FRANCE AND SERBIA IN THE BATTLE AGAINST CANCER

Belgrade, 17 May 2007 - In honour of the visit of Professor David Khayat, one of the most eminent oncologists in the world, Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander and Princess Katherine organized today a press conference in the White Palace

Speakers at the press conference included Prof. David Khayat, President of the National Oncology Institute of France, Prof. Maurice Soustiel, Director for International Cooperation of the National Oncology Institute of France, Dr. Dragana Jovanovic, Director of the Institute for Lung Deseases of the Clinical Centre of Serbia, and HRH Crown Prince Alexander II.

Professor Khayat said that during his visit to the Institute of Oncology in Sremska Kamenica, the Institute for Lung Deseases of the Clinical Centre of Serbia, and the Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, he had met excellent doctors, but that the basic problem is the lack of adequate equipment to treat the patients. Having that in mind, a decision has been reached to organize a donation in the near futue, of the equipment that is lacking in the hospitals, and to secure scholarships for the specialization of young doctors in Serbia, for their improvement, and research work in France.

„This year, the French Government had secured scholarships for 70 doctors from Serbia with a goal to help the doctors of Serbia improve, so that they can combat cancer more effectively“ – said Dr. Khayat.

Prof. Soustiel, delighted by the staff and coleagues he had come in contact with during his stay in Serbia, said that cooperation with Serbia should be deepened via the Serbian embassy in France and the French Government.

Dr. Jovanovic said that we will get aid in forming the National (Serbian) Plan for the battle against cancer, which would include activities on a better preventive programme, so that the high mortality rate could be reduced, as the data are very alarming.

Crown Prince Alexander thanked the guests for coming to Serbia, at the initiative of the humanitarian Foundation of his wife, Princess Katherine, with a good will to help us fight this mean illness. His Royal Highness wished the doctors a lot of success in their research and cooperation which they will establish in the field of oncology.

The National Oncology Institute of France was founded at the initiative of Dr. Khayat, who proposed the idea to the then French President, Jacques Chirac, with whom he remains a close friend today. In the last five years, that Institute had achieved impressive results in reducing the mortality rate of cancer patients in France.