MILIVOJEVIĆ: INITIATIVE OF US CONGRESSMEN - SUPPORT FOR SERBS

BELGRADE, JULY 29 /SRNA/ - The initiative by American congressmen to declare February as Serbian-American Heritage Month represents a political signal and America's support for Serbia, Republika Srpska, and the entire Serbian corpus in this region, Serbian career diplomat Zoran Milivojević told SRNA.

"This will, certainly, reflect on our mutual relations, but also on the position of the Serbian people in this region. This is a confirmation of a kind of support from America, the American state, and American policy for the Serbian national being in this region," said Milivojević. He assessed that this builds upon the stance of the new American administration toward Republika Srpska, the Serbian question in BiH, and the Dayton Agreement, as well as the recent start of the dialogue on the strategic partnership between Serbia and the US. "All of this is part of a mosaic that should chart the course for Serbian-American relations in their entirety in the future. When I say Serbian and Serbian-American relations, I mean the Serbian corpus as a whole in this region," Milivojević pointed out. He believes that this initiative is connected to the beginning of the strategic dialogue between Serbia and the US, as well as to the new perspective on the Serbian question, that is, the Serbian corpus, by the administration of President Donald Trump. The sponsor of the resolution is Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, who is the co-chair of the Serbian Caucus in the US Congress, and it is clear, Milivojević believes, that this should serve to stabilize and return to some of the old relations between the US and Serbia. "The resolution, which takes into account the roots of these relations and their past, which was certainly positive, aims to continue charting these relations in the future along the lines we have witnessed since 1881, since the establishment of bilateral relations, when the US recognized Serbia after the Congress of Berlin. That is the point," clarified Milivojević. He pointed out that the goal is to affirm what represents the cultural heritage and the contribution of Serbs to the American state and American society over more than 200 years. "This should be the foundation for future relations and the basis for restoring those relations to the level they once were," stated Milivojević. When asked if he expects support from both Democrats and Republicans for this initiative, Milivojević said that this is an American approach and practically relates to the American state and nation as a whole, and that it is quite certain that a significant portion of Democrats support it too. "It is about the perception of the Serbian people and the relationship toward the Serbian people and Serbia in the future. Every administration will have its own narrower goals, but this is a foundation that will not change, and future relations will rest on it. Personally, I think there are no obstacles for this resolution to pass in Congress and practically become the basis for future relations, both regarding Republicans and Democrats, and regarding America and the American people and American policy in its entirety," said Milivojević. Five members of the US Congress introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives proposing that February be declared Serbian-American Heritage Month, stating that it is important to recognize and celebrate the achievements, heritage, and cultural contributions of Serbian Americans and their role in strengthening the US. The proposed Serbian-American Heritage Month would provide an opportunity to organize educational, cultural, and public programs dedicated to the history, achievements, and heritage of the Serbian-American community across the US every year. The sponsors of the resolution are Congress members Claudia Tenney from New York, who is also the co-chair of the Serbian Caucus, Emanuel Cleaver from Missouri, Scott Fitzgerald from Wisconsin, Anna Paulina Luna from Florida, and Victoria Spartz from Indiana.