Belgrade,  December 8th 2016
Following the invitation of H.E. Zlatibor Lončar, Minister of Health of the Republic of Serbia, to an official visit to Belgrade, the Grand Hospitaller of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, H.E. Prince Dominique de la Rochefocauld-Montbel arrived today at the Capital’s airport, welcomed by the Assistant to the Minister of Health, Dr. Zoran Mihailovic, and by the Ambassador of the Order, Alberto di Luca.

The event is a matter of the utmost importance and significance, since it has been the first official visit to Serbia of a member of the Goverment of the Order, witnessing the advantageous development of relations and bilateral cooperation.

The meeting between the two Ministers has taken place at Palace Serbia, seat of the Government, in a friendly atmosphere, with the reciprocal purpose of studying in deep, various topics of common interest.

In the colloquy, Minister Zlatibor Lončar, expressed to the Grand Hospitaller Dominique de la Rochefoucauld-Montbel the  gratitude of the Government for the various humanitarian, hospital and social activities achieved in recent years in Serbia by the Embassy of the Order of Malta, with particular reference to the successful project “Make a WISH to the Sovereign Order of Malta” – largely resonant with the Country’s media- accomplished in 2015 and 2016, and already planned for 2017, involving hundreds of young men and ladies who saw their desires fulfilled.

Equal appreciation was expressed for the work of the volunteers of the Order, coordinated by the German Malteser International and by the Hungarian Melitense Association in favour of the ill and elderly, and in recent times refugees from the Middle Eastern countries in the proximity of the Hungarian border.

The Grand Hospitaller and the Minister, have further discussed, according to the experience of recent years, the possibility of improvements to the current text of the bilateral Humanitarian Agreement with the purpose of adapting it to the most recent necessities, and making it more effective for their resolution.

A lunch for the delegation of the sovereign Order of Mlata, was given by the State Secretary Vladimir Djukić.

The visit of the Grand Hospitalier was continued to the Palace of Government, with a meeting with H.E. Aleksandar Vulin, Minister of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Policy, regarding various issues and projects of social interest that will be undertaken by both parties.

H.E. the Grand Hospitaller, at the conclusion of his working day in Belgrade, reached the seat of the Embassy of the Order where he presided over a meeting with Ambassador di Luca and his staff, and later received the visit of His Holiness’ Apostolic Nuncio, H.E. Rev. Mons. Luciano Suriani and the catholic Archbishop of Belgrade H.E. Rev. Mons. Stanislav Hocevar.