First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic, who is currently in New York, visited yesterday the remains of "St. Sava Church" in New York which had been destroyed in a fire.

"I wish to reiterate the solidarity of the entire Serbian people, Serbian state and all its citizens in the aftermath of this tragedy.

I was informed by Father Djokan and the head of Serbian parish that the investigation is still underway and that we are still waiting for the results in order to be able to determine the causes of the fire. On the other hand, the Serbian community will insist on establishing the full truth about what actually happened.

In addition to the funds that the church will most probably receive from the insurance company, we will insist and request, through diplomatic channels, that the City of New York also assists in the reconstruction of the old or the building of a new church, since this edifice has been a cultural treasure for more than a century.

In the consultations with Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, I have been authorized to announce that the Serbian Government will support the reconstruction of the church. We consider this extremely important for the Serbian community living here, our sense of togetherness, and the Serbian spirit existing here in New York. We further hope that other institutions, citizens and associations of the Serbian community world-wide will demonstrate their solidarity as well.

I have witnessed here a strong spirit of togetherness and resolve to restore the church as soon as possible, and we will offer our full support in order to ensure that a Serbian church is constructed here within a year or two. We will thus continue the perennial tradition existing here in New York", stated Minister Dacic.