RECEPTION IN HONOUR OF MEMBERS OF SERBIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES AND ARTS

Belgrade, 8 December 2006. – HRH Crown Prince Alexander II hosted the members of Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SASA) last night in the White Palace.

This year SASA celebrates 165 years since the establishing of Serbian Learned Society, whose tradition it has inherited. Wishing to honour the jubilee, and to show support to the work of the Academy, HRH Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine organized a reception in the White Palace.

In his speech, HRH Crown Prince Alexander II said that the Academy as the leading Serbian institution should always have new initiatives and be the leader in development of our society. He also asked the members of SASA to ask for his assistance whenever they need him for projects that will do good to Serbia.

President of SASA, Mr. Nikola Hajdin, also addressed the guests, giving a short history of the Academy, and thanking Crown Prince Alexander for honouring the members of SASA with the reception. The Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts is the most eminent scientific and art institution in Serbia. It was founded by Law of November 1, 1886 as the Serbian Royal Academy. SRA was the successor to the Serbian Learned Society with which it merged in 1892 and accepted its members as its own either regular or honorary members, its tasks and its place in scientific and cultural life. The same occurred several decades earlier when the Serbian Learned Society took over the place and functions of the Society of Serbian Letters, the first learned society in the Serbian Principality.