This year?s Africa Day was marked with a Grand Reception on May 25, jointly organized by the nine (9) African Missions resident in Belgrade. 2. The well-attended reception was held at the Embassy of Egypt. 3. Over six hundred (6oo) invitations were dispatched to invited guests for the occasion; and among the dignitaries who graced the function were, the newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, H.E. Mr. Vuk Jeremic, an Advisor to the President of Serbia, Mr. Damjan Krnjevic Miskovic, the Chief of Protocol of the host Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Slobodan Marinkovic, and other senior government and public officials. The South African Ambassador accredited to Belgrade with residence in Athens, Greece, H.E. Mrs. Mandisa Dona Marasha, was also in attendance. 4. The Embassy of Ghana, along side eight (8) other African Missions namely, Algeria, Angola, Congo D.R., Egypt, Guinea, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia, mounted their respective stands where they served assorted food items to their enthusiastic guests who had a real feel of the African kitchen and hospitality. 5. Assorted alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages were also served to guests at the function. 6. In a welcoming statement which was read on behalf of the Group by the Vice-Dean of the African Group, H.E. Mr. Adel A. Naguib (Ambassador of Egypt), the Group noted the strong bonds of friendship that existed between Africa and Serbia dating back to the days of the former Yugoslavia. The Group affirmed its determination to maintaining and deepening that sense of cooperation with the host country, whiles at the same time it wished the new administration in Serbia well in its endeavours. 7. Regarding the situation on the continent, the Group acknowledged the remarkable strides made by the African Union in the upholding of democratic values and principles such as the rule of law, freedom of the press, and independence of the Judiciary. The New Economic Partnership for Africa?s Development (NEPAD) initiative was also lauded by the Group. 8. The above notwithstanding, the Group lamented the presence of pockets of conflicts on the continent that needed urgent and concrete attention of the African Union. 9. Overall, the reception was well-attended and the respective stands of the Missions were highly patronized. Indeed, the presence of the newly appointed Foreign Minister of Serbia alongside other senior government officials was a demonstration of the continuous commitment of the current Serbia Administration to forge greater links and cooperation with Africa.