THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES AT THE OPENING OF INTERNATIONAL  CONFERENCE “SECOND YUGOSLAVIA SUMMIT” AT THE HYATT REGENCY HOTEL

Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Aleksandar II and Princess Katarina attended the opening of “Second Yugoslavia Summit” organized by Greek company PGI Hellas and sponsored by numerous companies from our country and abroad, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Belgrade today.

Encouraged by the success of the first conference held in May 2001, PGI Hellas organized international conference and fair “Second Yugoslavia Summit” with goal to connect foreign companies and individuals with domestic companies and government institutions.

The conference was chaired by Mr. Stevan Nikšić, editor in chief of weekly magazine NIN.

The first to address the present guests was  Mr. Symeon Tsomokos, Managing director of PGI Hellas, and then followed speeches by Federal Prime Minister Mr. Dragiša Pešić, Vice-president of Federal Government and Federal Minister of International Economic Affairs Mr. Miroljub Labus, H.R.H. Crown Prince Aleksandar II and former Prime Minister of Sweden and  UN special envoy for the Balkans Mr. Carl Bildt in the first part of the program.

Addressing present invitees, Crown Prince Aleksandar II expressed his pleasure for the organization of this conference and attendance of great number of representatives of domestic and foreign companies. Crown Prince said that after democratic changes  and initiated reforms in our country, Yugoslavia became one of the most attractive countries in the region for investments and pointed out the importance of foreign investments for revitalization of Yugoslav economy.

He also added that Yugoslavia should  join European and World economic circles as soon as possible and that strengthening of economic relations with Greece, the only member of European Union in the region and great friend of our country, should be  important step in that process.

Representatives of Federal and Republic Government, diplomatic corps - among them H.E.  Ambassador of USA to Belgrade Mr. William Montgomery, H.E. Ambassador of Canada Mrs. Angela Bogdan and H.E. Ambassador of Greece Mr. Michael Spinellis, as well as numerous domestic and foreign businessmen and figures from our cultural and public life attended the conference.

Conference will be open today and tomorrow, February 25^th  and 26^th , with more than 350 representatives of Yugoslav and foreign companies present.

Their Royal Highnesses will host a reception for all participants at the conference tonight at the Royal Palace at Dedinje.

Belgrade, February 25, 2002.