CELEBRATION OF THE 203rd ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST SERBIAN UPRISING

15th February 2007 – Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine attended the celebration ceremony of the 203rd anniversary of the First Serbian Uprising in Orasac.

The celebration ceremony started with a Holy Liturgy in the Holy Ascension Church in Orasac, served by His Grace Bishop Jovan of Sumadija.

Their Royal Highnesses attended a memorial service for Karadjordje and his insurgents in the Maricevica Gully with HE Dr Vojislav Kostunica, Prime Minister of Serbia, HE Dr Zoran Stankovic, Minister of Defence, HE Mr. Dragan Jocic, Minister of Internal Affairs, HE Velimir Ilic, Minister of Capital Investments, HE Mr. Predrag Bubalo, Minster of Economy, HE Mr. Zoran Loncar, Minister of Public Administration and Local Government, HE Mr. Radomor Naumov, Minister of Energy and Mining, HE Mr. Zoran Stojkovic, Minister of Justice, HE Mr. Zoran Vukcevic, Minister of Diaspora, other Government officials, army representatives and members of the Advisory Bodies of The Crown. HE Dr Trivo Indjic attended the ceremony on behalf of HE Mr. Boris Tadic, President of Serbia.

HE Dr Vojislav Kostunica Prime Minister of Serbia, HRH Crown Prince Alexander II, HE Dr Zoran Stankovic, Minister of Defence, HE Dr Trivo Indjic, Mrs. Borka Vucic, on behalf of the Parliament and Dr. Radosav Svabic, President of Arandjelovac Municipality laid wreaths on the monument of Karadjordje, in front of the “First Serbian Uprising” School in Orasac.

Crown Prince Alexander II and HE Dr Vojislav Kostunica, Prime Minister of Serbia then addressed the present. His Royal Highness emphasized the following in his speech:

“On this day, on this place, 203 years ago, our ancestors started creating a modern Serbia. Today, we are in a similar situation. Serbia is again her own and our knowledge and energy should be directed towards making a European Serbia where all citizens, ethnic communities and confessions live with dignity. It is a place where human rights are respected and where the rule of law is valued; a country which remembers its past with respect, but it is aware of the new circumstances. We must always think of the future of our children, and their future is in European Serbia.

The Supreme Leader Karadjordje would be proud to see us gathered around future. He also stood here two centuries ago leading the insurgents into the future”

Afterwards, Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander II, HE Dr Vojislav Kostunica, Prime Minister of Serbia, HE Dr Zoran Stankovic, Minister of Defense, Mr. Dragan Jovanovic, President of the Topola Municipality went to Oplenac, where they laid the wreaths at the grave of the Supreme Leader Karadjordje in the Church of Saint George.