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Temporary Embassy Closure
Date: October 6th 2001 (decision in PDF format attached)
Source: "The Official Gazette FRY", No. 53 (2001)
Because of the above decision, when the Embassy was reopened practically at the beginning of 2006, only one diplomat, Charge d'Affaires a.i., was stationed at the embassy. Such procedures lasted until July 20th 2025, when the first resident Serbian ambassador, from 1994 until then, arrived in Lusaka. From that day, the Republic of Serbia has again been represented in the Republic of Zambia with an Ambassador as the Head of its mission instead of a Chargé d'affaires a.i. (ad interim) who is a diplomat who temporarily runs an embassy or diplomatic mission when the ambassador is away, or the post is vacant.
Basically, Serbia managed its relations with Zambia through a 'dual-track' diplomatic approach, balancing its historical ties rooted in the Non-Aligned Movement and the Yugoslav era while operating under various constraints that limited its physical footprint. During this period, the relationship functioned on two levels:
1. Political Representation (from Pretoria): The Ambassador in Pretoria served as the non-resident ambassador to Zambia. This diplomat was responsible for Presenting Credentials (formal accreditation to the Zambian President).
2. Operational & Consular Presence (in Lusaka): Simultaneously, the Embassy in Lusaka remained open but was staffed by just one diplomat, a Chargé d'Affaires a.i., who acted as the "caretaker" of the mission. Such diplomat maintained local contacts, handled consular services (visas/passports), and daily administrative tasks, until 20th July 2025.
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