Assistant to the Mayor of Novi Sad Vanja Vučenović and Head of the Mayor’s Office Aleksandar Petrović received today at the City Hall a newly appointed Australian Ambassador to Serbia H.E. Julia Patricia Feeney.

The Australian Ambassador expressed her gratitude for the warm welcome, adding that it is a great pleasure to pay an official visit to Novi Sad for the first time. She said that there are strong ties between Australia and Serbia as evidenced by the successful bilateral cooperation between the two countries. The aim is to further deepen the relations by establishing closer cooperation at the local level as well, i.e. between different regions and cities, which would in turn result in the conclusion of partnerships and cooperation in the fields of culture, education, sports and economy, based on a multi-cultural similarities as well as differences between the two countries through the exchange of experience.

Assistant to the Mayor Vanja Vučenović said that so far there were no formal forms of cooperation between the cities of Australia and Novi Sad, but it is a relationship which could be developed in the future. Highlighting the multi-ethnicity and cultural life of Novi Sad, as well as the richness and diversity of Australian culture and its historical heritage, he noted that the City of Novi Sad imposes itself as an excellent partner to the Australian cities in the fields of culture and education, primarily referring to the strong Serbian diaspora in Australia, through which rich cultural exchange is being achieved.

Head of the Mayor’s Office Aleksandar Petrović presented the potentials for further cooperation and emphasized that Novi Sad is an advanced university, fair and IT center with world-renowned cultural and sport events. He proposed the establishment of contacts with Australian companies and represented the city as a great place for investment.

During her visit to Novi Sad, H.E. Julia Patricia Feeney visited the Elementary School "Prva Vojvođanska Brigada“ and said that it would be fruitful to establish a cooperation through school projects, as well as through higher education via cooperation between universities, as well as in the field of protection of human rights. On this occasion, it was also announced that the cooperation in the field of culture will be implemented as early as April of this year when the exhibition presenting the Australian cultural heritage takes place in the Cultural Center of Novi Sad.

Novi Sad, 21^st February 2014