The book launch event for “France and Serbia: Centuries of Friendship”, a monograph published by the Center for Study in Cultural Development, was held on Thursday, October 22, in the Yugoslav Film Archive in Belgrade. The author of this rich dual-language monograph is Alexis Troude, a professor at the University in Versailles and a leading expert on the history of international and cultural relations between Serbia and France. The book focuses on the historical ties between the two countries, showing particular attention to the persons and cultural heritage of significance for the relations between the two states and peoples.
The Center’s director Vuk Vukićević and the French Institute director in Serbia Manuel Bouard made the introductory address. Among the speakers at the launch were Mile Bjelajac, reviewer of the book; Aleksandra Kolaković, the scientific advisor and director of the Institute for Recent History of Serbia; Vladimir Kolarić, editor of the monograph; and Alexis Troude. Several films from the Yugoslav Film Archive that testify to Serbian-French relations were screened at the event.
The presenters pointed out the importance of Serbian-French relations, which are based on a successful cultural cooperation, and most importantly on solidarity acquired in their joint struggle in the First World War, which permanently marked the relations between the two states and peoples, regardless of the difference in the trials they faced. This cooperation is testified by numerous cultural ties and a rich monumental heritage in both countries, as well as the ongoing cultural exchange.
They stressed the importance of Alexis Troude’s book, which presents to a broad audience in an accessible way the most important historical moments in the relations of the two countries, as well as the crucial figures and elements of cultural heritage, in a form that previously did not exist, not in Serbian or French.
To celebrate the publication of the monograph “France and Serbia: Centuries of Friendship” the Gallery of the Center for Study in Cultural Development hosted an exhibition of the same name. A book launch event will be held on Friday, October 23, in Matica Srpska in Novi Sad.
