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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Israel’s experience with Diaspora important for Serbia

Belgrade, 27 August 2008

Serbian Minister for Diaspora Srdjan Sreckovic met today with Israeli Ambassador to Serbia Arthur Koll to discuss mutual cooperation and organise the upcoming international conference on the Diaspora, to be held on November 18–20 in Belgrade, organised by the Ministry for Diaspora and UNDP.

The Ministry says in a statement that they talked about Israel’s positive experiences and good practice in relations with its Diaspora.

Considering its huge Diaspora, Serbia needs to get acquainted with the experience of countries that have well-developed cooperation with their Diaspora in order to enable the young to return to their native country, facilitate economic investments and regain Diaspora’s trust.

They agreed at the meeting that a unique state strategy towards Diaspora is needed for relations between the country and its Diaspora to function properly, and Israel’s knowledge and practice in this sense are of crucial importance.

By adopting the Law on Diaspora, Israel created the necessary conditions for the return of its nationals and for regulating the financing of the country from the Diaspora through economic investments.

A large number of Serbs living abroad who became acclaimed experts and scholars are the potential Serbia needs in order to continue its EU integration.

Adoption of a law on the Diaspora will make it easier for Serbs abroad to return and participate in the work of state organs.

One of the priorities of the Ministry for Diaspora is to adopt this law on the basis of the experience of countries with well regulated relations between the homeland and Diaspora. Israel is a country which has managed to attain a high level of development owing to its ability to use the potential of its citizens abroad.

The international conference on the Diaspora aims to link state institutions and experts from Serbia to other countries in Europe, Asia and North America which deal with issues of migration and the Diaspora, and to create a platform for the Ministry for Diaspora to form and redefine goals regarding new partners in the international community and the Serbian Diaspora.

Israeli expert for relations with the Diaspora Ilen Cohan from the Centre for International Migration and Integration will also take part in the conference.