Mariking the 200 anniversary of the death of Rigas Phoereos, Nebojsa's Tower, Belgrade 1998
His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Mr. Pavle at the marking of the 200 anniversary of the death of Rigas Phoereos, Nebojsa's Tower, Belgrade 1998
Foundation of the Association of Greeks in Serbia «Rigas Phoereos»: Greek priest stationed in Belgrade, Diogenis Valavanidis and the ambassador of the Republic of Greece H.E. Panagiotis Vlassopoulos, 1997
Spiridon Hatzaras – Director of the Press Office in the Greek Embassy and Diogenis Valavanidis at one of the celebrations held in the Temple to Holy Mother, Zemun, 1997
Her Royal Highness Princess Katarina Karadjordjevic with her father and Diogenis Valavanidis, Belgrade
  Diogenis D. Valavanidis was the first Chairman of the Association of Greeks in Serbia “Rigas Phoereos”. Some of the photographs shown bellow recorded that period. At the same time, he was holding the position of the Chairman of the New Association of the Serbian-Greek Friendship. During the ‘90s, times of the big trials for the Serbian people faced with pressure and international isolation, he actively participated in the organization of humanitarian aid from Greece for the victims of war on the territory of former Yugoslavia. Besides, as a part of the Program and Statute of the New Association of the Serbian-Greek Friendship, he was actively involved in the organization of exhibits, concerts and other cultural-artistic manifestations that contributed to fruitful collaboration between two nations. One of the activities of the New Association of the Serbian-Greek Friendship was organization of the most unusual football match ever  played. At the time when NATO was dropping bombs on Serbia and Belgrade, on April 7, 1999 friendly football match between AEK from Athens and Partizan from Belgrade was held at the Partizan’s football stadium in the centre of Belgrade. The Association organized this match to show the greatness and honesty of the friendship that exists between two nations. At the same time, this was a manifestation of something that breaks every rule and principle of the sport’s competitions. Local funs were loudly supporting guests from Athens while the AEK funs, who came with their team, carried Partizan’s flags and cheered for the local team. As agreed, the referee stopped the match in the 65th minute to allow players and team managers from Greece to cross Hungarian border before dark and leave for Athens from Budapest.
  
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Diogenis D. Valavanidis was the first Chairman of the Association of Greeks in Serbia “Rigas Phoereos”. Some of the photographs shown bellow recorded that period. At the same time, he was holding the position of the Chairman of the New Association of the Serbian-Greek Friendship. During the ‘90s, times of the big trials for the Serbian people faced with pressure and international isolation, he actively participated in the organization of humanitarian aid from Greece for the victims of war on the territory of former Yugoslavia. Besides, as a part of the Program and Statute of the New Association of the Serbian-Greek Friendship, he was actively involved in the organization of exhibits, concerts and other cultural-artistic manifestations that contributed to fruitful collaboration between two nations. One of the activities of the New Association of the Serbian-Greek
Friendship was organization of the most unusual football match ever 
played. At the time when NATO was dropping bombs on Serbia and Belgrade, on April 7, 1999 friendly football match between AEK from Athens and Partizan from Belgrade was held at the Partizan’s football stadium in the centre of Belgrade. The Association organized this match to show the greatness and honesty of the friendship that exists between two nations. At the same time, this was a manifestation of something that breaks every rule and principle of the sport’s competitions. Local funs were loudly supporting guests from Athens while the AEK funs, who came with their team, carried Partizan’s flags and cheered for the local team. As agreed, the referee stopped the match in the 65th minute to allow players and team managers from Greece to cross Hungarian border before dark and leave for Athens from Budapest. 
