WHITE PALACE TRADITIONAL CEREMONY TO AWARD BEST SECONDARY SCHOOL PUPILS

Belgrade, 23 June 2008 – Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine hosted today at the White Palace a ceremony for the 500 best pupils of secondary schools from all over Serbia.

For several years His Royal Highness gave commendations to the top pupils of all secondary schools in Serbia, who have worked hard to achieve the highest marks during their secondary school education. Every secondary school in Serbia chose one best pupil who received a commendation and an appropriate gift.

Apart from Their Royal Highnesses, the ceremony was also attended by Serbian Government officials, Rectors of Universities, members of the Crown Council, as well as students who received scholarships for postgraduate studies at Nottingham University in the United Kingdom, from Crown Prince Alexander’s Foundation for Culture and Education, in cooperation with the Fund for Young Talents of the Government of Serbia.

The master of ceremonies was Ms. Jovana Jankovic, one of the hosts of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. The Krsmanovic-Obilic choir led by Mrs. Darinka Matic Marovic performed the national anthem of Serbia, God of Justice, and the students’ international anthem Gaudeamus igitur.

The Crown Prince in his speech thanked the Ministry of Education and EFG Bank for supporting the event and congratulated the pupils for their achievement. The Crown Prince especially addressed the pupils and emphasized: “You are the future of Serbia, the future that guarantees better days for Serbia in Europe and the world. My Foundation for Culture and Education works on connecting our young people with the world’s elite, in order for them to become the experts that this country deserves. Your further education is now the main responsibility of the country and of all of us. We must work together on this task. Only team work brings results”.

HE Mr. Zoran Loncar, Minister of education also addressed to the students and emphasised that he is “proud to be in front of the 500 elite students of our country that travelled from all over Serbia to attend this magnificent reception”. His Excellency extended his gratitude to Their Royal Highnesses for organizing the reception.

Mr. Stavros E. Ioannou, President of the Executive Board of Erobank EFG also addressed those present: “I am very proud that Eurobank EFG is recognized as a contributor in this important project. It is a great honour to have the opportunity once again to stand in front of the best scholars together with Their Royal Highnesses. We will continue to support the community in the fields of education, medicine, ecology and social corporate responsibility. By the end of this year, for the third time, we are planning to deliver scholarships to the best students from the State Universities, and through the project Eurobank EFG Parks, we are planning to create green spaces to enhance the natural beauty of all major cities in Serbia”.

Mr. Mihailo Popesku, on behalf of the students who received Nottingham scholarships said: “We would like to express our greatest gratitude to His Highness for the great opportunity he gave us. The experience we gathered in Nottingham is very important for our future development and we are more than delighted to share it in Serbia.”

After the speeches there was the official delivery of commendations to each pupil along with appropriate presents, and in the end the pupils took a group photo with Their Royal Highnesses.

Also present at the reception were Ambassadors of Great Britain and Germany, Rectors of the Universities of Belgrade, Kragujevac and Novi Sad, members of the Crown Council, members of the Board of Crown Prince Alexander’s Foundation for Culture and Education, as well as many other members of the academic society and public life in Serbia.