Serbs from diaspora mark Serbian Unity Day in Stuttgart: Our strength lies in unity

The Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom and the National Flag was marked in the diaspora for the fourth time, with this year’s central gathering held in Ludwigsburg near Stuttgart. Djordje Milicevic, a minister in Serbia’s caretaker government responsible for the diaspora, said at the ceremony that Serbia would remain a pillar of support for its people and that the Serbian tricolor was a symbol of freedom, identity and history, as well as a bond connecting the Serbian people.

He addressed those gathered at the ceremony following the playing of the national anthems of Serbia, the Republic of Srpska and Germany.

“On the occasion of the Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom and the National Flag, from Stuttgart, where we are marking this exceptionally important and significant holiday together with our people today, we are sending, above all, a message of solidarity and unity to all Serbs, wherever they may live. Our tricolor is not merely a return to the past. Our tricolor is a symbol of freedom, identity and history, but also a bond between our people, wherever they may live, however far apart geographically they may be and regardless of borders,” Milicevic said.

He stressed that the tricolor was a reminder of what had been inherited from previous generations and must be preserved, but also a reminder of the obligations and responsibilities toward the future.

“Serbia will be a pillar of support for its people. Our strength lies in unity. Regardless of where we live, regardless of how many kilometers separate us geographically from Serbia and regardless of borders, we are bound above all by our roots, by our flag and by belonging to the same people. I congratulate all citizens of Serbia, everyone living in our homeland, all Serbian citizens living in the region, in the diaspora and around the world on the Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom and the National Flag. Long live, above all, our unity, long live our flag, and long live our Serbia,” Milicevic said.

Republic of Srpska Minister for European Integration and International Cooperation Zlatan Klokic said it was particularly important that such significant dates were commemorated together with the Republic of Serbia and with Serbs living abroad.

“You are proven patriots and demonstrate your love for your roots every day. That love is particularly visible today. You are our bridge to the world. The day we celebrate today is the culmination and a reminder of who we are and where we come from. Thank you for preserving our name, our homeland and our flag far from the motherland. It is important that we stand together,” Klokic said.

Serbian Consul General in Stuttgart Dragan Dimitrijevic also addressed the gathering, saying that although kilometers, rivers and borders separated them from Serbia, no distance could sever the ties connecting Serbs abroad with their country.

“You who live and work abroad are the best ambassadors of our people. So today, let us promise one another that we will look after each other. Let us preserve our language, culture and freedom,” Dimitrijevic said.

This is the fourth consecutive year that, at the initiative and with the support of Minister Milicevic, the major national holiday has brought together Serbs living outside their homeland. Following Frankfurt in 2023, Munich in 2024 and Vienna in 2025, this year’s gathering was organized in Stuttgart and Ludwigsburg.

The cultural and artistic program featured SKK “Nova Generacija” from Schorndorf, which performed the “Gnjilane” choreography—traditional dances from the Kosovo Pomoravlje region.

They were followed by the SKSC Singing Society from Heilbronn, which performed “Ovo je Srbija” (This Is Serbia) a cappella. The cultural program concluded with KUD “Sveti Nikolaj Srpski” from Ulm, which performed the “Serbian Wedding” choreography featuring dances from central Serbia.

The event concluded with a concert by Nikola Rokvic and Milica Todorovic.

At today’s celebration, Zdravko Milisavljevic, whose family roots are in Srbovac near Zvecan, presented his beer brand “Kum.”

He said that he regularly visited Kosovo with his wife and four children and planned to introduce his beer in the area his family comes from in the near future.

“I was born here in Germany, but my family is from Kosovo, so I go there regularly. We are here because of our beer, ‘Kum.’ My best man and I founded the brand two and a half years ago, and we have been selling it ever since. People drink it. We help one another in every way. Whenever someone has a business, we support them. As far as we are concerned, people buy our beer, it sells, people drink it and recognize us, so I can say that things are going very well so far. We are working on it and, God willing, we hope that our beer will also be enjoyed in Kosovo,” Milisavljevic said.