The Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of North Macedonia and Minister for Inter-Community Relations, Mr. Ivan Stoilkovic, held a working meeting today with Mr. Igor Marinkovic, Director of the sports camp “Serbia is Calling You” — a project intended for children from the Serbian diaspora, held annually under the patronage of the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic.

The meeting was conducted in the spirit of deepening the existing cooperation and exploring possibilities for its enhancement in the upcoming period. In this context, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Stoilkovic expressed sincere gratitude for the inclusion of children from North Macedonia who are not only of Serbian ethnic origin but also Macedonian children. Within this important initiative, the significance of the project was particularly emphasized from cultural, educational, and sports perspectives.

“The participation in the camp is not only an opportunity for sports activities and socialization, but also a significant contribution to preserving cultural and spiritual identity. We are truly grateful that children from our country are part of this story,” said Minister Stoilkovic.

During the meeting, it was concluded that such programs represent an important mechanism for strengthening the ties between members of diaspora communities and their cultural roots, as well as for promoting intercultural dialogue and understanding among younger generations.

This meeting is part of the broader engagement of the Ministry for Inter-Community Relations in supporting initiatives that promote ethnic diversity and enhance the multicultural character of society—both within the country and through cooperation with institutions and projects abroad.

This year, Minister Stoilkovic also attended the official reception hosted by the President of the Republic of Serbia, Mr. Aleksandar Vucic, in honor of the young participants of the “Serbia is Calling You 2025” camp. The camp registered a record number of participants this year, with a total of 436 children from 18 countries, the largest groups coming from Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Montenegro.