Vucic receives Serb children from region, diaspora

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic received a group of Serb children from the region and the diaspora on Friday, noting that they were contributing to Serbia in many ways.

"Thank you for being here today and for every smile and the joy you brought here, to the Palace of Serbia. I believe you like Belgrade the most and I am proud we can host you today," Vucic told the children.

He said the children had come from central Serbia, Kosovo-Metohija, Republika Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, the UK, Italy, Austria, Norway and Germany.

"Thank you, children, for being here today, thank you for loving your Serbia, regardless of whether you live here or not. In the past, I used to believe the biggest trouble for the country is when our children are growing up somewhere else. Then I realised that all of our children who are growing up somewhere abroad and going to school, fighting and knowing their roots are, in fact, contributing to their country in many ways. Firstly, other people see how good people they are and lose a part of the negative beliefs and prejudices against our people and our country and, ultimately, you are the ones who are spreading the truth about Serbia everywhere and who love Serbia immeasurably, which few of us who grew up here can even understand," Vucic said.

"Someone who loves their fatherland always lives in a broad space," Vucic said, quoting the great Serbian poet Jovan Ducic.