HRH CROWN PRINCESS KATARINA HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATION

THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES ATTEND SYMPOSIUM MARKING ANNIVERSARY OF FIRST SURGICAL CLINIC AND VISIT AIDS PATIENTS

H. R. H. Crown Princess Katarina with H. E. Ambassador of Canada
Mrs. Angela Bogdan and head officials of the Hospital for Infectious Diseases.

H. R. H. Crown Prince Aleksandar II addressing to the participants of symposium regarding 80 th Anniversary of the First Clinic for Surgery.

H. R. H. Crown Princess Katarina shaking hands with one of the AIDS virus patients.

H. R. H. Crown Princess Katarina and H. E. Mrs. Bogdan handing humanitarian help to AIDS patient.

Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Aleksandar II and Princess Katarina attended the opening of the Scientific Symposium marking the 80^th anniversary of the First Surgical Clinic of the Clinical Center of Serbia and the 15^th anniversary of the Center for Urgent Surgery.

The First Surgical Clinic was established in 1921. as the first educational and scientific institution of our surgery and Queen Marija helped its construction. More than 300 local and foreign experts attended the Symposium.

Congratulating the anniversary, H.R.H. Crown Prince Aleksandar II said that at the time when it was established, the First Surgical Clinic was one of the best clinics in European and world surgery of that period.

“No problems should prevent the First Surgical Clinic to achieve that level again. In the spirit of the tradition of my House, I can promise you that my wife Princess Katarina and I, as well as other members of the senior line of the Royal House, will not deny our help in any action directed to the improvement of health of our population and establishment of respect and standard of First Surgical Clinic”, emphasized Crown Prince Aleksandar II.

H.R.H. Princess Katarina visited today the Sixth Ward of the Clinic for Infectious Diseases of the Clinical Center of Serbia where AIDS patients are treated.

During the visit of the hospital, Princess Katarina delivered to the patients humanitarian aid consisting of blankets, personal hygiene products and fruits as well as food for the hospital kitchen.

Her Excellency Mrs. Angela Bogdan Ambassador of Canada, Mrs. Jean-Michael Delmote (UNICEF) and Dr. Ranko Petrović (UNAIDS) visited the hospital with Princess Katarina.

At the press-conference AIDS problems in our country and the world were discussed and the Director of the Hospital Prof. Dr. Miomir Pelemiš, the Director of the Sixth ward Doc. Dr. Đorđe Jevtović, H.R.H. Princess Katarina, Her Excellency Mrs. Angela Bogdan and Mr.Jean-Michael Delmote addressed those present.

Princess Katarina expressed her support to the struggle against AIDS and added:

“I am contrary to the exclusion of AIDS patients from society, but I know that the only thing that can help us is education and information about the disease itself.”

“My husband Crown Prince Aleksandar II and I think that participation in this action is not a question of good will or appropriate disposition, but our responsibility and obligation, emphasized Princess Katarina at the end.

Belgrade, December 21, 2001