Serbian exhibition on the life and works of Jovan Dučić

Minister,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Dear friends,

A very warm welcome to this exhibition on the life and work of Jovan Dučić to commemorate 75 years since his death. A very warm thank you to the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Serbia for kindly bringing this exhibition to the Palais des Nations, and congratulations on your recent Statehood Day on 15 February.

Jovan Dučić spent some of his most formative years here in Geneva, studying law at the University of Geneva before entering the diplomatic service. His years in our town greatly influenced Dučić’s personality both as a poet and an intellectual. In fact, Dučić’s first book of poetry was published in 1901, while he was a student in Geneva, and works such as “Letters from Switzerland” share his impressions from travelling in Switzerland and provide insights into Swiss history and culture. It is clear that Switzerland held a special place in his heart, as it does for many of us.

As part of an impressive career as a diplomat, in which he served in a number of cities around the world, in 1924 Dučić returned to Geneva as Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes to the League of Nations here in Geneva. This is particularly special to recall as we celebrate this year the centenary of the League. It also reinforces the experience many of us have, that, once one has spent some time in Geneva, this magnificent city always draws you back!

Today Serbia makes a valued contribution to multilateralism and the work of the United Nations, and I very much appreciate our positive relationship. Geneva also continues to be the second home of more than 2,000 Serbian nationals, many of whom study at the University of Geneva, continuing the legacy of Serbian interactions with our host city that Dučić represented.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Jovan Dučić is one of the titans of Serbian history and culture. It is an honour for us here at the Palais des Nations to host this retrospective of the life and work of a man who was a great poet and a distinguished diplomat, and who personalises the strong and enduring connections between Serbia and International Geneva.

Thank you very much to all of you for being here.