The situation in our hospitals is really critical

Belgrade – Crown Prince Aleksandar II and Princess Katherine have decided to open the White Palace for gatherings of businessmen, state officials and prominent cultural figures, and especially for humanitarian purposes. The grand opening of the White Palace will be on 7 and 8 June, on the occasion of the special charity event in aid of medical equipment and ambulances for the health institutions in Serbia.

- The situation in our hospitals is really critical. For the last ten month we have been to every hospital at least once and to some of them twice. The doctors and nurses are doing their jobs like heroes, without elementary equipment, or with very old equipment. Life is indeed our most valuable possession and that’s why we can let incubators to get broken while babies are inside them, we can’t let people sell their valuables so that they can go to an operation or buy medicines – says for the “Blic” Princess Katherine Karadjordjevic.

She emphasizes that although she had been in Serbia, Kosovo and Bosnia several times during the last 11 years, which is how long she had been in humanitarian work, she realized “how really alarming the situation was” only when she came to live here.

- The children in refugee camps and hospitals keep asking where the world is, and if they knew how we live. We are a part of Europe, and we should live like other European people. Serbs are very proud people, but it is no shame to ask for something you don’t have. When I spoke to the representatives of the international institutions they asked me why no one spoke to them like I did. Also, I think now is the moment for Diaspora to help the country and the people – points out Princess Katherine.

The event will start with the formal dinner party on 7 June, when those who donated to our health system, will gather at the White Palace. The list of medical equipment was forwarded to all potential donors, and the check to the amount sufficient to purchase any of the equipment, allows the attendance for two people.

- There will be no formal invitations for the dinner. The invitation is the check to the name of the manufacturer of medical equipment or ambulances. The list of equipment was made according to the needs of the hospitals that I had visited – says Princess Katherine Karadjordjevic.

The next day, on 8 June at the White Palace, there will be a meeting of the Government officials, investors and businessmen, where everybody who represent financial and economic sector, and attended the reception the night before, will have a chance to discuss intensifying of cooperation between local and international companies.

- We came back to our country not to take, but to give and help our people. That is why we have decided to open the doors of the White Palace to humanitarian causes. We expect support from donors from Europe and America – says Crown Prince Aleksandar Karadjordjevic, emphasizing that the new Government have had extraordinary success so far, and that they have been highly appreciated for their reforms by the international institutions, but also points out that much more must be done to improve our country’s image.

The Crown Prince announced the possibility that the White Palace soon be opened for general public.

- The White Palace is no “forbidden city”. We are thinking of opening it for visitors two or three times a week. There are some things which need to be done at the Palace itself, we are currently repairing the roof, and restoration of some paintings and objects of art is also planned – says Crown Prince Aleksandar Karadjordjevic.

The Palace on 100 hectares

The White Palace was built from 1934 to 1937, and it was designed by architect Aleksandar Djordjevic. On the ground floor of this neoclassical building there is a big hall and several salons furnished in Louis XV style, with Venetian chandeliers. There is also a library which used to have 35,000 books, as well as the dining room in Chippendale style. The first floor holds five big apartments, and the rooms for the staff and another smaller library are in the loft. The compound in Dedinje has the area of 100 hectares