THE HUMANITARIAN HANDCRAFTS BAZAAR OFFICIALLY OPENED AT THE “PROGRES” GALLERY

Belgrade, 10 December 2004 – HRH Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine have opened today the Humanitarian Handcrafts Bazaar at the “Progress” Gallery.

The official opening was attended by H. E. Ambassadors of Israel, Mrs. Jafa Ben – Ari, Guinea, Mrs. Courouma Aisatou Dialo, H.E. Honored Consul of Ecuador, Mrs. Karmita Vegas de Spalajkovic, the wives of the Ambassadors of USA, Angola, Australia, Belarus, Belgium, Ecuador, Libya, Malaysia, Romania, Spain, Switzerland, Tunis, Ukraine, the wife of the Minister of Defense, Mrs. Maria Davinic, the wife of the Ministry of Police, Mrs. Milana Jocic, the wife of the head of the Security Info Agency, Mrs. Bulatovic, the wife of the Minister of Culture, Mrs. Slobodanka Kojadinovic, as well as many of our fellow citizens.

At the very beginning HRH Crown Prince Alexander II has addressed the attendees. He has expressed his pleasure for seeing such a large number of people gathered to help in the best way the women, participants of this traditional Christmas Handcrafts Bazaar.

“The Bazaar is a great opportunity to present the skills of the women from different parts of our country and to help them in their tough fight for personal survival. I wish you much success in your work and I call upon Your Excellencies, the wives of Ambassadors, the wives of Ministers and friends to buy the exhibited handcrafts and give in such a way our contribution to this traditional humanitarian action which has been organized by the Foundation of HRH Princess Katherine”, said the Crown Prince.

Then HRH Crown Princess Katherine has addressed the attendees, not hiding her pleasure for seeing that this Christmas Handcrafts Humanitarian Bazaar brought together such a big number of the women-exhibitors.

“Although you are far away from your homes, you did not forget the tradition and that is in the best way represented in your handcrafts. You preserve from oblivion the way things are made, you put your love and your feelings in it and that is why those handcrafts are so beautiful. You preserve the tradition of Serbia. Today and tomorrow we have the honor to enjoy once again in the beauty of these handcrafts, made by not only skilled hands but also kind hearts. I call upon all to help those hardworking women by buying their products. The small thing for us is a big thing for them. My husband the Crown Prince and I are always there to help you”, said the Crown Princess.

The following associations have exhibited their handcrafts in the “Progres” Gallery: the net of women textile craft shops from Belgrade “Artefakt”, non governmental organization which has in its opus the program for the education of persons mentally and physically disrupted, such as workshops for painting, wowing, pottery; “Otvorena vrata”, “Vidici” and “Hleb zivota” from Belgrade; association of citizens “Lastavica” from Surcin, “Zdravo da ste” from Belgrade; “Putokaz”, “Bolji nacin”, “Svitac”, the members of the former “Jen” from Nis and Arandjelovac, “Merino” from Vrnjacka Banja, women who escaped from Kosovo and who are under the protection of the Red Cross of Serbia, Pottery makers from the village of Lakus “Zdravo zivo”, the Women Association “Duga” from Banja Luka, the kilim maker from Pirot, Miroslav Veljkovic and the art craft shop “Kilim” from Pirot.

These associations have their headquarters in Belgrade and they gather women who are now living on the territory of the whole of Serbia: the women refugees who had fled their homes, as well as the women who have the endangered social status – the wives of the war disabled veterans or widows – single mothers. All proceeds are meant to improve their standard of living.

The visitors of this bazaar will have the opportunity until Saturday, December 11, to see and buy the exhibited handcrafts: woven items, embroidery and pottery, kilims and also Christmas cards, made by the children from orphanages and mentally and physically disrupted children with the help of the Foundation of HRH Princess Katherine. In such a way the visitors will have the opportunity to help this humanitarian action, as well as to taste many traditional bakeries.