Relations from their Establishment to Date"

Upon 75th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Canada and Yugoslavia the Archives of Yugoslavia prepared the exhibition of archival documentation "Belgrade – Ottawa Diplomatic Relations from Their Establishment to Date".

This exhibition was realized in cooperation with Canadian Embassy in Belgrade and Diplomatic Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Seerbia. During the opening ceremony on June 22, 2016 at the presence of representatives of diplomatic corps in the Republic of Serbia, representatives of scientific and cultural establishment, Miladin Milošević, Acting Director of the Archives of Yugoslavia addressed the audience pointing out that that exhibited documentation express durability and continuity of the relation between two countries and that the role of the Archive being protector of precious archival material has been stressed by this exhibition and the fact that diplomatic relations of two countries haven’t been subject of scientific researches. The exhibition presents beginning of the development of diplomatic relations of two countries, opening of diplomatic missions and their upgrading to the embassies, diplomats representing two countries in Belgrade and Ottawa, meetings and negotiations of high officials especially Ministries of foreign affairs, international bilateral treaties.

After addressing of the Director of the Archives of Yugoslavia, Danilo Pantović, Ambassador and the Head of the Department for North And South America in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia addressed the audience. He talked about history of the relations between Canada and Serbia respectfully Yugoslavia by giving various examples.

H.E. Philip Pennington, Ambassador of Canada thanked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia and the Archives of Yugoslavia on realization of the exhibition and their dedication, pointing out the good relations between two countries, positive trends and investments as well as support that Canadian Embassy provides for the Government of Serbia in obtaining success in the process of European integrations.

Ivan Tasovac, the Minister of Culture and Information in the Government of the Republic of Serbia said that the exhibition that has been opened today is significant in many ways because " both history and diplomacy and politics and sociology, and culture and many other fields which have shaped the life of the societies of Serbia and Canada, meet and imbued one another there”. He added that diplomatic relations between Belgrade and Ottawa had entered their 75th year since 75 years ago the Decree on Opening of the Mission of the Kingdom of Serbia in Ottawa was passed and that exhibition is dedicated just to this anniversary. According to him one of the key aspects of Serbian-Canadian relations was the fact that one of the most numerous Serbian communities in the world live and work in Canada, contributing to building Canadian society and creating one of the world's strongest economies.

At the end of his speech the exhibition was officially opened.

The exhibition has 180 documents and photos and was accompanied with Serbian-French-English catalogue prepared by Dušan Jončić and Miroslava Medaković.

Exhibited documents and photos at the exhibition belong to the fonds and collections of the Archives of Yugoslavia, Diplomatic Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia and the Museum of the History of Yugoslavia.

The exhibition will be opened till October 10, 2016 every working day from 10: 00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.