TEA PARTY AT THE ROYAL PALACE

Belgrade, 19 February 2004 – HRH Crown Princess Katherine was the host to the wives of American senators, women Ambassadors in Serbia and prominent Serbian women, at the tea party at The Royal Palace this afternoon.

This meeting was convened with the aim to make connections and establish international cooperation between the members of the fairer sex. The aid to the most endangered categories of our population and humanitarian activities of the local and international NGOs are among the goals these women are going to support.

The Royal Palace was decorated for the occasion with the handcrafts of refugee and internally displaced women, gathered by the Japanese humanitarian NGO “JEN”.

Before the tea party began, the ladies took a look at the exhibits that represent our cultural heritage with great interest and bought a few of them. All the proceeds of the sold handcrafts was intended for these hardworking women who make them and in that way support their families.

At the beginning of this interesting gathering, the present ladies were greeted by HRH Crown Prince Alexander II who invited Mrs. Grace Nelson, the wife of Florida Senator Nelson to address the present. In a short speech Mrs. Nelson expressed her admiration to the great efforts of Princess Katherine and her Foundation in rallying aid for the neediest.

HRH Crown Princess Katherine thanked the USA Senators’ wives as well as Dr. John Papadatos and Mrs. Evia Georgiadis of the Greek “PNOE” humanitarian organization, for the generous aid to the University Pediatric Clinic and the Institute for Mother and Child Care in Belgrade, and emphasized:

“It is time we show the world that we still exist and that our enthusiasm has no limits.”