Our diplomatic missions continue to receive condolences from around the world

All diplomatic and consular missions of the Republic of Serbia have opened Books of Condolence after the unprecedented tragedies in the Elementary School „Vladislav Ribnikar“ in Belgrade and the villages around Mladenovac. Although the Books of Condolence were officially closed after a few days, condolences are still pouring in.

All over the world, a large number of officials, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of public and political life and the Serbian diaspora came to our embassies and consulates to pay their tribute to the innocent victims.

The President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović, wrote the following words in the Book of Condolence at the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Podgorica: „It was with great sadness that I received the news about the tragic events in Serbia. Hoping that something like this will never happen again, I convey my heartfelt condolences. Montenegro is with Serbia and the people of Serbia in its thoughts.“

Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos signed the Book of Condolence in Nicosia. He personally and on behalf of the President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulidis, expressed his condolences and full support to the Government of the Republic of Serbia in these difficult times.

Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Gordan Grlić Radman, personally signed the Book at the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Zagreb to express his condolences to the families of the victims and he wished the injured a speedy recovery.

In the e-mail of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, Margus Tsahkna, in the virtual Book of Condolence of the Embassy in Helsinki, which operatively covers this country, it is stated that Estonian people are with the citizens of Serbia in their thoughts. The Embassy in Luanda received condolences by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of São Tomé and Principe.

„I would like to express my condolences and sympathies to the families of the victims and the injured. The Chinese side firmly supports brotherly Serbia in maintaining peace and tranquility,“ wrote Deputy Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China, Deng Li in the Book of Condolence in Beijing.

The deputy ministers of foreign affairs of Ghana, Belarus, Armenia, Cuba, Türkiye, the Russian Federation and Austria also signed Books of Condolence.

At the Embassy in Washington, Congressman Eric Swalwell and Deputy Assistant U.S. Secretary of State and U.S. Special Representative to the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar signed the Book of Condolence, who wrote: „To the people of Serbia, on behalf of the American people and personally, I would like to express my deepest condolences on this day of mourning. We would like you to know that we are with you in your grief as friends. Your friend forever, Gabriel Escobar. “

Representatives of international organisations also extended their words of sympathy and support. Among others, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić, and the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, signed the Book of Condolence, while personal letters were sent by Olivér Várhelyi, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Stefano Sannino, the Secretary General of the European External Action Service, as well as Assistant Secretary General of NATO for Public Diplomacy, Baiba Braže.

Condolences also came through social networks. The foreign ministers of Latvia, Czechia, Italy, Austria, Moldova, Sweden, the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, Israel, Ireland, Cuba, Slovenia, North Macedonia, Belgium and Norway, and the U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, OSCE Secretary General Helga Schmid, MEPs, Viola von Cramon and Vladimír Bilčík, then Majlinda Bregu, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council and Angelina Eichhorst, Managing Director for Europe at the European External Action Service.

The flags on our DCMs were lowered to half-mast, and citizens lit candles in front of them. In Skopje, children from the Acting School of Vesna Petrushevska left flowers in front of the Embassy in memory of their peers from Serbia, while in front of the Embassy in Ljubljana, as a sign of support, students of the Supplementary School of the Serbian Language gathered. Messages of sympathy and support were written by the director of the Serbian Kindergarten, Primary School, Grammar School and Dormitory „Nikola Tesla“ in Budapest , teachers and students of the Serbian Grammar School „Dositej Obradović“ in Timișoara, teachers of supplementary schools of the Serbian language in Switzerland and Germany, members of more cultural and artistic societies, and the director of the Dortmund Philharmonic Orchestra, Gabriel Feltz, Belarusian students, participants of the "World in Serbia" Project, expressing their condolences electronically. Owners of clubs in Austria originally from Bosnia and Herzegovina collected significant financial aid. Memorial services for the victims were held in churches in Frankfurt, Nicosia, Copenhagen, Rome and Mexico.

In June of the current year, a concert of the European Spirit of Youth Orchestra (ESYO) dedicated to the victims will be held in the Consulate General of the Republic of Serbia in Trieste.