STATEMENTS

THE CHANCELLERY OF
H.R.H. CROWN PRINCE ALEXANDER
OF YUGOSLAVIA

THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES VISIT THE BURNT-OUT RUINS OF
SABORNA CHURCH IN NIŠ

Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Aleksandar and Princess Katarina today visited the city of Niš. Their objective was to visit the Saborna church in that city which was razed almost to the ground on October 12^th this year. Their Royal Highnesses were shocked with what they saw at the burnt-out ruins of the Church.

Crown Prince Aleksandar visited the Church a year ago and admired its beauty. For that reason, what he saw and heard today was very hard for him.

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Aleksandar said that his wife and himself in other occurrences attempted to help in humanitarian undertakings and added that all those that had an obligation and duty to help, should move to implement the reconstruction.

“The rebuilt cathedral shall never be exactly the same as the original was, but if it is reconstructed with the same zeal and faith with which the old one was erected, it will emanate the same sanctity and power”, emphasized Crown Prince Aleksandar.

His Grace Bishop Irinej showed Their Royal Highnesses the remains of the burnt-out ruins of Saborna church and expressed his hope that people of good will all over the world will help rebuild this holy temple.

He thanked Their Royal Highnesses for their care and wished that in the future their meetings to be on happier occasions.

Before their visit to Saborna church, Crown Prince Aleksandar and Princess Katarina were guests of Mr. Vladimir Domazet, president of the Niš municipality and authorities of Niš. Their Royal Highnesses showed their interest in the local economy, health and education and answered questions from numerous journalists.

Their Royal Highnesses were accompanied by the Crown Council member Mr. Dragomir Vitorović .

Belgrade, October 19, 2001.