He welcomed the participants and guests to the home of all citizens of Serbia and all Serbs, wherever they may live. He pointed to the symbolism of the name of the Assembly - Vidovdan, the biggest and most important holiday for the Serbian people. "In the words of the President of the Republic Aleksandar Vucic: "Vidovdan is the most important sign, symbol in our national sky, the one under which we come together and look for a reason and a way to exist." And, precisely because everything is best seen on Vidovdan, it is especially clear today - that we follow that sign and our Vidovdan tradition as a guide, on our own path of wisdom, harmony and success. That is the road Serbia has decided to follow, has been walking it for a decade, with a sure and determined step, unstoppable, determined to be a country of a good future for all who belong to it and to whom it belongs", said Dr Orlic, adding that the proof of the certainty and trust in the chosen path as well as the achieved unity is the Diaspora Vidovdan Assembly, attended by more than 200 delegates from the Serbian diaspora, gathered together and ready to, along with the representatives of their motherland, share their proposals, expectation and talk about further work.

He pointed to all the successes that Serbia has achieved in previous years that enabled its establishment as an independent, sovereign and free state, dedicated to the defence of its national and state interests. "For all of us, it is extremely important that we hear from our people who live in other countries that they today both see and feel the concrete and strong support of their motherland, political, material and financial”, said Dr Orlic.

He wished the participants of the panel successful and fruitful work, saying that the institutions of the Republic of Serbia are ready to participate in strengthening the already existing cooperation with the diaspora and its improvement in all areas of importance, and that the struggle will continue for the upliftment of Serbia, which today is not a place to leave, but to return and stay.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia Ana Brnabic, First Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic, Vicar Bishop Ilarion, as well as the host of the gathering, Djordje Milicevic, Minister in charge of coordinating activities and measures in the field of relations with the diaspora, also spoke at the ceremonial opening of the Diaspora Vidovdan Assembly. During the two-day Assembly, attended by representatives of the diaspora from almost 30 countries of the world, featured panel discussions on the economic connection between the motherland and the diaspora, improvement of cooperation in the field of culture and education, as well as joint work on the protection of national identity.