Orašac

ORASAC - An objective was set 220 years ago - nothing less than freedom for our people, Serbian FM Ivica Dacic said at the main Statehood Day ceremony in Orasac, central Serbia, on Thursday.

As Serbia prepares for a four-day break, with weekends extending Serbia's national holiday, the bustling streets of Belgrade buzz with anticipation for holiday getaways, according to the Belgrade newspaper Danas.

The day commemorates two pivotal events in the efforts to rebuild a Serbian state after centuries of Ottoman Turkish occupation: the First Serbian Uprising of 1804, led by Djordje "Karadjordje" Petrovic, and the adoption of the Sretenje Constitution in 1835.

The ceremony in the Presidency was attended by ministers Ivica Dacic, Nebojsa Stefanovic, Zlatibor Loncar, Aleksandar Vulin, Vladan Vukosavljevivic, chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia-Herzegovina Milorad Dodik, and Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov, who is among the recipients.

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic is today taking part in the ceremonies in Orasac, central Serbia.

ORASAC - We will defend Serbia from the influence and the interests of big powers, but it is even more important to protect and renew our people because "all is in vain if we lack people," President Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday.

"For this we need the support of everyone in Serbia," he said, pointing to a dramatic decline in the birth rate.