With the “Grito de Dolores,” the traditional cry in honor of Mexico’s independence, the Embassy of Mexico celebrated the 215th anniversary of the country’s independence this evening at the “Metropol Palace” hotel in Belgrade
The Ambassador of Mexico to Serbia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia, Carlos Felix Corona, holding the national flag in his hand, shouted in Spanish: “¡Viva México! ¡Viva la independencia!” — and the celebration officially began.
The term “Grito de Dolores” originates from the town of Dolores, where on September 16, 1810, Roman Catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla ordered the church bells to ring — an act considered the first call to arms in the War of Independence from Spain.
The reception was attended by a large number of foreign ambassadors and mission heads (from the USA, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, South Korea, Austria, Cyprus, Greece, Israel, the United Kingdom, Kazakhstan, Switzerland, Romania, Italy, North Macedonia…), but once again, no minister from the Government of the Republic of Serbia was present. Although Minister Aleksandra Sofronijević was announced in the speech, she did not appear.
In his speech, Ambassador Carlos Felix Corona emphasized the importance of the strong diplomatic relations between our two countries, which have lasted for 79 years, as well as the fact that Mexico has not recognized the independence of Kosovo.
He also mentioned some upcoming cultural events such as “The Taste of Mexico” and “The Day of the Dead” that will be held in Belgrade in the coming months. He referred as well to the upcoming FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada, and said he hoped that the final would be played between Serbia and Mexico at the National Stadium in Mexico City — a comment that drew loud laughter from most of the guests in the room.
