Minister of Religion and Diaspora Srdjan Sreckovic said today that Serbia can become an economic, political and cultural leader in the region in five to seven years’ time.

At a reception organised for representatives of local governments in Serbia and students from diaspora who are now in Serbia within the project "Get to know the state of Serbia", Sreckovic explained that Serbia’s leadership position requires young, educated and successful people who know how the system in the west works, how to deal with foreign investors and the business world.

The Minister said that our country has much clearer and more certain prospects for the future, adding that now there is no dilemma whether Serbia will enter isolation or will become part of the modern world.

The Ministry’s project "Get to know the state of Serbia", within which 19 students have practice in 18 municipalities and cities in Serbia for a period of two weeks, is one of the segments of the new policy on diaspora and Serbs in the region, because the Serbian government is committed to upgrading those relations economically, politically and culturally to a higher level, said Sreckovic.

The Minister recalled that last year the students had practice in ministries, while this year they will have practice in local governments, as the process of decentralisation has begun, which is very important for the country’s European integration.

Return of any student who is studying in abroad is precious for us, and our task is to provide certain economic prospects, to continue with reforms, to accelerate transition, and to adapt the economic system to business conditions that exist in the developed world, he said.

The general public and diaspora will thus get clear guarantees that the country is going through development and European integration, he said.

Those who remain to live abroad after graduation are also valuable as they can be ambassadors of the country in communities where they live, and thus can help improve the image of the state and nation in the world, added Sreckovic.

Students will attend the practice from 14 to 29 August in local governments in Vranje, Novi Sad, Pancevo, Pozarevac, Sombor, Cacak, Apatin, Veliko Gradiste, Vrnjacka Banja, Zemun, Indjija, Negotin, Novi Becej, Paracin, Ruma, Soko Banja, Cuprija and Ub.

Serbian students from Italy, France, Austria, Germany, United States, Canada, Slovakia and FYRMacedonia will have the opportunity during the two weeks to get introduced with the work of local governments in Serbia and their role in the economic system of the country.