THE CHANCELLERY OF
H.R.H. CROWN PRINCE Alexander II
OF YUGOSLAVIA
Employment
and social policy in Serbia and Montenegro
Twenty
seventh NGO meeting at The White Palace
Belgrade, 5 May 2004 – Twenty seventh NGO meeting
was organized today by the Foundation of HRH Crown Princess
Katherine. This meeting was attended by over fifty members of NGOs,
representatives of World Bank, UN and Red Cross. The present were
addressed by the new Minister of Labor, Employment and Social
Affairs, HE Mr. Slobodan Lalovic, Commissioner for Refugees Mr.
Dragisa Dabetic and Mrs. Vera Kovacevic from the same Ministry.
At the beginning of the meeting the guests were
welcomed by HRH Crown Princess Katherine who pointed out the need
for working together in achieving the noble causes, and the need to
help those who need help most. Despite his many obligations, the
meeting was also attended by HRH Crown Prince Alexander II.
HE Minister Lalovic presented the situation in
Serbia and emphasized the key importance of solidarity in achieving
improvements in our society, giving estimate that it will take up to
ten years for the more significant recovery of our country.
Commissioner Dabetic pointed out the issue of returning of the
refugees to their homes, particularly to Croatia, and Mrs. Vera
Kovacevic shortly introduced the Poverty Reduction Program, as well
as the efforts to moderate the inevitable consequences of
transition.
The central issue, according to Minister Lalovic,
is increasing employment in Serbia, and although he predicted
difficulties in the next five years, he concluded that all the
efforts are being made to find solutions.
The next meeting was scheduled for Thursday, 10
June at 10:00 a.m. at The White Palace.
The Foundation of HRH Crown Princess Katherine
was established in Belgrade in August 2001 soon after HRH Crown
Prince Alexander and HRH Crown Princess Katherine returned to their
homeland after more than fifty years of exile. The main task is to
continue and expand the humanitarian activities started back in 1993
in London when Lifeline Humanitarian Organization was founded.
Lifeline provides humanitarian help to all those in need regardless
of religion or ethnic origin. Today Lifeline humanitarian
organization under patronage of HRH Crown Princess Katherine has its
offices in New York, Chicago, Toronto, London and Athens, and the
centre of all activities is in Belgrade, i.e. at the Foundation of
HRH Crown Princess Katherine.
1997 HRHCP Alexander II All Rights Reserved