On 20 February 2025 in Čačak, Foundation “For Serbia People and State” organized a panel discussion with the topic “Sretenje: Sacred meeting of the Serbian revolution and national revival “, in which eminent experts and representatives of institutions participated. The panellists were academician Dragan Simeunović, Full Professor of the University of Belgrade, Nebojša Kuzmanović, PhD, Director of the Archives of Vojvodina, and Mlađen Cicović, Head of the Representative Office of Republic Srpska in Serbia.
In his presentation, Nebojša Kuzmanović, PhD, emphasized the significance of the Serbian revolution between 1804 and 1835, not only to the Serbian nation, but also to all South European nations. “The Serbian revolution initiated the uprisings of other oppressed people under Ottoman occupation and constitutes the foundation stone from which the Principality, Kingdon and Republic of Serbia were born. Moreover, it was the source and inspiration for the Principality of Montenegro, the annexation of Vojvodina territories to the Kingdom of Serbia in 1918, as well as for Republic Srpska in 1992”, Kuzmanović said.
In his speech, Mlađen Cicović stressed the importance of great jubilees which are celebrated this year – 850 years of Saint Sava’s birth and 805th anniversary of the adoption of Saint Sava’s Nomocanon. “For the first time, Republic Srpska and Serbia have celebrated the Statehood Day together, with the slogan ‘Unity and Pride’, in line with the Declaration of the All-Serbian Assembly. This day, 15 February, is one of the most important in the history of the Serbian nation. Moreover, for us in Republic Srpska, of special importance is also 9 January 1992, when Republic Srpska was established, as well as 28 February 1992, when its first Constitution was adopted”, Cicović stated.
He added that these two events – the Serbian revolution and the foundation of Republic Srpska – were guided by the same goal: the freedom of the Serbian nation. In 1804, Karađorđe led the uprising for the freedom of Serbia, while the Serbs in Bosnia and Herzegovina peacefully established the Assembly of the Serbian people in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1991, and their own Republic Srpska on 9 January 1992. It is a guarantee of freedom to the Serbs not only within its borders, but also all over Bosnia and Herzegovina. Milovan Vitezović put it nicely when he said that Karađorđe was freedom, while Miloš was the state. We have connected these two and we often say that there is no freedom without a state”, Cicović concluded.
“That the Serbian revolution also had its cultural and educational dimension is proved by the fact that only during the First Serbian Uprising, more than 30 schools were opened in Serbia, including the Grand School, while neighbouring Hungary needed almost two centuries to open the same number of schools.
At the same time, Serbia set an example and model to other oppressed nations in the surroundings about how to fight and win national freedom”, academician Dragan Simeunović pointed out.
Foundation “For Serbia People and State” will continue to organize events like this with the aim of preserving national consciousness and recalling the hey historical moments which shaped Serbian nation and statehood.
