Description
The long history of diplomatic relations between Serbia and Portugal and the desire to intensify cooperation in all areas characterise the traditionally good and friendly relations between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Portugal.
Portugal provides strong support to Serbia’s progress towards EU membership and the integration of the Western Balkan region, and frequent diplomatic activities in recent years lead to further improvement of relations between the two countries and an increase in bilateral economic activities and the level of trade through the intensification of economic contacts.
Although small, the Serbian community in Portugal contributes to the quality of cultural exchange between the two countries and to the intensification of cultural cooperation, which overall makes Serbia and Portugal foster excellent political and diplomatic relations and sincere friendship between the two peoples.
The symbolism represented in the issue 140 Years since the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Serbia and Portugal reflects important segments of the relations between Portugal and Serbia. The cultures that connect the two peoples are best represented by important writers José Saramago and Ivo Andrić, who are also Nobel Prize winners for literature and internationally the most expressive representatives of the cultural and literary milieu of their nations. The same national tree – oak, along with the features of the species that grows both in Portugal and Serbia, illustrates the sameness of ideas and values that are most often associated with this tree, but also the uniqueness of the national identities of Portugal and Serbia. Finally, the architectural accomplishments that symbolise the capitals of Belgrade and Lisbon – the buildings of the national parliaments, besides the artistic value, also carry the ideological one, above all the commitment of both peoples to the ideals of democracy.
Expert collaboration: Embassy of the Republic of Portugal in Belgrade
Artistic realization of the issue: Boban Savić MA, academic painter
