APPEAL TO DIASPORA FOR SUPPORT

Belgrade, 4 June 2002 – Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine have appealed to Serbs in Diaspora to care for their homeland on this very special occasion at The White Palace (Beli Dvor) by providing desperately needed medical equipment and ambulances for our hospitals.

“This is an urgent call to Serbs all over the world to support the people in the homeland and to lend a hand now when help is most needed. Although many Serbs in the Diaspora have already provided much-needed humanitarian support for this country throughout the years, we must not forget the people. Love for the country is important to be expressed not only in words, but by action,” said HRH Crown Princess Katherine.

“Serbs from the Diaspora have a chance to play their most important role. We are sending this message to them: Come back home and invest, we need you,” said Their Royal Highnesses.

Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine emphasised that the help of the Diaspora is of crucial importance at this moment, not only to rebuild Serbia’s health care system and economy, but also to keep strong ties with the land of their birth.

Sending a message to the Serbs in Diaspora, His Royal Highness said, “now that we have democracy, this is the time to invest and create jobs. We must put our differences aside and unite to create a better future.”

All people of good will from home and abroad who make a donation to help Serbia’s hospitals will be most welcome at The White Palace for a great humanitarian event. There they will have the privileged opportunity to discuss specific projects and cooperation ideas with senior members of the government, and with highly placed domestic and international economists and financiers.

A list of ambulances and essential medical equipment such as incubators, respirators, sterilisation equipment and ultrasound machines is available for all potential donors. Those attending this special event will need to send a cheque payable to the manufactures on the list for the purchase of equipment or an ambulance, at the minimum amount of €4,300. These donors are cordially invited to attend an exclusive dinner at The White Palace, hosted by Their Royal Highnesses, on the evening of Friday, 7 June. At present there are in excess of 50 donors from companies such as Siemens, Coca Cola, Grand Kafa, Don Trade, Hemofarm, Galenika, Agency for Privatisation and the National Bank of Yugoslavia. This will also be an opportunity to recognise and thank donors for their generous contribution.

That will be followed on Saturday, 8 June, by a special breakfast meeting at which these generous donors and top officials will discuss the country’s development prospects and investment opportunities, as well as the scope for deeper cooperation between local and foreign firms. Donors, senior representatives of the government and the diplomatic corps will also be in attendance.

Guest speakers at this very important business event will include National Bank of Yugoslavia Governor Mladjan Dinkic, Minister of International Economic Relations Goran Pitic, Economy and Privatisation Minister Aleksandar Vlahovic and Privatisation Agency Director Vladimir Cupic.

-ENDS-