Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute today to Canadians of Serbian descent on the 211th anniversary of the Statehood Day of Serbia. It is a day that commemorates the struggle of the Serbian people to regain independence and sovereignty, as well as the first constitution proclaimed on the same day in 1835.
Serbia, Canada's great ally in World War I and World II in the Balkans, is today a dynamic democratic society firmly engaged on its path to a full European Union membership and undivided commitment to democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law.
A sizeable Serbian community lives in Canada today and it is now successfully integrated into the Canadian way of life. One has to do with a respectable and outstanding group within the Canadian society, noteworthy for its prosperity and contribution to Canadian society. The community is also a very important bridge between Canada and Serbia.
Today I invite all hon. members to join me in congratulating Serbia for its statehood day. God bless Canada and Serbia.