PRESS RELEASE by 

THE OFFICE of 
HRH CROWN PRINCE 
A L E X A N D E R 

Urgent Call for International Business Support for Yugoslavia 
(London, 6 November 2000) 
 
 
HRH Crown Prince Alexander initiates new ‘Business Opportunity Initiative’
to focus on humanitarian assistance and enterprise training 

In a new move to enlist the support of the international community and
international business, Prince Alexander today (Monday 6 November) has
initiated a scheme calling on business to assist humanitarian relief and
training and enterprise assistance for young people in Yugoslavia. 
Information on the initiative can be downloaded from the world-wide web
from today at: http://www.pwblf.org/csr/csrwebassist.nsf/content/f1c2b3b4a5.html 

The unique programme called ‘Business Opportunity Initiative for Yugoslavia’
(“Nova Biznis Inicijativa”) resulted out of mutual concern for the wellbeing
of all citizens regardless of ethnic origin, nationality and religion,
by HRH Crown Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia with the co-operation of HRH
The Prince of Wales. Drawing on the technical assistance and international
experience from the UK based organisation ‘The Prince of Wales Business
Leaders Forum’. The Forum has designed a programme drawing on its extensive
experience of work across Central and Eastern Europe through which businesses
engaged in trade, investment and reconstruction contracts should consider
how they can contribute practically to meet both humanitarian and employment
needs. The initiative is proposed “out of mutual concern for the wellbeing
of all citizens regardless of ethnic origin, nationality and religion”. 

The initiative states that “as Yugoslavia returns to peace and stability
under democratic Government and United Nations membership, the international
community, including international business, shares with the people and
new leaders of Yugoslavia a concern and interest for action to promote
humanitarian relief and sustainable economic and social development.” 
The initiative sets forward a four point action plan including calling
on business to meet the principles laid down in the UN Universal Declaration
of Human Rights and expressed in the UN ‘Global Compact’ for business. 

HRH Crown Prince Alexander said “When I spoke with HRH The Prince of
Wales following my recent trip in my country where there are immense shortages,
I asked if he could share with us the valuable experience gained over almost
a decade in working with business to assist social and economic development
in Central Europe and around the world. I am very grateful to The Prince
of Wales Business Leaders Forum who has produced a plan drawing on their
practical experience of working with international business as well as
the international agencies such as the UN and the World Bank in cross-sector
partnerships for development”. 

Commenting on the co-operation with The Prince of Wales Business Leaders
Forum, Forum Chief Executive, Robert Davies, said “we are pleased to share
our know how in the part that business can play in future weeks in assisting
Yugoslavia.  These ideas are already part of standard practice by
business in many parts of the world; our starting point was to say ‘why
can’t this be the case also in Yugoslavia’ where need is so desperate and
business will need to demonstrate credibility as good corporate citizens”. 
 

For Contact only: 

The Office of HRH Crown Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia 
Web site: http://www.royalfamily.org 
E-mail: [email protected] 
Tel: +44 (0)20 7493 3715 
 

For further information: 

The Prince of Wales Business Leaders Forum 
Web site: http://www.pwblf.org 
Yugoslavia ‘Hot Desk’ [email protected] 
Tel:  +44 (0)20 7467 3666

 
 
 

1997 HRHCP Aleksandar II
All Rights Reserved