First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic officially opened exhibition "Many Faces of Serbian Diplomat Nusic" at the Museum of Serbian Diplomacy.

The exhibition was mounted on the occasion of 120th anniversary of Nusic's appointment as consul in Thessaloniki and presented a good opportunity to pay tribute to his diplomatic career.

In his statement, the Foreign Minister pointed out that the very title of the exhibition testified to the versatile life and career of Branislav Nusic, his wide-ranging interests and boundless energy.

The Minister also pointed out that promoting the lives and careers of prominent Serbian diplomats should be our obligation and duty as a way to promote cultural achievements of our country and our people.

"By promoting Serbian diplomatic heritage and creative achievements of our people, diplomacy performs one of its key functions and places Serbia on the international map of great people to whom mankind owes a debt of gratitude, concluded Minister Dacic.

The following is the full text of his statement:

"Distinguished guests,

Members of the Nusic family,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Admirers of Branislav Nusic,

I am honoured and pleased to be able to welcome you today, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Serbia and on my own behalf, in the Museum of Serbian Diplomacy at the opening of exhibition "Many Faces of Serbian Diplomat Bransilav Nusic".

The title of the exhibition has been chosen to emphasize Branislav Nusic's versatility, his wide-ranging interests and creative intelligence, perseverance and boundless energy.

Branislav Nusic was a member of the Serbian Royal Academy, a writer, satirist, playwright, diplomat, orator, ethnographer, the founder of a national theatre, journalist and a member of the first editorial board of "Politika" along with Vladislav Ribnikar.

I would like to emphasize that the main purpose of the exhibition was to mark 120th anniversary of Nusic's appointment as consul in the Serbian consulate in Thessaloniki but also to celebrate 130th anniversary of the opening of the Serbian consulate in that city. Let me also mention that Branislav Nusic was also posted to Serbian consulates in Bitola, Pristina and Cerres.

Throughout his diplomatic career Branislav Nusic faced many challenges as he sought to protect the rights and interests of Serbs. His writings and books from his diplomatic period and documents he left behind testify to the difficult times whose messages and advice are relevant even today if we are to understand some events in the Balkans and beyond.

At one point, Nusic famously said: "As diplomats, our job is to anticipate events before they become facts, to ensure most benefits for our country or at least eliminate harmful effects of some events."

The exhibition we are opening today in the Museum of Serbian Diplomacy is the first in a series entitled "Famous Serbian Diplomatic Families", staged in cooperation with Nusic Foundation and endowments or bequests such as "The Home of Jevrem Grujic", "The Petronijevic House", "The Veljkovic House", "Ivo Andric Endowment" and relevant institutions dealing with the protection of Serbian diplomatic heritage. I would like once again to express gratitude to the descendants of these great people, present here today with us, for keeping the traditions and heritage of Serbian diplomacy alive.

Promoting the lives and achievements of famous Serbian diplomats should be our obligation and duty since in doing so we promote cultural achievements of our country and our people. By promoting Serbian diplomatic heritage and achievements, diplomacy performs one of its major tasks – placing Serbia on the international map of the great people to whom mankind owes a debt of gratitude.

In the end, I would like to assure you that I shall continue to participate in events like this with great pleasure and once again take this opportunity to thank Nusic Foundation, Mr. Nebojsa Nusic, Centre Fabula Nostra and Mrs. Milena Secerovic for their efforts and engagement in making today's exhibition possible.

Thank you."