THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES VISITED VALJEVO

New Donations for Medical Centre in Valjevo

Belgrade, 26 July, 2003 – Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Aleksandar II and Crown Princess Katarina and Bishop Lavrentije of Sabac and Valjevo visited the Town Hall and Medical Centre in Valjevo today.

The guests were welcomed by the president of the Valjevo Municipality, Mr Tomislav Milanovic. Mr Milanovic informed the Crown Prince that an Organising Committee had been established by the Municipality and the Church for the forthcoming celebration of the First Serbian Uprising bicentenary.

Crown Prince Aleksandar II thanked for the warm welcome and addressed the present. “Foreign investors should be pushed towards opportunities in our country as it can now justify foreign investments” – emphasised the Crown Prince. He added that it was very important to encourage young people to stay in the country and enable them to apply their knowledge for the benefit of all the people.

His Grace Bishop Lavrentije of Sabac and Valjevo also addressed the present saying that he was very happy to be in Valjevo, the town that gave the outstanding Serbian theologians Bishop Nikolaj Velimirovic and Father Justin Popovic.

“Valjevo has always been a spiritual centre of the Serbian people” – Bishop Lavrentije said.

A visit to the Valjevo Medical Centre followed, during which humanitarian aid that consisted of a Draeger Anaesthesia Unit, hospital beds and over 3 tons of food was delivered. Some food donated by Archbishop Cristodoulos of Athens and all Greece and by Solidarity, a non governmental organisation of the Greek Orthodox Church will be forwarded to Sabac and Valjevo Eparchy, for distribution to the most needy.

On behalf of the Medical Centre employees Mr Ilija Tripkovic, Director General welcomed the guests and thanked them for the donation and for their concern for the health of our people.

Dr Slavica Zurnic, Head of the Resuscitation Unit at the Medical Centre, pointed out that the Draeger Anaesthesia Unit would make the doctors facing difficulties’ job easier in their daily struggle for the human lives and patients’ health.

Princess Katherine addressed the present doctors and medical staff, saying that the humanitarian relief delivered today was raised due to joint efforts of Bishop Lavrentije and her Foundation.

“We returned to the country to help our people and we shall do everything in our power to continue doing so “ – Princess Katherine said.

Their Royal Highnesses later made a tour round the department for Pulmonary Diseases, which is currently under renovation, the kitchen and the warehouse, where the donated food was stored.

In the scope of the Valjevo trip Their Royal Highnesses and Bishop Lavrentije visited successful companies from the region: ”Todorovic” company and window and water company “Vujic”. Mr Vujic showed his eminent guests around Saint George Church, which is the family endowment.

This is the second visit of Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Aleksandar and Crown Princess Katherine to Valjevo.