Resolution of the International Scientific Symposium titled:
“Hellenic Association of Slavists 1975–2025. Half a century of Slavic studies at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and in Greece”
Friday May 9 2025
The participants in the International Scientific Symposium titled: “Hellenic Association of Slavists 1975–2025. Half a century of Slavic studies at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and in Greece”, which took place on Friday, May 9, 2025, express our deep concern about the ongoing events over the past months in the neighboring and fraternal country Serbia, which has been shaken by continuous demonstrations led by the educational community, particularly students and pupils.
It is widely accepted that in democratic and law-abiding countries, governments are obliged to listen to the demands of society, and especially those of the youth. In Serbia, however, in recent months, the entire society and the educational community—with students and pupils at the forefront—have been protesting, demanding their self-evident rights in a law-abiding country. The government’s response, however, is the constant hardening of its stance and the adoption of punitive measures that are particularly directed against the educational community —students, pupils, and educators of all levels— such as the suspension of salaries of teachers in Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary education.
In response to this situation, the participants in the above-mentioned International Scientific Symposium:
- We declare our support to the educational community of our friend Serbia —students, pupils, and educators of all levels.
- We express our protest against the repressive and punitive measures taken against those who are demanding their self-evident rights.
- We call on the political and intellectual leadership of the fraternal country to rise to the occasion and to proceed immediately to a meaningful and constructive dialogue with the educational community and especially the young people, bridging the gap that tends to be consolidated.
To paraphrase the well-known statement by Giorgos Seferis (March 1969): the longer the exit from such an abnormal situation is delayed, the more it leads to tragedies that end up inevitable.