TRH CROWN PRINCE ALEXANDER II AND CROWN PRINCESS KATHERINE AT THE CELEBRATION OF SERBIA'S STATEHOOD DAY

Belgrade, 15 February 2003 – TRH Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine attended the celebration of Serbia’s Statehood Day in Orasac and then Kragujevac today.

Beside Their Royal Highnesses the celebration was attended by Minister of Justice Mr. Vladan Batic, Minister of Religion Prof. Dr. Vojislav Milovanovic, Minister of Culture Mr. Branislav Lecic and vice president of Serbian Government Mr. Zarko Korac, as well as the representatives of diplomatic corps, Yugoslav Army and local government.

This the second year that the Presentation of Our Lord is celebrated as Serbia’s Statehood Day. This holiday has a dual importance: on this day 199 years ago the First Serbian Uprising began, under leadership of Karadjordje, HRH Crown Prince Alexander’s ancestor, and on the same day in 1835, the “Sretenje” Constitution was proclaimed, during the reign of Prince Milos Obrenovic.

The celebration began with Holy Liturgy served by Bishop Jovan of Sumadija and clergy of Sumadija Bishopric, at the Church of the Ascension in Orasac. Upon the Liturgy, a memorial service to Karadjordje and the Uprisers was served.

The central part of the celebration in Orasac took place in the Gully of Maricevic, the very place where the First Serbian Uprising began. HRH Crown Prince Alexander II addressed the present, emphasizing the historic importance of Orasac, where we all come back when we need strength, and added:

“The state must be a mother to all its citizens, their weapon and warrant of their freedoms, regardless of their origin, religion, or belief. That is what Karadjordje and his comrades in arms rose for, that is the tradition of democratic Serbia, and that is what is best in the historic heritage of Europe, which is our motherland, too”.

Upon the Crown Prince’s speech, this years award “Acknowledgements to Filip Visnjic” was delivered to Mr. Slobodan Rakitic, our prominent poet, for his collections of poems “Return of the King”. Thanking on the award, Mr. Rakitic said: “When I was leaving Belgrade this morning, I heard the news of taking the five-pointed star off the New Court’s building. That gave me hope that this country is on the right track”.

HRH Crown Prince Alexander II and Princess Katherine then went to the exhibition “Serbian Army and Military Leaders in the First Half of XIX Century”.

The celebration of Serbia’s Statehood Day was continued in Kragujevac, where the distinguished guests were welcomed by the Mayor Dr. Vlatko Rajkovic. The stage performance “Sretenje Constitution Troubles” was set at the Old Assembly Hall.

After the celebration ceremony, the Crown Prince spent some time in cordial conversation with the gathered citizens and the media. He expressed hope that the next, bicentennial celebration of the First Serbian Uprising will be even more important and magnificent.