|
The postponement of the convention came as a surprise and
disappointment to all of us, especially to those preparing
it for the last six months. However, we understand that it
was inevitable and we hope that the next one will be even
better.
For delegates that made it to Belgrade we organized
a short, one day program, that ended with a reception at the
King's Palace with His Royal Highness Prince Aleksandar and
Princess Catherine.
|
PREPARATIONS
|
|
 Our
advanced team from the organizing comity arrived in
Belgrade on Sunday, Sep 9th. Jelena Kolarovich from our
Central Office joined the Belgrade team with Slavka
Draskovich, Milica Slepcevic, Danka Pavlovic, Blaza Buric, and
Milan Medenica. On Sep 11th the other members of the
team, Nenad, Jelena, and Vladimir Vukicevic arrived.
The stage was set for the final preparations of the
convention. See pictures
from the office
In the evening of 11th, a news came about tragic events
in US. Even though we very sad and disturbed, we hoped
that airports will open in next few days and our delegates
will be able to make it. From that moment we were in
the daily contact with our people in US looking at the
options available. At the same time we continued working
on the convention. On Friday, Sep 14th, a decision was
made to postpone the convention for some better time.
We informed our delegates that convention is postponed.
|
|
PRESS CONFERENCE
|
|
 On
Tuesday, Sep 18th, Serbian Unity Congress held a press
conference and informed the public that convention has
been postponed.
Press
Conference
|
|
VISIT TO SREMSKI
KARLOVCI
|
|
 On
19th, our delegation visited Sremske Karlovce. Small
reception was organized by Vladika Vasilije as well
as Society for protection of the cultural heritage from
Sremski Karlovci.
See pictures from this
visit.
|
|
WORKING MEETING
OF DELEGATES
|
|
 Even
though we postponed our convention, more then 100 people,
delegates and guests, showed up for the working
meeting on Thursday, Sep 20th. Meeting was opened with
a prayer and a moment of silence for the victims of
terrorist attacks. Nenad Vukicevic, Vice president and
Convention Chairman, opened the meeting with a review of
convention material that was distributed to delegates
and public. Miroslav Djordjevic, Past President
and Founder, explained the goal of the Belgrade
convention, as well as the future of the Serbian Unity
Congress. Vojin Joksimovic, Vice president and Past
President, presented his work on ENRY 2001 conference,
while Sofija Skoric, Vice President, presented the work
on Diaspora and Homeland cooperation.
There were quite a few representatives of other Serbian
organizations from Europe and Canada. Some of them presented
their work at the meeting:
- Mira Jovicic, Srpski Forum, Austria
- Nikola Psic, Srpska Nacionalna Akademija, Canada
- Milenko Djurovic, Toronto, Canada
- Rade Milenkovic, Utah, US
- Zarko Jovanovic, Svedska
See pictures
from the meeting.
|
|
GET TOGETHER DINNER
|
|
 An
informal dinner for all delegates and guests was held
at Hotel Palace on Sep 20th. His Royal Highness Crown
Prince Aleksandar made an appearance and welcomed the
guests. A small presentation of cultural heritage destruction
in Kosovo and Metohija was done by the director of the
National Ethnography Museum in Belgrade, Mirjana Menkovic,
and director of Pristina Museum, Branko Jokic.
See pictures from the dinner.
|
|
RECEPTION AT THE
KING'S PALACE
|
|
 Special
reception at the "old" King's Palace took
place immediately after the dinner on Sep 20th. All
the delegates thanked the Royal couple for their hospitality.
Prances Catherine shared her experience on the humanitarian
situation in Serbia.
See pictures from the reception.
|
|
 |
