The “Živorad Kovačević” award for contribution to the development of good neighborly relations between Serbia and regional cooperation was given to Marina Fratucan, an N1 journalist. The award ceremony in the Gallery “Haos” was opened by Jelica Minić, President of the European Movement in Serbia, who said that it was a great honor for Marina Fratucan to take the first prize “Živorad Kovačević”, because the red line that connected all phases of her professional work is always was how to understand and connect the people who were separated by the war.

Aleksandar Popov from the Center for Regionalism said that Živorad Kovačević spent his entire life building bridges between nations and that this award was established as a contribution to building bridges between states and people.

“We were driven by the desire to make the Balkans a better place to live, which is where the idea of ​​organizations promoting good neighborly relations establishing this award came from,” said Dragan Djukanovic of the Center for Foreign Policy

Marina Fratucan thanked for the award and said that the professional path behind her was not always easy, but it was the only possible one. “I had a microphone and cameras to convey the stories of ordinary people, people who disagree and still talk, thus showing that hatred in this area still has an alternative. “An alternative that condemns crimes, accepts responsibility and wants to move forward”, Fratucan said. She added that she dedicates this award to her children and her students, to whom she always repeated that it is worth persevering and fighting when it comes to humanity, accepting the other and the different, and breaking down barriers.

Jan Brat, the head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, also attended the award ceremony, addressing those gathered at the Gallery  “Haos”, saying that relations between neighbors have nothing to do with countries, but only with people, but that the media play a big role in that relationship. “It is time to build new bridges with people like Marina Fratucan, an example of objective and impartial journalism, but above all a responsible and dedicated professional,” Brat added.

The “Živorad Kovačević” award was established by the European Movement in Serbia, the Center for Regionalism and the Center for Foreign Policy. Recognition is given for a speech, book, concrete action or attitude of an individual, organization or group of citizens who have significantly contributed to good neighborly relations and regional cooperation in the past year.