With the future of George Soros’ institutions in Hungary in question, Serbia’s President and the billionaire philanthropist’s son, Alexander, have discussed opening a branch of the Open Society Foundation’s Roma Institute in Belgrade.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Friday met Alexander Soros, the son of billionaire philanthropist George Soros and Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Open Society Foundations, to discuss opening a branch of the Foundation’s Roma Institute in Serbia.
“The Foundation for an Open Society is ready to help as much as it can in improving the position of Roma in Serbia, which would greatly contribute to their greater participation in public life,” the press release from Vucic’s office said.
It added that besides the position of the Roma in Serbia, Vucic and Soros discussed Serbia’s progress in European integration and raising the country’s entrepreneurial spirit.
“Alexander Soros expressed readiness to further support reforms, strengthen the capacities of state institutions and strengthen democratic processes in Serbia,” the press release said.
It recalled that the Foundation had recently launched the European Roma Institute for Art and Culture in Berlin.
“Serbia has the opportunity to use European and national resources to improve the position of the most vulnerable citizens of Serbia, including Roma,” Soros was cited as saying.
The meeting ocurred on same day that media reported that the Open Society Foundations were reviewing the future of their Budapest office in the light of Hungarian leader Viktor Orban’s fierce hostility to the institution, which he has accused of spreading propaganda and of having a pro-immigration agenda.
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