Awards for long-standing partnership and cooperation presented to Ana Ilić and Mihailo Jovanović
A formal reception attended by several thousand guests was held at the Ložionica Center to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States of America.
Aleksandar Titolo, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the United States of America in Serbia, on this occasion presented awards for long-standing partnership and cooperation to Ani Ilić, Director of the Ložionica Center, and Mihailo Jovanović, Director of the Office for Information Technologies and eGovernment.
“Thanks to their vision and leadership, the Ložionica Center for Creative Industries, where we are celebrating this important anniversary tonight, has in a short time become one of the most popular places in Belgrade and the new home of our American Center. In less than a year, the American Center at Ložionica has organized hundreds of programs, hosted tens of thousands of visitors, and become a favorite place for learning, creativity, innovation, and exchange. None of this would have been possible without the support and dedication of Ložionica Director Ana Ilić and the Director of the Office for Information Technologies and eGovernment, Mihailo Jovanović,” Titolo said.
An award for outstanding achievement during studies at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College was also presented to Serbian Army Major Marko Drižić.
The ceremony began with a march of the U.S. Marines, a salute to the flag, and the performance of the national anthems of the Republic of Serbia and the United States of America, followed by a short film dedicated to American independence, while the Mary Gospel Choir also performed during the evening.
The reception was attended by the highest state officials of the Republic of Serbia, including President Aleksandar Vučić, Serbian Patriarch Porfirije, numerous ministers, members of the diplomatic corps, as well as prominent representatives of the business, cultural, and media communities.