On the 14-16th of March, 2012, in order to participate in the International Conference of Ministers of Sport of the members-states of the Council of Europe, Minister of Education and Science, Youth and Sport of Ukraine D.Tabachnyk visited Belgrade.

During the visit D.Tabachnyk and the State secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sport of the Republic of Serbia Ivana Kovachevich have signed the Memorandum on Cooperation in the Sphere of Youth Policy, Physical Culture and Sport.

That Memorandum defines main areas and forms of cooperation, such as exchange of experience and state support of sport and youth policies as visits of experts and representatives of non-governmental sector, implementation of joint projects etc.

“Signing of the Memorandum on Cooperation with Ukraine opens a new opportunities for youth and sport organizations from Serbia for establishing contacts with similar organizations from European countries. I hope that this document will help to improve mobility and exchange of information between institutions, youth and sport organizations of Serbia and Ukraine as well as implementation of joint projects in the future”, said Ivana Kovacevic.

“I am convinced that the signed Memorandum will become the good basis for further fruitful cooperation between youth, students and sport organizations of Ukraine and Serbia. It is very important that the document opens new opportunities for state support of joint projects, namely youth exchanges, exchange of professors, direct agreements between universities”, minister D.Tabachnyk underlined.

D.Tabachnyk also met with the rector of Belgrade University, professors and students of the Ukrainian language division of the Philology Faculty of Belgrade University.

On 16th of March, 2012 during an audience with Serbian Patriarch Irinej D.Tabachnyk was awarded the highest distinction of the Serbian Orthodox Church – Saint Sava Order.