CELEBRATION OF THE DAY OF SERBIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES AND ARTS

Belgrade, 19 November 2006 – TRH Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine attended the celebration of the Day of Serbian Academy of Science and Arts (SASA) and inauguration of new corresponding members in the Ceremonial Hall of the Academy in Belgrade.

Their Royal Highensses were warmly welcomed by academician Nikola Hajdin, President of SASA who opened the official ceremony. In his speech he emphasized that the Academy is part of the world science and that it contributes according to its possibilities. He also reminded that SASA was founded 165 years ago and that the draft of the new law takes 19 November as the Day of Academy. That is the day when the Society of Serbian Letters was established in 1841.

Guests were also addressed by HE Predrag Marković, Speaker of Serbian Parliament and Minister of Science and Environmental protection HE Dr. Aleksandar Popović. Following to speeches, new 13 corresponding members were inaugurated, and for the first time in the history of this institution they received parchment of election. Among them was Mrs. Svetlana Velmar-Janković, member of Advisory Bodies to the Crown.

Day of Serbian Academy of Science and Arts was celebrated in the presence of the Mayor of Belgrade Mr. Nenad Bogdanović, numerous members of the Academy, and eminent figures of culture and public life of Serbia.