Ivana Golubović Duboka, Charge d'Affaires ad interim of the Embassy of Serbia in Tokyo

Career
1998 Third Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
2004-2007 First Secretary at the Embassy of Serbia in Croatia
2008-2010 Counselor, Analytical Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia
2010-2014 Counselor at the Embassy of Serbia in Cyprus
2014-2018 Minister-Counsellor, Head of the Privileges and Immunities Section, Protocol Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia
September 2018 Minister Counselor, Embassy of Serbia in Tokyo
July 2020: Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of Serbia in Tokyo (current position)

The Republic of Serbia is a country located in the heart of the Balkan Peninsula. This time, we visited the embassy in Shinagawa and spoke with Ivana Golubović Duboka, Charge d'Affaires ad interim of the Embassy of Serbia in Tokyo.

About Serbia

Geography, area, and climate
Serbia is located in the center of the Balkan Peninsula and is a key transportation hub connecting Europe and Asia. Its area is approximately 88,361 square kilometers, slightly larger than Hokkaido. Standard time is Central European Time (CET) (the time difference with Japan is minus 8 hours, and minus 7 hours during daylight saving time). The climate is mild continental, with four seasons, just like Japan.

People
Serbia has a turbulent history and is a diverse nation. The majority of the population is Serbs, but there are 37 other ethnic groups. All ethnic groups are guaranteed freedom and equal rights.

Sports
The most famous athlete from Serbia is undoubtedly the professional tennis player Novak Djokovic. Serbia has also produced a number of world-class athletes in other sports, including soccer, volleyball, basketball, and water polo. At the Rio Olympics, Serbia won eight medals.

Reference: Embassy of the Republic of Serbia website

■Chargé d'Affaires' career so far

The Charge d'Affaires enrolled at the Faculty of Law at the University of Belgrade. At the time, Europe, in particular, was in a period of instability and uncertainty. While he was a student, the Berlin Wall fell in 1989. This event had a profound impact on the world and significantly influenced the formation of his own values, such as pacifism and the importance of communication. After graduating, he initially worked as a judge. However, he believed that diplomacy was the best way to realize his strong desire to change society, contribute to society, and improve his country, so he joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He is currently in his 25th year as a diplomat, having worked in fields such as politics, economics, and culture. He came to Japan two years ago, his first posting in Asia. His impression of Japan was that it was "a very beautiful country, with natural beauty unparalleled in the world."

■National character

-Please tell us about the differences between Serbs and Japanese people.
Compared to Japanese people, Serbians are very cheerful and easygoing. They are also enthusiastic and tend to put their all into their work when it comes to achieving their goals. What they all have in common is that they place great importance on family and tradition.

-Please tell us about the relationship between Serbia and Japan.
Serbia and Japan are bound by a strong friendship. Serbs love Japan, and there are many pro-Japanese people. 139 years ago, King Milan Obrenović of Serbia and Emperor Meiji exchanged letters, marking the beginning of friendly relations between our two countries. I am very proud of this long-standing friendship.

■Duties

-Please tell us about your work at the embassy.
The work of the embassy is very wide-ranging and extremely busy. In order to strengthen relations between Serbia and Japan, we are deepening cooperation with various ministries, primarily the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Other important official duties include protecting Serbian residents in Japan and promoting Serbian culture and tourism. Exchanging information with the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also an important job, but due to the eight-hour time difference (seven hours in summer), we need to coordinate our communications well. I intend to devote my whole heart and soul to my official duties in order to maintain the friendship between Japan and Japan that has been nurtured by past ambassadors since the days of Yugoslavia.

■ Bread and Rakia



■Can you give a message to our readers?

I hope you will visit Serbia someday and experience the charm of our country and people for yourself. Serbia's terrain is diverse and you can enjoy its natural beauty. Serbian people are generally very friendly and warm. When you arrive in Serbia, first enjoy the capital, Belgrade. It has a long history and there are parks everywhere. I particularly recommend Kalemegdan Fortress Park, located at the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers.
Don't miss the Šumadija region in central Serbia, the Tara Mountains National Park in the west, and the Zlabotibor resort area. This region is home to a famous tourist spot called "Drvengrad," which attracts many visitors every year. It's also known as a tourist destination created by Serbian film director Emir Kusturica, and you can spend a whole day relaxing surrounded by nature and learning about traditional Serbian culture.
In addition, churches and monasteries built during the medieval Serbian period in the 13th and 14th centuries still remain, and are registered as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We look forward to your visit.

Student newspaper WEB coverage on November 16, 2020

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Tsuda University sophomore Ayako Miyata / Keio University senior Ogawa Yoshio / Toyo University freshman Hama Honoka / Tsuda University junior Kawanami Aki / Keio University freshman Ito Miyu