DISTINGUISHED SERBIANS IN THE WORLD AWARDED

Belgrade, 12 February 2005 – HRH Crown Prince Alexander II was present at the festive delivery of awards to the distinguished representatives of Serbians in world, in the new building of Ministry of Diaspora today.

His Grace Lavrentije, Bishop of Sabac and Valjevo performed the consecration of new building and pointed out that this place will be a meeting point for Saint Sava’s children scattered around the world.

HE Dr Vojislav Vukcevic, the Minister of Diaspora, warmly welcomed the Crown Prince and the esteemed guests, and pointed out that from today all Serbians in world finally have their common house in which part of the scattered Serbia will not be a party, but a host.

By a decree of Svetozar Marovic, President of the State Union Serbia and Montenegro, awards “Covekoljublje” (Philanthropies) were granted to distinguished Serbians: Mr. Milan Brajovic, director of Direction for Sport of Albania and a long-standing president of Serbians in Albania; Mr. Petar Lastic, and a leader of Serbians from Hungary who is engaged in the preservation of national identity and improving all forms of cooperation with homeland; Dr Slavomir Gvozdenovic, writer and member of Rumanian Parliament; Ms. Ljubica Biba Marisavljevic, a humanist from Norway; Mr. Aleksandar Vlajkovic, journalist and author of the programme “Srbi u Svetu” (Serbians in World); Mr.Petar Marjanovic, a successful businessman and humanist from the Czech Republic; Mr. Dusan Vidakovic, from Germany, publisher of Frankfurt Vesti, the newspaper with largest circulation in the Diaspora; Mr. Mihajlo Majk Milicevic, editor of the radio programme in Serbian that exists more than 30 years in Canada; Mr. Dragan Urosevic, humanist from Germany who is devoted to the improvement of relations of between Germany and Serbia; Mr. Mirko Vucurevic, a great benefactor from Switzerland; Father Irinej Dobrijevic who has been working for years in connecting our people in world; Mr. Ljubomir Gusanovic, president of the Community of Serbian-Montenegrin Clubs in Denmark and Prof. Dr Stojanka Aleksic, scientist and a humanitarian worker from Germany.

Beside awards, all were rewarded with a book “Serbia” and a watch made specially on completing the works on Temple of Saint Sava in Belgrade. The common attitude of all rewarded is that it ought to be pleaded for improving of connections between our people in Diaspora and Homeland, because they make sense only if they are mutual.

Following he awards a short cultural-artistic programme took place that was performed by the Teofilovici Brothers.

Beside HRH Crown Prince Alexander II, present were HE Vuk Draskovic, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia and Montenegro, HE Predrag Bubalo, Minister of Economy, HE Radomir Naumov, Minister of Mining and Energy, HE Milan Radulovic, Minister of Religion, HE Dragan Kojadinovic, Minister of Culture, Mr. Radomir Jelasic, Governor of the National Bank of Serbia, as well as Ambassadors of the countries from where people were rewarded.