PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE PRODUCES RESULTS

A reception for participants of the Conference and new business partners

Belgrade, 26 May 2005 – Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine hosted tonight at The White Palace a reception for the business conference “Greece-Serbia and Montenegro Partnership Initiative”  that was held in February in Athens, under the auspices of the Ministry of Development of Greece, and the Ministry of International Economic Relations of Serbia, with support of the Greek and Serbian Chamber of Commerce, American-Greek Chamber of Commerce, International Chamber of Commerce of Greece and Serbian Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SIEPA). The proceeds from the conference were directed to the humanitarian organization “Lifeline Hellas” www.lifelineaid.org, which is under the patronage of HRH Crown Princes Katherine.

Beside His Excellency Michalis Spinellis, Ambassador of Greece in Serbia and Montenegro, present at this reception were almost all the participants of the Athens conference from Serbia. For this occasion, participants of the London Economic Conference hosted by HRH Crown Prince Alexander II in hotel Claridges in April, also come to Belgrade.

Accompanied by Mrs. Alison Andrews, daughter of HRH Crown Princess Katherine and initiator of the Greece-Serbia and Montenegro Partnership Initiative, representatives of the Greek business world also came to this reception and visit to Belgrade. Among them were Mr. Andreas Potanianos, one of the biggest ship owners in Greece, Mr. Gikas Manalis, Director of the Greek Stock Market, Mr. Yorgos Papadimitrokopulos, representative of Piraeus Bank from Athens and many other distinguished presidents, directors and owners of companies interested in cooperation and business partnerships.

HRH Crown Prince Alexander II addressed the present and thanked for the efforts and enthusiasm of all participants of the Greece-Serbia and Montenegro Partnership Initiative conference, who are responsible for bringing our country on to the right track, to the path that leads us to the place where we belong, a place in Europe and the World. “The success of this conference is reflected in the fact that it produced positive results, good communications have been established, and a very good continuation of the business cooperation has been realized”.

The present were also addressed by HE Milan Parivodic, Minister of International Economic Relations and HE Radomir Naumov, Minister of Mining and Energy. Beside them, present were Mr. Dejan Simic, Vice-Governor of National Bank of Serbia, Mrs. Zora Simovic, Deputy Minister of Economy, Mrs. Dragana Curcic, Deputy Minister of Capital Investments, Mr. Danilo Golubovic, Deputy Minister of Culture, Mr.Vlatko Sekulovic, Deputy Minister of International Economic Relations, Mrs. Jasna Matic, Director of SIEPA, and others.