THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES VISIT NIS FOR CAREER CENTRE OPENING AND HUMANITARIAN DELIVERIES

Belgrade, 16 June 2008 – Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine visited today several institutions in the city of Nis. Their Royal Highnesses attended the opening of the Career Development Centre and the best students awards ceremony, followed by a humanitarian delivery at the Clinic of Gynecology and the Dusko Radovic orphanage, and in the end toured the Taboo factory.

First, Their Royal Highnesses visited the University of Nis, where they were greeted by Professor Dr. Radoslav Bubanj, Rector of the Nis University, who delivered a welcome speech. After his address, Crown Prince Alexander addressed the present, and emphasised in his speech that similar Centres already exist and function in Belgrade and Kragujevac, while the opening of the Centre in Novi Sad is planned for autumn.

“The idea for the founding of these Centres came to being in order to give advice and guidance to students or graduates seeking employment, to help them find a career that best suits their knowledge, skills, talents, and desires”, emphasized the Crown Prince.

Then followed an award ceremony opened by Professor Dr. Bubanj, who handed out diplomas to the best students in the 2006/7 academic year. Addressing the present professors and students, the Crown Prince emphasized: “It was not easy to achieve this accomplishment and I convey to you my sincere congratulations. I wish for you to use the acquired knowledge for the benefit of our country, because you are the future that guarantees better days for Serbia in Europe and the world”.

Also present at the event were HE Mr. Zoran Loncar, Minister of Education and HE Mrs. Aleksandra Smiljanic, Minister for Telecommunications and Information Society in the technical Government of Serbia.

Their Royal Highnesses also visited the Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics in Nis, where they were greeted by Professor Dr. Zoran Pop Trajkovic, Director of the Clinic. Their Royal Highnesses made a humanitarian delivery. The present were addressed by Crown Princess Katherine who said that the aid for the Clinic came from the Prentice hospital via the humanitarian organisation Lifeline Chicago, which the Crown Princess is patron of. “I am sure that, as was the case so far, all doctors and medical staff at your Clinic will continue its humane mission of safe and easy deliveries, and I want you to know that you can count on the support of my husband and me”, concluded Crown Princess Katherine.

During this visit, Their Royal Highnesses met the participants of the First International Advanced Workshop of Gynaecological Endoscopy that is taking place at this Clinic from 14th to 16th June.

This visit was followed by a visit to the Dusko Radovic orphanage, which is home to 46 children, aged 5 to 18. Their Royal Highnesses were greeted by Mrs. Slavica Djokic, Director of this institution. Their Royal Highnesses made a delivery of clothes, shoes, sweets and sugar. Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Katherine addressed the present and emphasised: “I hope that each new day will bring you new joy and new friends. My husband and I are always with you, and I wish to thank all our donors from Greece and Serbia without whom we would not have an opportunity to make you happy with these gifts”.

Last but not least, Their Royal Highnesses had the opportunity to be guests of the Taboo factory, which was awarded the title of Royal Purveyor, and were greeted by Mr. Bratislav Djumic, owner, Mr. Lazar Mancevski and all the workers of the factory. Mr. Bratislav Djumic first addressed the present, which was followed by a greeting speech of Crown Prince Alexander: “I am glad that we are here today and that there are friends such as you who are always ready to help us”.

This concluded the visit of Their Royal Highnesses to Nis.