CROWN PRINCE ALEXANDER II BESTOWS ORDER OF WHITE EAGLE OF THE FIRST RANK TO MEMBERS OF THE CROWN COUNCIL

Belgrade, 19 February 2007 – On the occasion of fifteenth anniversary of the Crown Council, HRH Crown Prince Alexander II bestowed the members of the Crown Council with the Order of the White Eagle of the first rank last night in the Royal Palace.

HRH Crown Prince Alexander II bestowed posthumously the Order of the White Eagle the late academician Mr. Borislav Pekić, the late eng. arch. Mr. Branko Pešić, the late academician Mr. Miodrag Popović, the late academician Branko Popović, the late Mr. Milorad Ilić, the late Mr. Borislav Mihajlović, the late Prof. Dr. Slobodan Vitanović, and the late academician Mr. Ivan Antić.

The Order of Saint Sava was bestowed posthumously to the late Mr. Stepan Dragojlović, councillor of the Crown.

The Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts was bestowed with the Order of the White Eagle of the first rank, namely to academician Mr. Nikola Hajdin, President of Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts.

The Order of the Crown was bestowed to the academician Mr. Nikola Tasić, General Secretary of Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts.

The Decree of bestowment of the Order of the White Eagle of the first rank was given to the members of the Advisory Bodies of the Crown Mr. Dragomir Acović, Mr. Dušan Babac, academician Mr. Matija Bećković, Prof. Dr. Dušan T. Bataković, academician Mr. Živojin Bumbaširević, academician Mr. Dragomir Vitorović, academician Mrs. Svetlana Velmar-Janković, academician Mr. Miroslav Gašić, academician Mr. Aleksa Dragnić, Prof. Dr. Dragoljub Kavran, academician Mr. Dušan Kovačević, Mr. Predrag Marković, prof. Dr. Nikola Moravčević, Prof. Dr. Pavle Nikolić, Mr. Djordje Novaković, academician Mr. Milorad Pavić, academician Mr. Predrag Palavestra, Dr. Milan Parivodić, academician Mr. Slobodan Perović, academician Mr. Mladen Srbinović, Mr. Branko Terzić, Prof. Dr. Bogoljub Šijaković and Mrs. Dušanka Trbojević.

In his speech, Crown Prince Alexander II expressed his gratitude to all members of the Advisory Bodies of the Crown for fifteen years of cooperation, revealing hope for even better cooperation in the future. Crown Prince remembered with grief and gratitude the members of the Crown Council who passed away in the last 15 years.

“You have put your reputation, work and influence at the disposal of the Crown; all of that in the interest of Serbia, the renovation of democratic institutions and general well-being. Unfortunately, some advisors to the Crown are not with us anymore. We remember them with sorrow and grief.

I hope that our future work will contribute to the vision of constitutional parliamentary monarchy and become a reality in Serbia. It is our task to give the people of Serbia this chance,” Crown Prince Alexander II emphasized in his speech to the members of the Advisory Bodies of the Crown, members of their families, representatives of Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts and other guests.

Prof. Dr. Slobodan Perović and Mr. Dragomir Acović spoke on behalf of the Crown Council.