Press Release

Meeting between Dr. Vladimir Božović, Consul General of the Republic of Serbia in New York, and Eric Adams, Mayor of New York City

New York April 15, 2024

During the cordial meeting, hosted at the historic City Hall of New York, Consul General Božović expressed gratitude to Mayor Adams for their cooperation in declaring February 26th as a Day of Serbian Heritage in New York. He highlighted that Mayor Adams' exceptional gesture received a very positive response both within the local Serbian community and Serbia. He conveyed the enthusiasm of the Serbian community for further joint engagement in promoting common cultural icons like Nikola Tesla and other community activities.

Consul General Božović also briefed Mayor Adams on the progress of the reconstruction of the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sava at 20 West 26th Street, following the fire in 2016. He also expressed the Serbian Orthodox Church and community's interest in collaborating with the city administration for the comprehensive reconstruction of this culturally significant landmark in New York.

Consul General Božović invited Mayor Adams to visit Serbia and also extended an invitation for New York City to participate in the Specialized Expo 2027 Exhibition hosted in Belgrade, themed "Play for Humanity: Sport and Music for All." He pointed out that the unique nature of this event offers an exceptional opportunity for innovative collaboration in various fields. He also conveyed the interest of certain Serbian IT companies in opening their American branches in New York.

Mayor Eric Adams thanked Consul General V. Božović for his engagement and cooperation. He reiterated the commitment of New York City to establish partnership relations with the Serbian community and Serbia. He praised the contribution of the Serbian community to the cultural identity of the city and expressed the desire to explore further opportunities for joint engagement. He expressed gratitude for the invitation to visit Serbia and confirmed his willingness to include the visit in his upcoming European tour. He also emphasized his interest in exploring the proposed forms of cooperation, highlighting his willingness to engage in further communication on this matter.

At the end of the meeting, Consul General Božović signed the New York City Hall honorary guest book.

The meeting between Consul Božović and Mayor Adams is a confirmation of the joint commitment to further deepening the longstanding friendship between Serbia and the United States, laying the groundwork for future joint efforts between Serbia and the city of New York.

Consulate General of Republic of Serbia in New York

For media inquiries, please contact:

(Olgica Vlacic, +1 212 596-4241, officecgnyc@mfa.rs)