The 75th Anniversary of the Archives of Yugoslavia

On January 21, 2025, at 1 p.m., a ceremonial event marked the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Archives of Yugoslavia. On this occasion, in the presence of numerous visitors and members of the diplomatic corps, the publishing activities of the Archives of Yugoslavia were presented in the amphitheater, with a special focus on two recent publications: the collection of works by Dr. Živko Avramovski, "The History of Albania and Serbian/Yugoslav-Albanian Relations 1912–1944", and the document collection "Serbian/Yugoslav-Egyptian Relations 1908–1990."

During the celebration, speeches were delivered by Dr. Milan Terzić, Director of the Archives of Yugoslavia; Dr. Dušan Bojković, senior archivist at the Archives of Yugoslavia; Dragan Teodosić, Head of the Department for Publishing Archival Materials and Inter-Archives Cooperation; and Nikola Selaković, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Serbia.

Dr. Milan Terzić welcomed the guests and highlighted the history of the Archives of Yugoslavia, the significance of its archival holdings, and the history of the building. He provided a brief overview of the Archives' publishing activities over recent years, noting that in previous commemorations of the Archives’ anniversary, exhibitions were prioritized. This year, the Archives aimed to showcase and bring public attention to its publishing activities, which had not been promoted since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Dušan Bojković, as the author of the foreword, presented the collection of works by Dr. Živko Avramovski, "The History of Albania and Serbian/Yugoslav-Albanian Relations 1912–1944," which he co-edited with Siniša Tadić, a senior archivist. He emphasized the significance of the collection, which comprises 14 articles by Avramovski, published over decades in various domestic and international journals. Bojković also noted its connection to a previously published collection by Avramovski, "Yugoslavia – Italy 1921–1941," which contained six articles.

Dragan Teodosić presented the document collection "Serbian/Yugoslav-Egyptian Relations 1908–1990," which he co-edited with Jelena Đurišić, an archival advisor. He explained that this collection is part of the series "Documents on the Foreign Policy of Yugoslavia," aimed at providing experts, researchers, and the broader public with insights into Yugoslavia’s bilateral relations during the 20th century. The collection comprises 264 documents from the holdings of the Archives of Yugoslavia and the State Archives of Serbia, covering a wide range of aspects of bilateral relations between Belgrade and Cairo. Teodosić also highlighted the expert foreword by Dr. Dragan Bogetić, a corresponding member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts.

Minister Nikola Selaković emphasized the importance of the Archives of Yugoslavia as a repository of rich archival material that is published and made accessible to researchers and curious individuals from Serbia and around the world. He underscored the government’s obligation to support the Archives' activities, enrich its publishing endeavors, and promote it widely. Selaković remarked that the Yugoslav state remains a historical phenomenon, still largely unknown, and that the Archives of Yugoslavia serves as a cornerstone for its study. Addressing regional debates about the Archives’ existence in Belgrade, he stated that Serbia is not only a successor of Yugoslavia but also its predecessor, having contributed its statehood to Yugoslavia. He further noted that three years ago, Serbia celebrated 145 years of diplomatic relations with the United States, as Yugoslavia inherited all legal acts and international agreements signed by the Kingdom of Serbia. Thus, the Archives' presence in Belgrade is a matter of pride, symbolizing openness to all well-intentioned researchers from the former Yugoslavia.

Following the presentations, attendees had the opportunity to enjoy a cocktail reception and visit two accompanying exhibitions: one commemorating 75 years of the Archives of Yugoslavia and another titled "World War I Memorials in the Holdings and Collections of the Archives of Yugoslavia," prepared by the Archives in collaboration with the Republic Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments late last year.