We inform you that, on Sunday, March 16, 2020, in view of the situation regarding the COVID-19 epidemic, a state of emergency was declared in the territory of the Republic of Serbia.

By the decision of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, in order to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases on the territory of the Republic of Serbia, the competent authorities shall temporarily prohibit the entry of foreign nationals into the Republic of Serbia. The borders of the Republic of Serbia are closed to all foreign nationals, except diplomats accredited in the Republic of Serbia and foreigners with a residence permit. Citizens of Serbia, as well as representatives of diplomatic missions accredited in the Republic of Serbia and foreign nationals residing in Serbia, who enter our country from countries with intensive transmission of COVID-19 disease (Swiss Confederation, Republic of Italy, Islamic Republic of Iran, Romania, Kingdom of Spain, Federal Republic of Germany, French Republic, Republic of Austria, Republic of Slovenia and Republic of Greece) are need to undergo an isolation for 28 days, and if they come from other areas they are obliged to take self-isolation measures for 14 days (isolation at home).

These measures will not apply to:

1. crews of freight motor vehicles when performing international road transport. International transit transport in road traffic is limited to a period not exceeding 12 hours from the moment of entering the territory of the Republic of Serbia,

2. crews of cargo ships transporting goods to one of the domestic ports, in the case of transit navigation on international waterways through the territory of the Republic of Serbia, shall be limited to transit not longer than 90 hours for ships and 60 hours for self-propelled navigation from the moment of entry into the territory of the Republic of Serbia in the case of upstream navigation, or for a period not exceeding 72 hours for the ships and 54 hours for self-propelled navigation from the moment of entering the territory of the Republic of Serbia in the case of downstream navigation,

3. staff of railway vehicles entering the border station zone established by international agreements,

4. crew and cabin crew of aircraft whose final destination is the Republic of Serbia or that are in transit through international airports in the Republic of Serbia,

5. persons who have obtained consent for entry into the Republic of Serbia from the Working Body of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, consisting of representatives of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure

6. humanitarian convoys under the compulsory escort agreed upon through diplomatic channels.

On January 31, 2020, the Ministry of Culture and Information announced the Contest:

- Contest for co-financing translation projects of Serbian literary works abroad in 2020;

- Contest for financing or co-financing projects in the field of cultural activities of Serbs abroad in 2020;

Contest texts and accompanying registration forms are available on the Ministry of Culture and Information website at http://www.kultura.gov.rs. The deadline for applications is March 16, 2020.

For more information about the competition, please contact the Ministry of Culture and Information, contact person - Mladen Veskovic, e-mail:

mladen.veskovic@kultura.gov.rs or by phone: +381113398026

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Serbia to Ukraine Aca Jovanovic presented the copies of the Letters of Credence to the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affaires of Ukraine, Vasyl Bodnar, on January 21, 2020.