Kozarev: Serbian Consulate General in Miami and Direct Air Serbia Flight Coming Soon

The Consulate General of Serbia in Miami could be opened as early as this fall, as a reflection of enhanced and ambitious Serbian-American relations and the needs of the Serbian diaspora, stated today Dušan Kozarev, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He emphasized that the procedure is underway, as is the establishment of a direct Air Serbia flight between Belgrade and Miami, RTV reports.

Kozarev reminded that the Miami route will be Air Serbia’s third direct flight to the United States, alongside New York and Chicago.

“We hope it will happen soon—perhaps not with the upcoming winter flight schedule, which is relatively close—but possibly as early as March, when the summer schedule takes effect,” said Kozarev, adding that the delay is due to technical and logistical reasons.
He stressed that the Serbian diaspora in Florida is eagerly awaiting not only the new flight route but also the opening of the consulate.
“We are pleased to have had the opportunity to speak with officials at the Miami airport, with Air Serbia representatives, and with our diaspora in Florida, who are eagerly awaiting not only this direct flight, but also the announced opening of the Consulate General. This mission would likely serve not only Florida but also several U.S. states in that region, where a traditionally strong and present Serbian diaspora lives,” said Kozarev.

He underlined that these are potentially great developments for which the procedures are already in progress.
“We have already activated all official mechanisms, and what is now required for this to be realized is the approval of the relevant authorities in the U.S. It is a matter of days, and we expect that, along with the direct flight and the opening of the Consulate General, our network in the United States will expand and reflect both our bilateral relations and the needs of our citizens residing in that region,” Kozarev stated.

He further noted that once the official approvals from the host country arrive, it will take a few more months to complete internal preparations for opening the Consulate General.

“In the most optimistic scenario, if the host country's approval arrives tomorrow, we could see the new Consulates General in the United States open already by fall, marking an expansion of our diplomatic and consular network worldwide,” Kozarev said.
In addition to its Embassy in Washington, D.C. and Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Serbia currently has two Consulates General in the United States—in Chicago and New York—as well as a consular section within its Embassy in Washington.