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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

National Museum in Belgrade to be opened in June

Belgrade, 6 January 2018

President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic and Prime Minister Ana Brnabic visited today the building of the National Museum in Belgrade and on this occasion announced the opening of this institution of Serbian culture in six months.

Brnabic pointed out that the reconstruction of the National Museum is one of the most important projects for the citizens and the future of Serbia, noting that by opening it in June a signal is given that culture is important, that we will invest more in it, because it is the healthiest basis for Serbia's long-term development, but also a signal that the government is finalising projects.

In 2018 it will be 15 years since this museum was closed, it is a kind of cultural genocide that we imposed on ourselves, and it is important that after we opened the Museum of Contemporary Art last year, to finish the reconstruction and open the National Museum in Belgrade, the Prime Minister said.

In Serbia it has been important for so long to get the money and start projects, then put this project ad acta and not finish it. The previous government, led by Aleksandar Vucic, and this government are finishing projects - whether it is the smallest school in the smallest village in Serbia, the Museum of Contemporary Art or the National Museum, Brnabic stated.

She stated that culture is one of the priorities of this government, since the former government introduced order in macroeconomics to a large degree, fiscal stability, and that it is up to this government to maintain it and carry on with the same trend.

According to Brnabic, in this regard, education and culture are important for the long-term development of Serbia because without it we cannot have new, younger generations who think creatively, analytically and who are not afraid to make decisions.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that the National Museum will open its doors at St. Vitus Day and that citizens, as well as tourists from around the world, will have an opportunity to see a rich cultural offer of this institution which is crucial for Serbian culture and spirituality.

Vucic said that he is overwhelmed with happiness for being today in this institution of Serbian culture and spirituality, and that it is difficult to find words for what we have done to ourselves by not having had a single exhibition here for 15 years.

Since 2003 there has been no permanent exhibition at the National Museum. I am very pleased that we started a fundamental reconstruction in 2014. The workers and contractors claim that the reconstruction will have been completed by 31 March. You will have time to see how the exhibition is being prepared and I believe that we can open the door of this museum on St. Vitus Day, which, along with the National Theatre, is certainly the most important Serbian cultural institution for the citizens of Serbia and the world, the President of Serbia stated.

This is something that will remain for the future of our children and will make a move forward in the cultural offer of Serbia and Belgrade. We have more than 3,000 paintings and 900 sculptures in the National Museum in Belgrade. I believe that this will be a great place for citizens and that we will be able to boast about something that we unreasonably managed to lose 15 years ago, Vucic concluded.