Olena Zelenska meets with Ukrainian diaspora in Belgrade, launches Ukrainian audio guide in Kalemegdan fortress
First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska is in Belgrade at the invitation of First Lady of Serbia Tamara Vucic to participate in a conference on mental health and devoted the first day of the visit to cultural diplomacy events.
As reported on the website of the head of the Ukrainian state, together with the first lady of Serbia, foreign ministers of the two countries Dmytro Kuleba and Marko Djuric, she took part in the opening of the Ukrainian bookshelf in the Belgrade library. The project has more than 200 shelves and 50,000 Ukrainian books in 47 countries. "I believe in a civilized dialogue of cultures. Now this, as well as joint humanitarian projects, continues to increase mutual understanding between Ukraine and Serbia," Zelenska noted.
The first ladies also took part in the launch of a Ukrainian audio guide at the Kalemegdan fortress in the center of Belgrade as part of Olena Zelenska's project to spread the Ukrainian language in attractions around the world. "This is already the 84th such guide of the project on the Ukrainianization of the world's leading monuments. I am glad that now this ancient place with a heroic history will be able to tell about itself in Ukrainian," Zelenska said.
On the same day, the First Lady and Foreign Ministers attended the signing of an agreement on research, education and cultural cooperation between the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and the University of Belgrade, which have been collaborating for almost 30 years. The new agreement provides for the opening of scientific and educational centers for the study of the history and culture of both countries.
The president's wife also held a meeting with representatives of the Ukrainian and Ukrainian-Rusyn communities. "We in Ukraine know well and appreciate the active work of representatives of the Ukrainian community in Serbia. You are the bridge that connects Ukraine and Serbia, who represents Ukraine to the Serbs every day. All your deeds are important: from training to volunteering, because it strengthens us all," Zelenska emphasized.