HRH CROWN PRINCE
ALEXANDER’S  

MESSAGE

for Christmas and the New Year
 
 

My most cordial greetings to all citizens of Yugoslavia and the world
for Christmas and the New Year holidays with wishes that they be celebrated
in good health and in good spirits. On the occasion of the Day of Christ’s
Birth I express it with our traditional greetings “God’s Peace – Christ
is Born”.  My wife and my sons want to extend these greetings and
wish happiness and peace to everyone.  It is our ardent wish to go
back home as soon as possible, and we desire the same to all the refugees
who, like us, have been forced to abandon their homeland.

The year 2000 will be recorded with golden letters in Serbia’s history.
The majestic victory of democracy in the Federal and Serbian parliamentary
elections, coupled with the affirmation of the will of the people on 5
October, has filled us with pride and evoked admiration from all over the
world.  For the first time in more than half a century, instead of
one-party arbitrary rule, we have a democratic government elected by free
elections.

We will remember the year 2000 as one of tremendous achievement but
it is still only the beginning, only the promise of a better future which
must be realised.  The year 2001 will be one of hard work for the
good of everyone. All citizens must join in and tackle the job with enthusiasm
and pride. The new government has started well but the major work is still
ahead of us. The people are expecting radical reforms that are indispensable
for the recovery of society and the state.  

The interest of the people is in the supreme law for those engaged in
public affairs, and this interest demands that political priorities at
this historic time should be: emergency measures to ensure the basic living
conditions of the population during the winter, urgent assistance to the
most threatened of the population, the fight against corruption and crime,
the establishment of the rule of law, radical reforms of society and economy,
the raising of living standards, the consolidation of democracy and democratic
institutions, finding a permanent solution for relations between Serbia
and Montenegro and the preservation of the union, close relations with
Republika Srpska, regulating  the status of Kosovo – Metohia and not
tolerating terrorism

Also vital: the reform of the national health service and social services, 
the implementation of an independent judiciary, the creation and operation
of a free market economy that is totally transparent and open to all investors. 
A national programme to create jobs and attract foreign investment, a training
programme and concern for the employed and the unemployed must also be
among our top priorities.

By solving all these problems Yugoslavia will become a modern democratic
economic power and a factor of peace in Southeast Europe and in the world,
a country that respects human rights, all religious communities and ethnic
minorities.

These difficult tasks are ahead of us but now there finally exists conditions
for their implementation. The new government has a clear mandate to put
into action the changes.  It carries great responsibility but I am
convinced it will not betray the hope of the people.  We now have
peace to heal the wounds, the pain and put right the mistakes from the
recent past and to guide the nation towards reconstruction and rebirth.

As the heir to throne and head of the Royal Karadjordjevic House, I
will  – as always – serve all citizens regardless of their political
views.  I will also fully respect the government elected by the people. 
My constituents are the people and my concern is for the welfare of everyone.
 
God’s Peace – Christ is Born!
 

ALEXANDER

Christmas 2000/2001

 

1997 HRHCP Aleksandar II
All Rights Reserved