RELIGIOUS LEADERS AT THE WHITE PALACE

Belgrade, 16 January 2003 – On the occasion of the New Year holidays HRH Crown Prince Alexander II organized a formal dinner for our country’s religious leaders at the White Palace in Dedinje last night.

The dinner was attended by: His Holiness the Patriarch of Serbia Pavle with the members of the Holy Synod Metropolitan Amfilohije and Bishop Lavrentije, His Most Eminent Grace Stanislav Hocevar Roman Catholic Archbishop of Belgrade and Father Leopold Rohmes, Mufti of Belgrade Hadzi-Hamdija Jusufspahic with imams Hadzi-Mustafa Jusufspahic and Hadzi-Redzo Nukic, the envoys of the Mufti of Sanjak Mustafa effendi Fetic and Mevlud Dudic, representative of Slovakian Evangelistic Church Bishop Samuel Vrbovski, representative of Anglican Church Father Fillip Warner, the envoy of Rabi Isak Asiel Mr. Davor Solomon, Federal Secretary of Religion Prof. Dr. Bogoljub Sijakovic, Serbian Minister of Religion Prof. Dr. Vojislav Milovanovic and the members of Privy Council and Crown Council Dragomir Acovic, academician Matija Beckovic and Mr Djordje Novakovic.

Expressing his pleasure for seeing representatives of all religions gathered in one place, at the White Palace, Crown Prince Alexander II said that “we are all children of one Creator who had taught us that love for the others is our duty, and devotion to his law our destiny.

Tolerance, respect of all citizens regardless of their ethnic or religious origin, respect of religious freedom, human rights and democratic principles, as well as respect and appreciation of the sanctity of life, is the aim that my family and myself are striving for, and all of you are devoted to. You have always given clear and strong evidence of that”, said the Crown Prince together with his salutation:

“Tonight you are at home, at the home of good will”.