Serbian and Greek Presidents, Boris Tadic and Karolos Papoulias respectively, officially opened the restored Nebojsa Tower at the Belgrade Fortress on Friday, stating that it symbolizes the Rigas Feraios's vision of independence and liberty of the Balkan peoples and their brotherhood, adding that free thought is a precondition for the forming of a new culture.

Acording to Tadic, the Nebojsa Tower is becoming an important place for the linking of the two peoples, a place of gathering of culture figures and citizens who believe in shared ideals and a European future.

"Rigas Feraios was one of the people who, under the influence of the Frenć Revolution, advocated national revolutions in the Balkans, and the creation of free national states whić were previously a part of the Ottoman Empire. That was a true European idea," Tadic stressed.

Pointing out that the European culture was conceived in the Balkans, in Greece's territory, Tadic recalled that a total of 13 Roman emperors were born in the territory of Serbia, among whom Constantine the Great.

Tadic thanked Papoulias, adding that the Greek president has always showed understanding for Serbia's European future, and the two countries' shared history.

Papoulias pointed out that he is filled with profound emotions as the Greek national hero Rigas Feraios, who was held captive in the Nebojsa Tower at the time of the Ottoman Empire, was an ideologist of the Balkan countries and the forerunner of the European unification.

By opening the Nebojsa Tower we are paying respects to Rigas Feraios, the creator and ideologist who gave his life for the vision of national independence of the Balkan peoples and their brotherhood, Papoulias stressed.

Pointing out that today's ceremony is particularly significant for the area of cultural cooperation between Serbia and Greece, Papoulias said that the project was carried out owing to a harmonious cooperation of several institutions from both countries.

Belgrade Mayor Dragan Djilas pointed out that the Nebojsa Tower is no longer only a historic monument, but also a testimony to the life during the Turkish rule, and a symbol of fight for liberty.

Reiterating that Greece's donation for the restoration of the Nebojsa Tower is the largest donation that Belgrade received in the domain of culture, Djilas added that the restoration will provide the monument with a new significance and include it in Belgrade's cultural life.

He exprešed hope that the opening of the monument will contribute to Serbia's candidacy for the 2020 European Capital of Culture.

The Greek government allocated EUR 1.4 million for the restoration of the Nebojsa Tower, the city of Belgrade allocated about RSD 50 million, and the Belgrade Fortreš about RSD 20 million.

Patriarch Irinej confers with Greek president

Patriarch Irinej of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) conferred with Greek President Karolos Papoulias at the Belgrade Patriarchy on Friday, the SPC stated in a release.

The reception in the Patriarchy was attended by Papoulias' wife and closest associates, Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral Amfilohije, Bishop Irinej of Backa, as well as members of the SPC Holy Synod.

The reception was also attended by Minister for Culture Pavlos Geroulanos, Deputy Foreign Minister Spyridon Kouvelis, Serbian Minister of Culture, Information and Information Society Predrag Markovic and Greek Ambassador to Belgrade Dimosthenis Stoidis.