Political issues
Ukraine has the diplomatic relations with the Republic of Serbia on the level of embassies.
The diplomatic relations between Ukraine and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) were established on 15 April 1994. The two countries hold an intensive political dialogue. There are regular contacts on different levels, aimed at realizing the bilateral treaties and enlarging the legal basis of cooperation between Ukraine and the Republic of Serbia.
Bilateral contacts at a high level:
January 2001 – working visit of the President of Ukraine L.Kuchma to Belgrade and negotiations with the President of FRY V.Kostunica.
The end of September – the beginning of October 2001 – visit of the Prime minister of FRY D.Pesic to Kyiv.
February 2002 – visit of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of FRY G.Svilanovic to Kyiv.
September 2002 – a working meeting of the presidents of Ukraine and the FRY, L.Kuchma and V.Kostunica, at the World Forum on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg (South Africa).
September 2002 – the meeting of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine A.Zlenko with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of FRY G.Svilanovic during the 57th session of UNGA in New York.
April 2003 – working meeting of the President of Ukraine L.Kuchma with the President of Serbia and Montenegro (SCG) S.Marovic at the European conference in Athens (Greece).
September 2003 – working meeting of the President of Ukraine L.Kuchma with the President of SCG S.Marovic during the 58th session of UNGA in New York.
November 2003 – official visit of the President of Serbia and Montenegro S.Marovic to Kyiv and negotiations with the President of Ukraine L.Kuchma.
February 2004 – visit of the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Y.Marchuk to Belgrade.
October 2004 – visit of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine K.Hryschenko to Belgrade.
January 2005 – participation of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of SCG V.Draskovic in the ceremony of inauguration of the President of Ukraine V.Yuschenko.
February 2005 – the meeting of the President of Ukraine V.Yuschenko with the President of SCG B.Tadic in Zagreb during the inauguration of the President of Croatia S.Mesic.
May 2005 – meetings of Vice-prime minister of Ukraine O.Rybachuk with the President of the Republic of Serbia B.Tadic, Prime minister V.Kostunica, Minister of International Economic Relations P.Ivanovic in Belgrade.
June 2005 – official visit of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of SCG V.Draskovic to Ukraine.
June 2005 – meeting of the Head of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine V.Lytvyn with the Head of Skupstina of SCG Z.Sami in terms of 25th session of the General Assembly of PAPSEC in Kyiv.
November 2005 – the meeting of the Prime minister of Ukraine Y.Yehanurov with the President of SCG S.Marovic in terms of the Summit of the heads of governments of the states-members of CEI in Slovakia.
December 2005 – participation of the official delegation of SCG, led by the Minister of international economic relations of SCG P.Ivanovic, in the Forum of the Community of Democratic Choice in Kyiv. Meeting of P.Ivanovic with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine B.Tarasyuk.
December 2005 – the meeting of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine B.Tarasyuk with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of SCG V.Draskovic during the session of the Council of Ministers of OSCE (Lubljana).
January 2006 – official visit of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine B.Tarasyuk to SCG.
March 2006 – official visit of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of SCG V.Draskovic to Ukraine.
July 2007 – working visit of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine A.Yaceniuk to the Republic of Serbia.
February 14, 2008 – visit of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Serbia V.Jeremic to Ukraine.
April 8-9, 2008 – working visit of the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine K.Yelisieiev to Serbia.
November 11, 2008 – talk of the President of Ukraine V.Yuschenko and the President of Serbia B.Tadic in Warsaw in terms of celebrating 90th anniversary of the Polish statehood.
June 19, 2009 – the meeting of the President of Ukraine V.Yuschenko with the President of Serbia B.Tadic in terms of the 16th Summit of the Heads of States of Central Europe in Novi Sad.
February 25, 2010 – participation of the First Vice Prime minister, Minister for Internal Affairs of RS I.Dacic in the ceremony of inauguration of the President of Ukraine V.Yanukovych.
July 5, 2010 – official visit of the Head of National Assembly of RS S.Djukic-Dejanovic to Ukraine.
April 4-5, 2011 – visit of the Chairman of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine V.Lytvyn to Serbia.
May 30-31, 2011 – visit of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Serbia V.Jeremic to Ukraine.
November 4, 2011 – visit of the Prime Minister of Ukraine M.Azarov to Serbia in terms of CEI Summit.
November 10-11, 2011 – visit of the President of Serbia B.Tadic to Ukraine.
June 6-7, 2013 – official visit of the President of Ukraine V.Yanukovych to Serbia.
July 27-28, 2013 – working visit of the President of Serbia T.Nikolic to Ukraine.
December 5-6, 2013 – working visit of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Serbia I.Mrkic to Ukraine.
December 24, 2014 – working visit of the First vice-prime-minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia I.Dachich to Ukraine.
July 16-17, 2015 – working visit of the First vice-prime-minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, OSCE Chairperson-in-office I.Dacic to Ukraine.
December 3-4, 2015 – working visit of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine P.Klimkin to Serbia in terms of participation in the OSCE Ministerial Meeting.
July 27-28, 2016 – visit of Ukrainian delegation led by the Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine on European Integration I.Klimpush-Cincadze to Serbia.
July 2-3, 2018 – official visit of the President of Ukraine P.Poroshenko to Serbia.
October 13, 2020 – meeting in Belgrade between the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Vasyl Bodnar, and the First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Ivica Dacic.
August 23, 2021 — participation of Mrs Tamara Vučić, First Lady of Serbia in the Kyiv Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen.
September 10, 2021 – Ukrainian-Serbian political consultations were held in Kyiv under the chairmanship of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Vasyl Bodnar, and the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, Nemanja Starovic.
May 19, 2022 – meeting of the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine E. Dzhaparova with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia N. Selakovic in Turin (Italy) on the sidelines of the 132nd ministerial meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.
Interparliamentary cooperation
On June 7, 2022, a meeting of the Chairman O. Merezhko and members of the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Foreign Policy and Interparliamentary Cooperation with the leadership of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Parliament of Serbia took place in the remote video conference mode
Support of territorial integrity and sovereignty
Serbia did not take part in the vote on UN GA resolution 68/262 “Territorial Integrity of Ukraine” (2014). The Serbian delegation voted against pro-Ukrainian UN General Assembly resolutions “Problem of the militarization of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine, as well as parts of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov” (2018-2021) and “Situation of human rights in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol (Ukraine)” (2016-2021). Serbia voted in favor of UN GA resolutions “Aggression against Ukraine” on March 2, 2022 and “Humanitarian consequences of the aggression against Ukraine” on March 24, 2022. On April 7, 2022, Serbia supported the suspension of the membership of the Russian Federation in the UN Human Rights Council.
However, Serbia has not yet joined the sanctions against the russian federation and has not introduced its own restrictive measures.
Bilateral institutional mechanisms
Intergovernmental Ukrainian-Serbian Commission on Trade, Economic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation. The last, 5th meeting of the Commission was held on April 22-23, 2013 in Belgrade.
Trade and economic cooperation
Bilateral trade in goods and services between Ukraine and the Republic of Serbia in 2021 totaled 433,5million USD (increased by 36% compared to 2020).
- export of goods and services totaled 230 million USD (↑53,6%);
- import of goods and services totaled 203,4 million USD (↑20,1%).
The balance of trade in goods and services for this period is positive for Ukraine – $26,6 million.
Bilateral trade in goods between Ukraine and the Republic of Serbia in 2021 totaled 410,2 million USD (increased by 35,8% compared to 2020).
- export of goods totaled 215 million USD (↑57,4%);
- import of goods totaled 165,2 million USD (↑18,1%).
- The balance of trade in goods for 2021 is positive for Ukraine – $19,8 million.
- Bilateral trade in services between Ukraine and the Republic of Serbia in 2021 totaled 23,3 million USD (increased by 38,7% compared to 2020).
- export of services totaled 15,1 million USD (↑14,6%);
- import of services totaled 8,2 million USD (↑99,4%).
The balance of trade in services for 2021 is positive for Ukraine – $6,9 million.
Main articles of export: iron ore and ferrous metals (70%); increased the supply of grain crops (↑1115%), soap (↑1084%) and vessels and components (↑1327%).
Main articles of import: fertilizers ($21 mln), plastics, and polymeric materials; electric machines; paper and cardboard; ferrous metals.
Dynamics of bilateral trade in goods and services between Ukraine and the Republic of Serbia (million USD)
Indicators
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
Trade turnover
674
201
294
409
267
276
264
202
276
319
450
440
319
Export
579
143
211
289
136
132
122
118
168
184
286
274
149
Import
95
58
83
120
131
144
142
84
108
135
164
166
169
According to the Ministry of Finance of the RS, about one thousand business entities cooperate with Ukraine.
According to the Agency for Registration of Business Entities, in 2020, 142 business entities were registered in Serbia, the majority owners of which are citizens of Ukraine or Ukrainian legal entities, most of which are engaged in retail trade and trade in auto parts, processing industry.
Cooperation between regions of Ukraine and regions of Serbia
Ukraine is actively developing contacts with Serbia at the regional level. This is facilitated, in particular, by the current bilateral documents on cooperation between the regions of the two countries. Yes, the following agreements are currently in force in this area:
- Agreement on cooperation between the City State Administration of Kyiv and the City Hall of Belgrade (Serbia and Montenegro);
- Agreement on cooperation between the city of Lviv (Ukraine) and the city of Novi Sad (Serbia and Montenegro);
- an agreement between the Kyiv Regional State Administration of Ukraine and the Autonomous Region of Voivodeship of Serbia and Montenegro on trade, economic, scientific, technical, and cultural cooperation;
- Agreement between the city of Kalush, Ivano-Frankivsk Region, Ukraine, and the city of Bachka Palanka, Autonomous Region of Vojvodina, Serbia, and Montenegro, on trade, economic, scientific, technical, cultural, and humanitarian cooperation;
- agreement between the State Administration of Ternopil Oblast (Ukraine) and the Administration of the Autonomous Region of Vojvodina (Republic of Serbia) on trade, economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation;
- the protocol on the intentions to promote the development of bilateral cooperation between the Chortkiv district of the Ternopil region (Ukraine) and the Kula Municipality of the Autonomous Region of Vojvodina (Republic of Serbia);
- cooperation agreement between the city council of Buchacha (Ukraine) and the Municipality of Verbas (Republic of Serbia);
- protocol on twinning intentions between the cities of Cherkasy (Ukraine) and Pirot (Republic of Serbia);
- agreement on the association of the city of Khmelnytskyi (Ukraine) with the city of Bor (Republic of Serbia);
- cooperation agreement between the Autonomous Region of Vojvodina (Republic of Serbia) and Zakarpattia Oblast (Ukraine);
- the protocol of intentions between the Kirovohrad Regional Council of Ukraine and the Assembly of the Autonomous Region of Voivodeship of the Republic of Serbia.
Interregional cooperation is also developing in the economic sphere. This was evidenced by the signing of cooperation agreements between the regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ukraine and Serbia: between the Kyiv Oblast (regional) Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Ukraine) and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Autonomous Region of Vojvodina (Republic of Serbia), between the Transcarpathian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Regional Chamber of Commerce Sombor, between the Zakarpattia Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Regional Chamber of Commerce of Novi Sad, between the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Kyiv and the Chamber of Industry of Belgrade, between the Sumy Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ukraine and the Panchev Chamber of Commerce, between the Cherkasy Chamber of Commerce and Industry the Chamber of Industry of Ukraine and the Chamber of Commerce of Pozharevts, between the Rivne Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ukraine and the Chamber of Commerce of Leskovets.
The establishment of interregional contacts was facilitated by the holding of Ukrainian-Serbian business forums in Kyiv on October 3-4, 2017, and in Belgrade on July 3, 2018, which were opened by the President of Ukraine P. Poroshenko and the President of the Republic of Serbia A. Vucic.
More than 100 companies representing the fields of agriculture, construction, mechanical engineering, metallurgy, pharmaceutical industry, wholesale trade, food, woodworking, and chemical industries took part in the forum. The forum demonstrated the significant interest of Serbian companies in entering the Ukrainian market and establishing direct cooperation with Ukrainian companies,
At the forum of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ukraine and Vojvodina Metal Cluster (VMC) signed a memorandum on cooperation both at the international and national levels. They will identify opportunities for joint development and implementation of projects within the framework of EU-funded programs. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ukraine and the VMC will cooperate to implement joint activities aimed at establishing contacts between companies and research institutes of Serbia and Ukraine, as well as at the transfer of knowledge in the field of technology and innovation. VMC is a business association working to increase the competitiveness of the metallurgical sector in Vojvodina. It unites more than 130 members, SMEs, and business support organizations. VMC members have 300+ million euros in annual revenue (of which 82+ million euros are exports).
On November 25, 2020, the Ukrainian-Serbian online business conference “Prospects of cooperation: Ukraine-Serbia” was held. During the conference, Gennady Chyzhikov, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ukraine, Myroslav Miletich, Advisor to the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, Oleksandr Alexandrovych, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of Serbia, ex-acting Minister of Agriculture of Ukraine Olha Trofymtseva, representatives of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Ukraine and Serbia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. Ukrainian and Serbian companies took part in the event. The investment and tourism potential of the Khmelnytskyi region were presented at the conference.
On May 30, 2022, the Ambassador of Ukraine to Serbia V. Tolkach visited the production of the company “Perutnina Ptuj Topiko d.o.o” in Bačka Topola (Vojvodina), which is owned by the Ukrainian enterprise “MHP”. A vivid example of effective cooperation between Serbia and Ukraine. The company is a leader in the production of chicken meat and chicken products. This is the result of the introduction of the latest modern technologies of production and environmental protection. It is especially pleasing that quality management and the vast majority of technologies and relevant processes were introduced from Ukraine.
Legal basis of bilateral relations
Ukraine and Serbia created legal basis of bilateral relations that, in general, provides the legal regulation of the main issues of Ukrainian-Serbian cooperation in political, trade and economical, cultural and humanitarian spheres. It includes, namely, such important documents as agreements on trade and economic cooperation, on mutual promotion and investments protection, on the avoid of double taxation, on scientific and technical cooperation, on educational cooperation, on military cooperation.
Till 2018 Ukrainian-Serbian legal basis has 73 bilateral documents, including 4 interstate, 18 intergovernmental, 23 interministerial, 6 regional agreements, 10 memoranda ad 12 protocols. 4 signed agreements wait for ratification.
14 documents are under consideration of both Sides.
List of valid documents
Interstate agreements
№
Valid
Name of the document
1
15.04.94
Exchange of Notes about the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Ukraine and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
2
24.02.1962
Treaty between the USSR and the Federal People Republic of Yugoslavia on Legal Assistance in Civil, Family and Criminal Cases
3
01.11.1990
Trade Treaty between the USSR and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
4
11.04.1945
Treaty on Friendship, Mutual Assistance and After-war Cooperation between the USSR and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
№
Valid
Name of the document
1
16.05.1990
Treaty between the Government of the USSR and Executive viche of the Skupstina of the Socialistic Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on Mutual Trips of the Citizens
2
07.06.1990
Treaty between the Government of the USSR and Executive viche of the Skupstina of the Socialistic Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on Air Connection
3
18.06.1970
Treaty between the Government of the USSR and the Government of the Socialistic Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on International Auto Connection
4
12.09.96
Treaty between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of the Socialistic Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on Creation of Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation
5
27.11.96
Treaty between the Government of Ukraine and the Federal Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on Trade and Economic Cooperation
6
27.01.97
Treaty on Cooperation in the Sphere of Education, Culture and Sport between the Government of Ukraine and the Federal Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
7
20.08.01
Treaty between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Federal Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on Mutual Promotion and Protection of Investments
8
30.11.01
Treaty between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Federal Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on Avoidance of Double Taxation Concerning Taxes on Profit and Capital
9
29.01.03
Treaty between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Federal Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on Cooperation in the Sphere of Health Security and Medical Science
10
29.01.03
Treaty between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Federal Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on Scientific and Technical Cooperation
11
02.06.04
Treaty between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Federal Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on Cooperation in the Sphere of Avoiding Extraordinary Situations and Liquidations of Their Consequences
12
04.08.04
Treaty between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Council of Ministers of Serbia and Montenegro on Military and Technical Cooperation
13
05.04.05
Treaty between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Council of Ministers of Serbia and Montenegro on Cooperation in the Sphere of Tourism
14
12.08.2005
Treaty between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Council of Ministers of Serbia and Montenegro on Trips of the Citizens with Diplomatic and Service Passports without Visas
15
05.07.05
Consular Convention between Ukraine and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
16
21.12.06
Note of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia № 3231-6/06 from 21.12.2006 about the Principle of Mutuality between Ukraine and the Republic of Serbia Concerning the Right for Property on Immovability
17
31.05.11
Treaty between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the Republic of Serbia on Mutual Refusal From Visa Requests for Citizens
18
10.11.11
Treaty between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the Republic of Serbia on Cooperation in the Sphere of Defence
19
10.11.11
Treaty between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the Republic of Serbia on International Auto Transport of Goods and Travellers
20
01.11.12
Treaty between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the Republic of Serbia on Mutual Support in Custom Issues
Interdivisional agreements
№
Valid
Name of the documents
1
01.10.01
Treaty on Cooperation in the field of Sport between State Committee of Youth Policy, Sport and Tourism of Ukraine and Federal secretariat of Sport and Youth of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
2
12.02.02
Treaty between State Committee of Standardization of Ukraine and Federal Organ of Standardization of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on Cooperation in the Sphere of Standardization
3
05.11.03
Treaty on Cooperation between Trade and Industrial Chamber of Ukraine and Trade and Industrial Chamber of the Republic of Serbia
4
13.02.04
Treaty on Cooperation between Trade and Industrial Chamber of Zakarpatska Region and Trade and Industrial Regional Chamber of Sombor
5
13.02.04
Treaty on Cooperation between Trade and Industrial Chamber of Zakarpatska Region and Trade and Industrial Regional Chamber of Novi Sad
6
16.04.04
Treaty on Cooperation between Trade and Industrial Chamber of Kyiv and Trade and Industrial Chamber of Belgrade
7
25.08.04
Treaty on Cooperation between the State Committee of Archives of Ukraine and Archive of Serbia and Montenegro
8
21.02.2006
Treaty on Scientific Cooperation between National Academy of Science of Ukraine and Serbian National Academy of Science and Art
9
28.02.2006
Treaty on Cooperation between Kyiv Regional Trade and Industrial Chamber and Trade and Industrial Chamber of Autonomous Land Voyvodyna
10
15.09.2006
Treaty on Cooperation between Zakarpatska Regional State Tele and Radio Company and Radio-diffusion Agency of Voyvodyna
11
02.10.08
Treaty on Educational and Scientific Cooperation between Kyiv University of Law of NAN of Ukraine and Faculty of Law of Nis University of the Republic of Serbia
12
02.10.08
Treaty on Educational and Scientific Cooperation between Kyiv University of State and Law under I.Koreckii of NAN of Ukraine and Faculty of Law of Nis University of the Republic of Serbia
13
24.10.08
Treaty on Cooperation between Kharkiv National University under V.Karazin and Belgrade University
14
07.04.09
Program of Cooperation in Cultural sphere between the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Ukraine and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia for 2009-2011
15
06.10.09
Treaty between Trade and Commercial Chamber of Ukraine and Commercial Chamber of Serbia on Creation of Common Ukrainian-Serbian and Serbian-Ukrainian Business Council
16
06.10.09
Treaty on Cooperation between Trade and Industrial Chamber of Sumi Region and Trade and Industrial Regional Chamber of Pancevo
17
06.10.09
Treaty on Cooperation between Trade and Industrial Chamber of Cherkasi Region and Trade and Industrial Regional Chamber of Pozarevac
18
06.10.09
Treaty on Cooperation between Trade and Industrial Chamber of Rivne Region and Trade and Industrial Regional Chamber of Leskovac
19
05.07.10
Agreement on Interparliamentarian Cooperation between the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and Narodna Skupstina of the Republic of Serbia
20
20.07.10
Memorandum of Mutual Understanding between Lviv State Television Company and Radio Television ofVojvodina
21
20.01.11
Treaty on Cooperation in Agricultural Sphere between the Ministry of Agrarian Policy of Ukraine and the Ministry of Agriculture, Wood and Water Industry of the Republic of Serbia
22
01.05.11
Agreement on Scientific and Technical Cooperation between the Institute of Work Medicine of the National Academy of Medicine Sciences of Ukraine and the Institute of Work Medicine of the Republic of Serbia
Regional agreements
№
Valid
Name of the document
1
27.05.95
Charter on Partnership between the City of Khmelnyck and City of Bor
2
05.06.02
Treaty on Cooperation between City State Administration of Kyiv and Majority of Belgrade
3
26.02.04
Treaty between Kalush and Bachka Palanka on Trade and Commercial, Scientific, Cultural and Humanitarian Cooperation
4
24.06.04
Protocol on Promotion of Bilateral Cooperation between Chortkiv District of Ternopil Region and the Region of Kula
5
07.05.05
Treaty on Cooperation between the City of Lviv (Ukraine) and Novi Sad (Serbia and Montenegro)
6
28.02.06
Treaty between Kyiv Regional State Administration of Ukraine and Autonomous Land Voyvodyna of Serbia and Montenegro on Trade and Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Cooperation
7
24.06.07
Treaty on Cooperation between City Administration of Buchach, Ukraine, and Vrbas Region, Serbia
8
26.06.07
Protocol on the Willingness for Friendship between Cherkasi (Ukraine) and Pirot (Republic of Serbia)
9
18.05.11
Protocol on the Willingness for Friendship between Kirovograd Regional Council and Skupstina of the Autonomous Region of Vojvodina
Memorandums
№
Valid
Name of the document
1
22.03.01
Memorandum between the Government (Cabinet of Ministers) of Ukraine and Federal Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia about the Measures, Aimed to the Liberalization of Mutual Trade
2
23.08.02
Memorandum of Mutual Understanding between Maritime Administration of Yugoslavia and the Ministry of Transport of Ukraine on Recognition of Diplomas (certificates) of Sailors according to the Provisions of Regulation 1/10 of International Convention on Preparation and Certification of Sailors and Keeping the Watch from 1978, with the Amendments from 1995.
3
18.10.04
Memorandum on Cooperation between the Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine and the Diplomatic Academy of Serbia and Montenegro
4
06.06.05
Memorandum on Cooperation in the Sphere of European and Euroatlantic Integration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia and Montenegro
5
01.03.2006
Memorandum on Cooperation between the Prosecutor-General’s Office of Ukraine and the Prosecutor-General’s Office of the Republic of Serbia in the Sphere of Fighting against Transnational Criminality and Laundering of Money, Received by Criminal Means
6
26.10.07
Memorandum on Cooperation between Ternopil Region State Administration, Ternopil Regional Council (Ukraine) and National Council of Ukrainian National Minority (Serbia)
7
26.10.07
Memorandum on Cooperation between Lviv Region State Administration, Lviv Regional Council (Ukraine) and National Council of Ukrainian National Minority (Serbia)
8
21.07.10
Plan of Consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia for 2010
9
21.04.11
Plan of Consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia for 2011
10
25.06.11
Memorandum on Cooperation between Reforms Club of Ukraine and Serbia club “Privrednik”
11
06.07.11
Memorandum between Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv State Administrations and Skupstina of the Autonomous Region of Vojvodina on Cooperation and Coordination
Protocols
№
Valid
Name of the document
1
10.10.1985
N 891_300
Protocol to the Treaty between the Government of the USSR and the Government of the Socialistic Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on International Auto Connection from 18 June 1970
2
24.01.96
Protocol on Consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
3
22.03.01
Protocol of the first session of Intergovernmental Ukrainian-Yugoslavian Commission on Trade and Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation
4
05.06.02
Protocol of the second session of Intergovernmental Ukrainian-Yugoslavian Commission on Trade and Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation
5
06.06.05
Protocol on Exchange of the Instruments of Ratification concerning Consular Convention between Ukraine and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
6
01.11.06
Working Protocol between the Union of Writers of Serbia and the Union of Writers of Ukraine
7
10.11.11
Protocol of the forth Session of Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation
8
10.11.11
Protocol on Cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia
Ukrainian – Rusyn community in the Republic of Serbia
History of the Ukrainian community in Serbia
Ukrainians migrated from the territory of Ukraine to the territory of today’s Republic of Serbia in ancient times and in different historical and economic conditions. Migration of scientists and religious people began in XV century in the times of Turkish occupation of the Balkan Peninsula. This process gradually increased especially in the beginning of XVIII century. The most intensive and massive migration was to the territory of today’s Serbian Vojvodina which was a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It is worth to note that professors from Kyiv’s Academy were teachers of Latin and Slavic languages, Philosophy and Theology in Sremski Karlovci in 1735. M. Kozachynskyi was one of the most famous among them. He wrote and together with his pupils played the first Serbian spectacle.
Being of Ukrainian monks in the Fruška Gora monasteries in the beginning of VXIII century opened one more chapter of Ukrainian-Serbian ties. For example, Arsenii Yovanovych Shakabenda from the Kyiv-Pechersk Monastery brought icon painters to Karlovac’s Metropolis in 1743. Those artists painted monasteries and taught Serbian young painters. Some of those wall paintings are on the walls and arcs of the monasteries in Fruška Gora. There are such church books printed in Ukraine as Kyiv’s (psalms, liturgy, Bible, lives of saints, apostles, apostolic call, canons, religious alphabets) in Serbian monasteries Obed (not existing), Vrdnik, Jazak, Besenovo, Sisatovac, Pjatkovica, Kuvezdin, Divsa, Privina Golova, Hopovo, Krusedol, Velika Remeta, Grgeteg, Rakovica and Beocin. There were also books on natural sciences, dialogs, philosophy and others. The majority of them have been saved.
In the first half of XVII century, after Austria forced Turkey to leave the South-Eastern regions of Europe, a new wave of migration from the whole Empire to those regions started. Regions of current Vojvodina were less populated and economically developed at that time. The situation became worth after Serbians had migrated to Ukraine and created New Serbia and Slavic Serbia. The colonization of Slovaks, Czechs, Germans, Polishes and other peoples on those free lands started.
Replacement of Slavic peoples from the territory of current Ukraine to Backa, Srem and Slavonija started in 1745. The first organized settlements were in Kula, Krstur (Ruski Krstur), Kucur and other villages around Backa and later around Sid and Srem.
Zaporizhzhya Cossacks in Vojvodina. In 1775 the Russian Empress Yekaterina II Velikaya drove out Cossacks from the Empire after she had destroyed the Ukrainian Cossacks’ state on the banks of Dniper – Zaporizhzhya Sich. The Cossacks were moving several years in the Turkish Empire, along Danube, in Moldova and the Tatar region. Having been dissatisfied by the conditions of life in Turkey the Cossacks asked the Austrian Imperator Joseph II to permit them to migrate to the Empire. They reached an agreement after long talks but the conditions of replacement were not appropriate for the Cossacks. They had to find armament and horses themselves and serve under the authority of German officers. They had to wear their national Cossack uniform. They didn’t have right to marry and were limited in movement. The payment for their service was minimal. In such conditions from 7 000 to 8 000 of Ukrainians moved to Serbia in 1785. It was the second wave of Ukrainian migration to the territory of current Vojvodina. Part of Cossacks, which formed small military groups, was located in the military zone close to Turkey. Cossacks in the region of Banat had their meeting centre in Temisvar and brigades from Pancevo and Bela Crkva had their meeting centre in Senta. People from that centre were later recruited to militia in Subotica, Novi Sad and Sombor. Being old Cossacks retired from the force with a small salary and stayed in Titel, Kovil and Sajkas.
The further fate of Ukrainians is not clear. Some historians consider that the Cossacks’ (плем’я) died because of (заборона) to have a family. Other historians think that Cossacks mixed with local citizens and became Serbians. Part of Cossacks might come back to the Danube Sich or to the Dniper banks that was their motherland. There are not evidences of staying of those Ukrainians today.
Emigration in 1920s. In 1920s (at the time of the Great October Revolution in Russia) about 70 thousands of refugees from Ukraine and the Southern Russia found an asylum in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. There were about 40 thousands of militaries and 30 thousands of civilians among migrants. There is a suggestion that there were about 30 thousands of Ukrainians among them. They were firstly settled in near 300 colonies all over the Kingdom. They got right to choose the region of their settlement freely just in 1924. A part of them decided to stay in Serbia but the majority of Ukrainians from the Western Ukraine chose Croatia, Vojvodina and Slovenia.
The cultural community “Prosvita” and further “Ukrainian Society” were established. Ukrainians prepared Shevchenko evening meetings, sang Ukrainian songs, read poems, danced Ukrainian dances, opened libraries and reading halls in purchased buildings. The Shevchenko evening meetings in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes transmitted into Ukrainian Culture Days. The theatre group of the Society played Ukrainian pieces. In cooperation with the Serbian choir it organized successful concerts including Serbian and Ukrainian song. Later “Prosvita” opened its branches in Novi Sad, Veliki Beckerek (now Zrenjanin), Subotica, Sid and other towns. The community “Kobzar” was established in Smederevo. It included theatre and musical groups. There were Ukrainian amatory theatre groups in Sabac, Pozarevac, Zajecar and other towns. Students established the Community of Ukrainian students. There were a lot of educated persons among emigrants (professors, lawyers, doctors, pharmacists, artists and others) who made huge contribution to education, culture and art of Serbia between the two world wars.
Colonization of Vojvodina. The most massive replacements of Ukrainians from Bosnia to Serbia were after the WWII in 1945-1946. The new state, the Federal People Republic of Yugoslavia, started populating Vojvodina by partisan families from Bosnia, Lika, Banja, Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia. Several Ukrainian families were replace at that time. Ukrainians settled in Ruske Selo, Novi Kozarci, Krajisnik near Banat, Budisav, Kovil, Kaca, Backa Jarka, Zmajev, Ratkovo and other villages near Banat. Several Families settled near Zemun. Taking into account large territory and small number of families which settled there communities were not numerous.
Separate settlements. Ukrainians actively migrated from Bosnia to Vojvodina looking for better conditions of life in 1950s and 1960s. This led to creation of the Ukrainian community in Vojvodina. It was impossible to (визначити) the number of Ukrainians in Vojvodina after the WWII. Ukrainian minority didn’t exist as a organized community and was marked as “Rusyns, Rutens, Ukrainians, Maloruses” or was by belonging to religion orientations. Those data didn’t show the real number of Ukrainians who got its national identity in lists of nationalities after (перепис) in 1971.
Today
According to the data of 2002 about 16 thousands of citizens of Serbia say that they are Rusyns and about 5 thousands – Ukrainians.
The Ukrainian minority live mostly in Vojvodina. Novi Sad, Vrbas, Kula, Sremska Mitrovica and Indjija are administrative centres for Ukrainians and Novi Sad, Ruski Krstur, Kucura, Djurdjevo and Sid – Rusyns. A few Ukrainians and Rusyns live in Belgrade.
Rusyns elected the National Council of Rusyn National Community of Serbia on 4th November 2018. Boris Sakach was appointed as the President of the Council.
Ukrainians elected the National Council of Ukrainian National Community of Serbia on 4th November 2018. The Council included 15 members. Mikola Liahovich was appointed the President of the Council.
Besides them Ukrainian-Rusyn community established the Union of Rusyns – Ukrainians of Serbia (member of the World Federation of Lemkos) and the Society of the Ukrainian language, literature and culture “Prosvita” and other local cultural societies.
The President of the Union of Rusyns – Ukrainians of Serbia B.Vislavskyi (appointed in 2008), the Honoured President of the Union S.Sakach and members of the organization lead activities to organizing cultural and educative events aimed at preserving Ukrainian conciseness of the minority. They organize summer schools for young people, exhibitions, lectures devoted to important events of Ukraine’s history and history of Rusyns and Ukrainians in Serbia.
The Society of the Ukrainian language, literature and culture “Prosvita” (the head is S.Mykytyshin) is popular civil society organization of the Ukrainian community. Due to activities of the Society in Novi Sad, Kula, Vrbas, Indjija and Sremska Mitrovica the level cultural life of Ukrainians became higher.
The Society of Ivan Seniuk from Kula, the Society “Carpathians” from Verbac, “Kolomyika” from Sremska Mitrovica play important role in preserving Ukrainian culture.
Ensuring educational rights
According to official data Rusyn language in the Vojvodina is taught in 65 elementary and 21 high schools, the Rusyn gymnasium “Peter Kuzmyak” (Ruski Kerestur), the Cathedra of Rusyn Language and Literature on the Faculty of Philosophy in Novi Sad University.
Ukrainian language with elements of national culture is taught to pupils of 1-8 farms of 12 Serbian schools in Novi Sad, Kula, Vrbac, Indjija, Sremska Mitrovica, Budisava and Lavino in Vojvodina.
Representatives of the Ukrainian nationality are taught in the Section of Ukrainian language of the Philological Faculty in Belgrade University.
Mass-media of the Community
The weekly “Ruske slovo”, the newspaper for young people “MAK”, the magazine for children “Zagradka”, the literature magazine “Shvetlosts” and the magazine “Golos Soyuzu” are edited in Rusyn language. There is the Rusyn reduction on the Vojvodina Television which has 4 hours program daily. The Rusyn language is also used on local televisions in Kula, Vrbas and Sid.
Ukrainian programs on the Vojvodina Television are prepared by Ukrainian journalists just for the Rusyn reduction. Besides Novi Sad Ukrainian radio is also in Vrbas, Kula, Indjija, Sremska Mitrovica. 30-minutes TV program “Ukrainian Panorama” is transmitted on the TV-channel RTS-2 two times per month. There are also the Ukrainian newspaper “Ridne Slovo” (since 2005), the calendar “Ridne Slovo”, the magazine “Ukrajinske Slovo” and the magazine for children “Soloveiko”.