LEADERS UNITE AT THE WHITE PALACE FOR PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE IN GREECE 

Belgrade, 17 January 2005 – Their Royal Highnesses the Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine held a meeting at The White Palace for the conference “Greece – Serbia and Montenegro Partnership Initiative” (www.partnershipinitiative.gr) that will take place next month at the Athens Hilton 8 – 10  February and Belgrade 11 February.

Present at the meeting were Mr. Jovan Ratkovic representing Mr. Boris Tadic President of Serbia, His Excellency Mr. Milan Parivodic Minister of Economic International Relations (www.mier.sr.gov.yu), Mr. Slobodan Milosavljevic President of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce (www.pks.co.yu), Mrs. Alison Andrews daughter of HRH Princess Katherine Executive Director of the Conference, Mr. Alexandros Kostopoulos Director of the company “Foresight” (www.foresight-strategies.com) the executive organizers of the conference, Mrs. Jasna Matic Director of the agency “SIEPA- Serbian Investment and Export Promotion Agency” (www.siepa.sr.gov.yu), Mr.Veroljub Stefanovic Mayor of the town Kragujevac and President of the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities, Dr. Goran Pitic President of the Economic Institute (www.ecinst.org.yu), Mr. Zoran Drakulic President of the company “Yu Point”, Mrs. Mariana Toma Spinelis the wife of HE Ambassador of Greece, as well as many companies from Serbia and Greece, including potential investors, members of the Crown Council and many representatives of the media.

HRH Crown Prince Alexander II welcomed everyone and pointed out that the situation in our country is difficult and that a plan to facilitate our country’s integration into European should be created. This conference will enable our businesspersons to establish new contacts and to open opportunities for foreign investments. The Crown Prince wished much success.

HRH Crown Princess Katherine pointed out how very touched she was by such a great response for the conference “I have to say that the main initiator of this conference is my daughter Alison, who wanted to help our people in opening new business opportunities and creating new jobs, because people here no longer wish to receive humanitarian help, but the opportunity to work and earn their basic means to support their families. This conference is a platform that we are building together and I am very happy to have the support of the Serbian Government, as well as the support of all of you who believe that my husband and I came here to help to our people. The country will always suffer without a strong economy, and this country has suffered for a long time; now the time has come for Serbia and Montenegro to take its place on the map of the world, the place it has always deserved”.

Mr. Milan Parivodic the Minister of Economic International Relations greeted everyone on behalf of the Serbian Government and recalled the traditionally good relations between our country and Greece. He underlined the great importance of this conference and expressed his gratitude to the Royal Family for representing our country abroad and the efforts they make in the distribution of humanitarian help. The organization of this conference has great support of the Government of Serbia and he named the Ministers that will attend the conference in Athens:  Minister of Economic International Relations, Minister of Economy, Minister of Energy and Mining, Minister of Capital Investments, Minister of Tourism, Minister of Agriculture, and representatives of the agency SIEPA.

On behalf of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Serbia Mr. Boris Tadic, his delegate Mr. Jovan Ratkovic  passed on the greetings of President Boris Tadic and announced that the President will be present at the Official Dinner 8 February and that he will officially open the conference on 9 February in Athens Hilton

“This is the part of the continuous campaign and the initiative of President Tadic for the promotion of the Serbian economy abroad” – emphasized Mr. Ratkovic.

Mrs. Jasna Matic expressed her thanks to Their Royal Highnesses on the organization of this conference on behalf of SIEPA, Investment Exports and Promotion Agency.

“Greece is one the biggest individual investor in the region” – Mrs. Matic pointed out and wished a lot of success in the realization of the conference.

The executive director of the conference, the daughter of HRH Princess Katherine Mrs. Alison Andrews pointed mentioned that people no longer wish to wait and that this is the right time to start the partnership initiative in both of these friendly countries.

“I think that our successes will occur the moment that more Greek products reach the Serbian market and that Serbian products reach the Greek market. This is an opportunity to show how much the Serbian people really want to take this opportunity and secure a better future” – Mrs. Alison Andrews pointed out.

Mr. Alexandros Costopulos the Director of the company “Foresight” that is executive organizer of the conference mentioned:

“What I have experienced in Athens is that the Greek Government along with the Chamber of Commerce, and from a great number of agencies are jointly working together for the success of this conference. Athens is ready and it looks forward to the conference. This is an opportunity to build a bridge of synergies and joint action for establishment of economic cooperation and development. The conference has already gained an international character, because many from the region and the European Union are interested in participating, to establish new contacts and partnership with companies from Serbia and Montenegro”-.

Mr. Veroljub Stefanovic the Mayor of Kragujevac President of the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities emphasized this conference is of great importance for all of us and invited all the towns to join and give their contribution to the realization of the conference.

Mr. Slobodan Milosavljevic President of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce stated that the chamber has committed its full resources for the success of the conference utilizing the regional chambers of commerce in trying to attract as many participants as possible.

In conclusion the Crown Prince expressed his thanks for today’s meeting and the eagerness and hope that the conference ”Greece – Serbia and Montenegro Partnership Initiative” will gather a great number of Serbian-Montenegrin and Greek companies and have the desired success.