The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Serbia organized in Belgrade on October 1 a ceremonial celebration of the country’s national holiday – the Day of German Unity
The event was attended by a large number of representatives of the diplomatic corps in Belgrade, generals and officers of the German, Serbian, and other armies, as well as guests from Serbian public life.
The host of the event, German Ambassador Anke Konrad, welcomed attendees including Speaker of the National Assembly Ana Brnabić, Minister of Domestic and Foreign Trade Jagoda Lazarević, Minister of Foreign Affairs Marko Đurić, Minister of Agriculture Dragan Glamočić, Minister of Justice Nenad Vujić, and Minister without Portfolio in charge of Reconciliation, Regional Cooperation and Social Stability Usame Zukorlić.
The celebration began with the national anthems of Germany and Serbia. Among those present were also Dušan Živković, General Director of Elektroprivreda Srbije, Milan Gajić, President of the German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce, as well as ambassadors Edward Ferguson of the United Kingdom, Luca Gori of Italy, and Akira Imamura of Japan.
“Thirty-five years ago, many Germans saw their dream fulfilled – the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 marked the beginning of the end of Germany’s division. German unity was achieved because of the revolt of the citizens in East Germany who wanted freedom instead of social and political paternalism, who wanted to form their own opinions instead of memorizing someone else’s, and who wanted to take their lives into their own hands,” said German Ambassador Anke Konrad at the celebration.
The Day of German Unity is Germany’s national holiday, commemorating the country’s reunification after it had been divided during the Cold War. It has been celebrated on October 3 since 1990, when reunification was formally completed.
