CROWN PRINCE ALEXANDER OPENS 8th INTERNATIONAL BANTAO CONFERENCE, IN THE PRESENCE OF CROWN PRINCESS KATHERINE AND PRINCESS MARGARITA OF BADEN

Belgrade, 17 September 2007 – His Royal Highness Crown Prince Alexander II opened last night the 8th international BANTAO Conference of nephrologists at the Sava Centre in Belgrade , accompanied by HRH Crown Princess Katherine and HRH Princess Margarita of Baden, wife of the late Prince Tomislav of Yugoslavia and first cousin of Prince Charles of Wales. Princess Margarita is the daughter of Prince Berthold, Margrave of Baden and Princess Theodora of Greece. With Prince Tomislav of Yugoslavia she has two children: Prince Nicholas and Princess Katherine, now Katherine de Silva.

The BANTAO International Conference has two goals: first, its purpose is to meet the need for continuing education of its members, and the second is to update the participants on current trends and future directions in the fields of adult and pediatric Clinical Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation, Therapeutic Aphaeresis, Mineral Bone Diseases and Urinary Tract Infections.

During the Congress in Belgrade there will be four Educational seminars, six Key Note Seminars, six Round tables, 48 Oral Presentation Sessions and more then 200 Poster Presentations.

At the opening, HRH Crown Prince Alexander II said he is very glad that this Congress is taking place, with so many eminent experts in the field, and emphasized: "I hope you will acquire new knowledge in the field of nephrology, that you will exchange experiences and ideas for the benefit of the patients. The Foundation of my wife Princess Katherine has tried to help hospitals by purchasing the necessary medical equipment and sending doctors to receive additional education".

In honour of the participants of the BANTAO Conference, the Royal Couple will host a reception tonight, and the guests will be given a tour of the Royal Palace.