BIG HUMANITARIAN CONCERT AT THE WHITE PALACE

Belgrade, 9 December, 2004 – Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine have organized tonight at the White Palace a big humanitarian concert of the Royal Chamber Orchestra Saint George’s Strings, which works under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Philip.

The Royal St. George’s Strings orchestra, under the baton of Mr. Nenad Nikolic., performed at the concert. The flautist Michael Coffler, the soloist of the greatest orchestras all over the world, and our most complete violinist, Sreten Krstic, the virtuoso and soloist of the Royal St. George’s Strings, have crowned this concert. Together with the string orchestra the vocal ensemble “Oktoih”, who sang spiritual pieces under the baton of Aleksandar Spasic, took part at the concert as well.

The organization of this evening’s humanitarian concert was supported by the numerous donors, successful companies and individuals, who were willing to join a traditional Christmas action of raising funds for buying the Christmas presents for children deprived of parental care: children from orphanages, physically and mentally disturbed children and children refugees from all over Serbia.

In celebrating Christmas, Their Royal Highnesses will on 4 and 5 January 2005 at the White Palace, give away those presents and in such way they will share the joy of this great Christian holiday with the children.

Tonight’s concert is just a continuation of a big humanitarian action which started in Athens on the 1st December, when the “Lifeline Hellas”, whose patron is HRH Crown Princess Katherine, organized a humanitarian Christmas luncheon at the hotel “Grand Bretagne”.

Addressing the present guests the Crown Prince emphasized:

“I am very happy that the White Palace is hosting this humanitarian concert. With the help of a great number of our donors, and in co-operation with the Royal St. George’s Strings, we have managed to organize this concert. Without you, good-hearted people, who are always willing to help, this humanitarian action organized by the Foundation of HRH Princess Katherine would not see the day. This humanitarian action succeeded because we have joined our efforts to help the children without parental care in the orphanages throughout Serbia.”

After the Crown Prince H.E. the Ambassador of the Republic of Austria, Mr. Hanes Porries has addressed the attendees. He thanked Their Royal Highnesses on a warm welcome and support which he has had since arriving to our country. He emphasized that the great efforts of the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess to help the children without parental care throughout our country, is a work worth admiring and he emphasized his pleasure that the Embassy of the Republic of Austria had helped in numerous humanitarian actions.

Besides Their Royal Highnesses, Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine, tonight’s concert was also attended by H.E. Ambassador of the Republic of Austria, Mr. Hanes Porries, H.E. Ambassador of Israel, Mrs. Jafa Ben-Ari, H.E. Ambassador of OEBS, Mr. Maurizio Massari, the Minister of Defence Mr. Prvoslav Davinic, the Minister of international economic relations, Mr. Milan Parivodic, the wife of the Minister of Culture, Mrs. Slobodanka Kojadinovic, the daughter of Princess Katherine, Mrs. Alison Andrews, Mr. Paraskevis Demetris, as well as numerous donors.