The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia (Serbian: Министарство спољних послова, romanizedMinistarstvo spoljnih poslova) is the ministry in the government of Serbia which is in the charge of maintaining the consular affairs and foreign relations of Serbia. The current minister is Marko Đurić, in office since 26 October 2022.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Министарство спољних послова
Ministarstvo spoljnih poslova

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Building
Ministry overview
Formed15 January 1991; 33 years ago (1991-01-15)
1804; 220 years ago (1804)
JurisdictionGovernment of Serbia
HeadquartersMinistry of Foreign Affairs Building, 24-26 Kneza Miloša, Belgrade, Serbia
Employees945 (2017)[1]
Annual budget73.75 million (2020, planned)[2]
Minister responsible
Websitewww.mfa.gov.rs

Its headquarters are located in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Building.

History

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The foreign policy and diplomatic tradition of Serbia derive from its independent state in the twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Specific foreign policy and diplomatic experience of the Serbian state was drawn upon the vassal or autonomous state of the Serbian people during the various periods of the Ottoman domination in the Balkans, from the fifteenth to the nineteenth centuries.

In the nineteenth century, when the movement for independence from the Ottoman Empire became irrepressible, especially after the First Serbian Uprising (1804) under Karađorđe and the Second Uprising (1815) under Miloš Obrenović, Serbia embarked upon an ever-broader diplomatic rapport with the Porte in Constantinople, with Russia, Austria, Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy and other European nations and neighboring states, such as Romania, Bulgaria and Greece. Serbia became fully independent and internationally recognized at the Congress of Berlin in 1878.

Among the states with which Serbia established diplomatic relations first (before that time diplomatic relations were limited to certain diplomatic functions) were Russia, Austria, Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy and a number of other European countries. The diplomatic relations with the United States, however, were established only in 1882, through the ratification of the Convention on trade and navigation and the Convention on consular relations.

Following the end of World War I, in which Serbia fought on the side of the Entente, Serbia became part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

In the interwar period the Kingdom was a founding member of the League of Nations and of the Little Entente with Romania and Czechoslovakia as well as of the Balkan Treaty with Romania, Greece and Turkey. The Kingdom's joining of the Axis Tripartite Pact on March 25, 1941 was revoked, by the will of the Serbian people, on the streets of Belgrade two days later.

During World War II, in which Yugoslavia was allied against the Axis Powers, a new Yugoslav federal state came into being that was proclaimed and internationally recognized in 1945.

The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was a founding member of the United Nations in 1945 and of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe in 1975. It was also one of the founders of the Non-Aligned Movement, which held two summit conferences in Belgrade, in 1961 and 1989. In the early fifties Yugoslavia was a member of the Balkan Pact with Greece and Turkey.

The ministry in current form was established on 15 January 1991.

Officials and organization

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The current Minister of Foreign Affairs is Ivica Dačić. The State Secretary is Vera Mavrić[3] and the Secretary General is Zoran Marković. Assistant Ministers are Goran Aleksić for bilateral relations, Roksanda Ninčić for multilateral affairs, Duško Lopandić for the European Union, Zoran Vujić for security policy, and Šani Dermaku for consular affairs.[4]

Organization scheme of the ministry:[5]

  • Office of the Minister
    • Diplomatic Protocol
    • Special Services
      • Service for Investigation and Documentation
      • Security Service
      • Service for International Legal Affairs
      • Translations Service
      • ICT Department
    • Secretariat General
      • Directorate of Personnel and Legal Affairs
      • Accounts and Payments Directorate
      • Directorate of Archival Affairs
      • Service for Property-Legal, General and Common Affairs
      • Out-of-Hours Contact Office
      • Inspector General
      • Office of the State Secretary
        • Directorates General
          • Directorate General of Bilateral Relations
            • Directorate for Neighboring and South-East European Countries
            • Directorate for Europe
            • Directorate for Russia and Eurasia
            • Directorate for Americas
            • Directorate for Africa and the Middle East
            • Directorate for Asia, Australia and the Pacific
            • Directorate of Bilateral Economic Cooperation
            • Directorate for Borders
          • Directorate General of Multilateral Cooperation
            • Directorate for the United Nations
            • OSCE and CoE Directorate
            • Directorate of Multilateral Economic Cooperation
            • Directorate of Human Rights and Protection of the Environment
          • Directorate General for the European Union
            • Directorate for the Institutions of the European Union Countries
            • Directorate for Sectoral Affairs
            • Directorate for Regional Initiatives
          • Directorate General for NATO and Defense Affairs
            • Directorate for NATO
            • Partnership for Peace Directorate
            • Directorate for Weapons Control
            • MoD Coordination Section
          • Directorate General of Information and Culture
            • Directorate of Information
            • Directorate of International, Cultural, Educational, Scientific, Technological and Sports Cooperation
          • Directorate General of Consular Affairs and Diaspora
            • Directorate of Consular Affairs
            • Directorate of Development, Diaspora and Social Security Conventions
    • Councils
      • Council for Foreign Policy Strategy
      • Legal Council of the MFA
    • Diplomatic Academy

Serbian representation abroad

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Serbia has a significant number of diplomatic missions abroad, representing its growing ties with the West along with Yugoslavia's historical ties with eastern Europe and the Non-Aligned Movement.

Serbia inherited about a third of the diplomatic facilities that belonged to the former Yugoslavia. After 2001 embassies in Chile, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Lebanon, Mongolia, North Korea, Pakistan, Thailand, Venezuela, Vietnam and Zimbabwe were closed due to financial or reciprocal reasons. In June 2008, the government of Serbia made the decision to close consulates in Bari, Graz and Malmö,[6] and later that year Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić announced plans to open a consulate-general in Knin, Croatia[7] and an embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[8]

On November 30, 2006, the Government of Serbia adopted the Memorandum of Agreement between the Republic of Montenegro and the Republic of Serbia on Consular Protection and Services to the Citizens of Montenegro. By this agreement, Serbian diplomatic missions provide consular services to the Montenegrin citizens on the territory of states in which Montenegro has no missions of its own.[9]

Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintains the following missions abroad:[10]

Serbia hosts 65 foreign embassies in Belgrade, 5 Consulates-Generals (two in Niš and Subotica and one in Vršac) and 4 Liaison offices (in Priština). Serbia also hosts representatives of the Palestinian National Authority and Sovereign Military Order of Malta and 13 Honorary Consuls, some accredited as Ambassadors.[11]

Diplomatic Academy

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The first modern law on diplomatic service was passed in 1886 during the reign of King Milan. The Diplomatic Academy was formed in 1998 from the former diplomatic school of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Diplomatic Archive

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The diplomatic archive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is based on former activities of the diplomatic archive of the Kingdom of Serbia and Kingdom of Yugoslavia. It was founded on May 5, 1919 on the basis of the Decree, and it consisted of Documentation and Library of the Ministry, taken over from the Ministry of the Kingdom of Serbia and Montenegro. The Main Archive started to operate more effectively in the fall of 1924 since it was then that the Minister of Foreign Affairs formed an expert commission whose task was to inspect gathered documents on the creation of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, and make a plan of future operation of the Main archive. The Law on archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and diplomatic and consular missions of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia abroad has from April 5, 1930 been precise in stating which holdings of the archive would become part of the Main Archive. The Diplomatic Archive has published the collections of public documents on foreign affairs of the SFRY between 1945 and 1950 in eight volumes called Blue edition.

List of ministers

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Foreign Ministers of Serbia prior to formation of Yugoslavia

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This is a list of all the Foreign Ministers (and the Acting Foreign Ministers) of the Revolutionary Serbia, the Principality of Serbia and the Kingdom of Serbia from the creation of this post in 1811 to the formation of Yugoslavia after World War I, in the late 1918. The list continues as a List of Foreign Ministers of Yugoslavia.

  Conservative Party   Liberal Party   Serbian Progressive Party   People's Radical Party   Independent Radical Party   Non-party

Minister
(Birth–Death)
Took office Left office Monarch
Revolutionary Serbia (1804–1815)
    Miljko Radonjić
Миљко Радоњић
(1770–1836)
4 February 1811 25 December 1812 Karađorđe
Principality of Serbia (1815–1882)
    Dimitrije Davidović
Димитрије Давидовић
(1789–1838)
8 June 1834 3 February 1835 Prince
Miloš
    Avram Petronijević
Аврам Петронијевић
(1791–1852)
3 February 1835 3 May 1840
    Đorđe Protić
Ђорђе Протић
(1793–1857)
3 May 1840 26 October 1842 Prince
Mihailo
    Aleksa Janković
Алекса Јанковић
Acting
(1806–1869)
26 October 1842 24 September 1843 Prince
Alexander
    Aleksa Simić
Алекса Симић
(1800–1872)
24 September 1843 29 September 1844
    Avram Petronijević
Аврам Петронијевић
(1791–1852)
29 September 1844 10 April 1852
    Aleksa Janković
Алекса Јанковић
Acting
(1806–1869)
10 April 1852 13 September 1852
    Ilija Garašanin
Илија Гарашанин
(1812–1874)
13 September 1852 14 March 1853
    Aleksa Simić
Алекса Симић
(1800–1872)
14 March 1853 16 December 1855
    Aleksa Janković
Алекса Јанковић
(1806–1869)
16 December 1855 29 May 1856
    Stevan Marković
Стеван Марковић
(1804–1864)
29 May 1856 16 September 1856
    Aleksa Simić
Алекса Симић
(1800–1872)
16 September 1856 19 June 1857
    Stevan Marković
Стеван Марковић
(1804–1864)
19 June 1857 31 March 1858
    Stevan Magazinović
Стеван Магазиновић
(1804–1874)
31 March 1858 6 April 1859 Prince
Miloš
    Cvetko Rajović
Цветко Рајовић
(1793–1873)
6 April 1859 27 October 1860
    Filip Hristić
Филип Христић
(1819–1905)
27 October 1860 9 December 1861 Prince
Mihailo
    Ilija Garašanin
Илија Гарашанин
(1812–1874)
9 December 1861 3 November 1867
    Jovan Ristić
Јован Ристић
(1831–1899)
3 November 1867 21 November 1867
    Milan Petronijević
Милан Петронијевић
(1831–1914)
21 November 1867 21 June 1868
    Radivoje Milojković
Радивој Милојковић
Acting
(1833–1888)
21 June 1868 24 September 1868 Prince
Milan
    Dimitrije Matić
Димитрије Матић
Acting
(1821–1884)
24 September 1868 10 August 1872
    Jovan Ristić
Јован Ристић
(1831–1899)
10 August 1872 22 October 1873
    Jovan Marinović
Јован Мариновић
(1821–1893)
22 October 1873 25 November 1874
    Milan Piroćanac
Милан Пироћанац
(1837–1897)
25 November 1874 20 January 1875
    Milan Bogićević
Милан Богићевић
(1840–1929)
20 January 1875 19 August 1875
    Jovan Ristić
Јован Ристић
(1831–1899)
19 August 1875 26 September 1875
    Đorđe M. Pavlović
Ђорђе Павловић
(1838–1921)
26 September 1875 24 April 1876
    Jovan Ristić
Јован Ристић
(1831–1899)
24 April 1876 21 October 1880
    Čedomilj Mijatović
Чедомиљ Мијатовић
(1842–1932)
21 October 1880 10 October 1881
    Milan Piroćanac
Милан Пироћанац
(1837–1897)
10 October 1881 7 March 1882
Kingdom of Serbia (1882–1918)
    Milan Piroćanac
Милан Пироћанац
(1837–1897)
7 March 1882 21 September 1883 King
Milan I
    Milan Bogićević
Милан Богићевић
(1840–1929)
21 September 1883 7 February 1884
    Milutin Garašanin
Милутин Гарашанин
(1843–1898)
7 February 1884 23 March 1886
    Dragutin Franasović
Драгутин Франасовић
(1842–1914)
23 March 1886 1 June 1887
    Jovan Ristić
Јован Ристић
(1831–1899)
1 June 1887 19 December 1887
    Dragutin Franasović
Драгутин Франасовић
(1842–1914)
19 December 1887 14 April 1888
    Čedomilj Mijatović
Чедомиљ Мијатовић
(1842–1932)
14 April 1888 23 February 1889
    Sava Grujić
Сава Грујић
(1840–1913)
23 February 1889 11 February 1891 King
Alexander I
    Mihailo Kr. Đorđević
Михаило Кр. Ђорђевић
(1850–1901)
11 February 1891 21 March 1892
    Nikola Pašić
Никола Пашић
(1845–1926)
21 March 1892 9 August 1892
    Jovan Avakumović
Јован Авакумовић
(1841–1928)
9 August 1892 1 April 1893
    Andra Nikolić
Андра Николић
(1853–1918)
1 April 1893 23 November 1893
    Sava Grujić
Сава Грујић
(1840–1913)
23 November 1893 12 January 1894
    Đorđe Simić
Ђорђе Симић
(1843–1921)
12 January 1894 21 March 1894
    Sima Lozanić
Сима Лозанић
(1847–1935)
21 March 1894 15 October 1894
    Milan Bogićević
Милан Богићевић
(1840–1929)
15 October 1894 25 June 1895
    Stojan Novaković
Стојан Новаковић
(1842–1915)
25 June 1895 17 December 1896
    Đorđe Simić
Ђорђе Симић
(1843–1921)
17 December 1896 11 October 1897
    Vladan Đorđević
Владан Ђорђевић
(1844–1930)
11 October 1897 8 July 1900
    Aleksa Jovanović
Алекса Јовановић
(1846–1920)
12 July 1900 5 February 1901
    Mihailo Vujić
Михаило Вујић
(1853–1913)
5 February 1901 7 October 1902
    Vasilije Antonić
Василије Антонић
(1860–1929)
7 October 1902 23 December 1902
    Sima Lozanić
Сима Лозанић
(1847–1935)
23 December 1902 23 March 1903
    Pavle Denić
Павле Денић
Acting
(1855–1939)
23 March 1903 29 May 1903
    Ljubomir Kaljević
Љубомир Каљевић
(1841–1907)
29 May 1903 21 September 1903 King
Peter I
    Andra Nikolić
Андра Николић
(1853–1918)
21 September 1903 20 January 1904
    Nikola Pašić
Никола Пашић
(1845–1926)
26 January 1904 16 May 1905
    Jovan Žujović
Јован Жујовић
(1856–1936)
16 May 1905 2 December 1905
    Vasilije Antonić
Василије Антонић
(1860–1929)
2 December 1905 17 April 1906
    Nikola Pašić
Никола Пашић
(1845–1926)
17 April 1906 7 July 1908
    Milovan Milovanović
Милован Миловановић
(1863–1912)
7 July 1908 18 June 1912
    Jovan Jovanović Pižon
Јован Јовановић Пижон
(1869–1939)
18 June 1912 27 August 1912
    Nikola Pašić
Никола Пашић
(1845–1926)
30 August 1912 10 March 1918
    Mihailo Gavrilović
Михаило Гавриловић
Acting
(1868–1924)
10 March 1918 3 November 1918
    Stojan Protić
Стојан Протић
Acting
(1857–1923)
3 November 1918 7 December 1918

Foreign Ministers of Serbia since 1991

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This list includes Ministers of Foreign Affairs from 1991 to 1993, and after the dissolution of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro in 2006. For previous ministers, see Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Yugoslavia).

Political Party:   SPS   SPO   DS   SNS   n-p

No. Portrait Minister Took office Left office Time in office Party Cabinet
1Mikašinović, BrankoBranko Mikašinović
(1924–1999)
15 February 199131 July 1991166 daysSPSZelenović
2Jovanović, VladislavVladislav Jovanović
(born 1933)
31 July 199114 July 1992349 daysSPSZelenović
Božović
(2)Jovanović, VladislavVladislav Jovanović
(born 1933)
30 September 19924 March 1993155 daysSPSBožović
Šainović
Part of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Yugoslavia
3Drašković, VukVuk Drašković
(born 1946)
4 June 200615 May 2007345 daysSPOKoštunica I
4Jeremić, VukVuk Jeremić
(born 1975)
15 May 200727 July 20125 years, 73 daysDSKoštunica II
Cvetković
5Mrkić, IvanIvan Mrkić
(born 1953)
27 July 201227 April 20141 year, 274 daysIndependentDačić
6Dačić, IvicaIvica Dačić
(born 1966)
27 April 201422 October 20206 years, 178 daysSPSVučić III
Brnabić
Brnabić, AnaAna Brnabić
(born 1975)
Acting
22 October 202028 October 20206 daysSNSBrnabić
7Selaković, NikolaNikola Selaković
(born 1983)
28 October 202026 October 20221 year, 363 daysSNSBrnabić II
(6)Dačić, IvicaIvica Dačić
(born 1966)
26 October 20222 May 20241 year, 189 daysSPSBrnabić III
8Đurić, MarkoMarko Đurić
(born 1983)
2 May 2024Incumbent204 daysSNSVučević

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Година LXXIII – број 61". pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs (in Serbian). Službeni glasnik RS. 23 June 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  2. ^ "ЗАКОН О БУЏЕТУ РЕПУБЛИКЕ СРБИЈЕ ЗА 2020. ГОДИНУ" (PDF). parlament.gov.rs. Народна скупштина Републике Србије. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  3. ^ State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia
  4. ^ Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Officials
  5. ^ The Organisational Structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  6. ^ "Vlada zatvara konzulate u Gracu i Malmeu" (in Serbian). RTV. 16 June 2008.
  7. ^ "Srbija otvara konzulat u Kninu" (in Serbian). RTV Studio B. 28 May 2008. Archived from the original on 9 October 2011. Retrieved 3 December 2010.
  8. ^ "Malaysia freezes recognition procedure". B92. 11 August 2008. Archived from the original on 8 August 2009.
  9. ^ Memorandum on Services to Montenegrin Citizens Takes Effect
  10. ^ "Serbian Diplomatic Missions". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  11. ^ "Foreign Diplomatic Missions" (PDF). Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia. Retrieved 20 June 2013.

Further reading

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