The ninetieth anniversary of the Serbian-Finnish diplomatic relations was marked at the Statehood Day reception, on 15 February, at the Serbian Embassy in Helsinki.

Ambassador Sasa Obradovic addressed the guests with a few appropriate words in the Finnish language and pointed to the significant events in our history that took place on the Statehood Day, as well as to the 90 years of good diplomatic relations between the two countries. He recalled the most important events in 2018, first and foremost the visits by high-level state delegations, but also the news that a direct flight between Belgrade and Helsinki would be operated from July. He concluded his remarks by pointing to the European path that Serbia embarked on, expressing expectation that EU support on this course would be further intensified during the Finnish Presidency of the EU Council.



The guests were also addressed by Finnish Under-Secretary Peeka Puustinen, who expressed satisfaction at the stable and good bilateral relations between the two countries, highlighting, in particular, last year's successful visit by State Secretary Matti Anttonen to Serbia. He underlined Finland's support to the EU enlargement process, but also the fact that the pace of Serbia's further progress depended primarily on the speed of the implementation of internal reforms.


The guests were served Serbian specialties while the cordial atmosphere was also contributed by the Metropolitan of the Finnish Orthodox Church Elia, who, together with the Ambassador, sang the song "C'mon Jana, let's sell the horse (Hajde, Jano, konja da prodamo)."