President: United diaspora important to Serbia

BELGRADE -- Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić underscored on Wednesday that it was "very important for Serbia to have a united diaspora."

(Tanjug)

This is "the only way the country's reputation can improve and investments can be attracted," he was quoted as saying during a meeting with a group of prominent individuals from the Serb diaspora.

Nikolić also said that relations between Serbia and Serbs in the diaspora weakened over the past decades due to negative moves of the government.

During a meeting in Belgrade organised by the government Office for Cooperation with the diaspora and Serbs in the region, Nikolić said that he does not want to hear the question as to what Serbs in the diaspora can do for Serbia, because it is up to the diaspora to decide.

According to a release issued by the president's press service, Nikolić underscored that the talks need to be marked by sincere and friendly notes which would contribute to restoration of mutual trust.

Serbs need to be included in the political life of countries they are living in, Nikolić said and added that this will affect the adoption of the key decisions concerning their lives, and at the same time they would have the chance to communicate the truth about Serbia and Serbs.

Representatives of Serbs from the diaspora asked for the support of President Nikolić in the adoption of the declaration on cooperation between the mother country and the diaspora and presented the initiative for setting up national councils and they also expressed the wish for the diaspora's engagement in improving the image of Serbia in the world.