THE BEST STUDENTS OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS AT THE WHITE PALACE

Belgrade, 20 June 2005 – Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine hosted a formal reception for 500 best students of secondary schools from all over Serbia at The White Palace this evening.

Beside the students, their parents and professors, present at the reception were HE Slobodan Vuksanovic, Minister of Education and Sport, Prof Dr Milos Djuran, President of the Serbian Universities’ Union and Rector of the University of Kragujevac, Prof Dr Cedomir Vasic, Rector of the University of Arts in Belgrade, Prof Dr Borisav Kamenov, Pro-Rector of the University of Nis, Prof Dr Aleksandar Lipkovski, Pro-Rector of the University of Belgrade, as well as members of the Advisory Bodies of The Crown.

The Serbian hymn “Boze Pravde” performed by the chorus “Collegium Musicum”, conducted by Prof Darinka Matic-Marovic, marked the beginning of the ceremony.

In the presence of a large number of the media, the present were addressed by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Alexander II, who warmly greeted the students who finished their high school education as best among the best.

“You are on the way to become the intellectual elite of our people and of our country. The future rests upon you. Your generation represents the best of Serbia: its knowledge, intelligence, work and talent. That is why we all look at you with hope and faith, and my wife and I are honored to be able to help you to continue what you have started with success”-emphasized The Crown Prince and added: “We are very glad that we can also host your proud parents and professors, and to thank them for raising and bringing up such wonderful children as you are”.

The Crown Prince expressed his gratitude to the friends from Meridian Bank www.bankmeridian.com, who supported this year’s project of awarding the best high school students in Serbia, and financially enabled that beside the commendation of the Royal Home of Karadjordjevic each student receive a special present.

Afterwards the present were also addressed by HE Slobodan Vuksanovic, Minister of Education and Sport, Prof Dr Milos Djuran, President of the Serbian Universities’ Union and Rector of the University of Kragujevac, Prof Dr Cedomir Vasic, Rector of the University of Arts in Belgrade, Prof Dr Borisav Kamenov, Pro-Rector of the University of Nis, Prof Dr Aleksandar Lipkovski, Pro-Rector of the University of Belgrade, and academician Matia Beckovic, member of The Crown Council.