DINNER IN THE HONOUR OF THE 7th ATHENS FORUM

Belgrade, November 25, 2005 – His Royal Highness Crown Prince Alexander II hosted a diner at the White Palace last night in the honour of the participants of the 7th Athens Forum  on energy held in Belgrade from November 24 -25.

“It is a great pleasure to greet you all at the White Palace and to wish you a successful work. Belgrade is becoming more open to Europe and that should make all of us very happy,” Crown Prince Alexander said, welcoming the guests.

HE Radomir Naumov, Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy, said he was glad that this was the first gathering of the Energy Community following the signing of the Treaty on establishing the common market in Athens, on October 25, 2005.

Over 100 participants from all the signatory countries to the European Commission South-East Europe Treaty on Energy Community, European Commission, financial institutions and donors gathered for the two-day meeting.

“Together, we are turning a new page in mutual relations in this area in our region and in Europe,” said Minister Naumov, who today signed the Memorandum of understanding between Sweden and Serbia in the areas of energy and mining.

The guests at the White Palace included Mr. Dusan Batakovic, an Advisor to the Serbian President Mr. Boris Tadic, HE Lars-Goran Engfeldt, Swedish Ambassador to Belgrade, HE Christos Panagopoulos Greek Ambassador to Belgrade, and Mr. Lars-Olof Lindgrena, State Secretary, Swedish Ministry of Industry.