An event took place in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) of the United Kingdom, on Tuesday, 17 October, to mark the 180th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Serbia and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

FCO Political Director Karen Pierce and Acting Assistant Minister for Security Policy, Ambassador Branimir Filipovic, opened the event and welcomed the participants, while the Minister of State for Europe and the Americas, Sir Alan Duncan, addressed the audience on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Boris Johnson joined the participants at a cocktail reception after the event, welcoming the panellists and participants, and underlining the commitment of the United Kingdom to the deepening of bilateral cooperation with the Republic of Serbia.

This FCO event unfolded through three panel discussions focusing on the history of diplomatic relations between Serbia and the United Kingdom, review of the current state of affairs, and the development prospects, of these relations, and presentation of personal reflections of individuals in Serbia and the UK, whose life and careers were related to the two countries. The panellists included former and serving British diplomats, historians, journalists, as well as prominent and renowned individuals whose efforts have contributed to the strengthening of the relations between the two countries.

In his keynote address, Ambassador Filipovic underlined that both the event in London, and the ceremony in Kragujevac, held on the occasion of marking this important anniversary, demonstrate the commitment to the positive achievements in the relations between the two countries throughout history, and our looking into the future to the effect of enhancing our relations, based on common values, and mutual understanding and respect.