THE HAGUE, 20/09/00 - The annual contemplative meeting on the occasion of Princes Day was multi-religiously flavoured yesterday for the first time in its 35-year history. Not to everybody's contentment, the gathering replaced the traditional prayer meeting on the Third Tuesday in September.

Christians, Hindus, Humanists, Muslims, and Jews had come to the Grote Kerk in The Hague yesterday to pray and share their thoughts about the opening of the parliamentary year. Solidarity with the less fortunate in society was their central theme.

Prime Minister Kok and the ministers Jorritsma (Economic Affairs) and Pronk (Environment) attended the meeting on behalf of the Cabinet. Council of State Vice-Chairman Tjeenk Willink, The Hague Mayor Wim Deetman, and CDA parliamentary party leader Jaap de Hoop Scheffer were also present.

Parliamentarians of the small Christian parties stayed away, however, protesting against the broken tradition of the Princes Day meeting. For the same reason, a number of orthodox groups had held their own, old-style prayers in the Grote Kerk last Friday.