Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-11-18

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Rome honours ATHOC chief for 2004 Olympics

[02] Greece welcomes Israel-Palestinian accord

[01] Rome honours ATHOC chief for 2004 Olympics

The awards ceremony took place at the Capitol Mansion, while Daskalaki's prize was presented to her by the Mayor of Rome Walter Veltroni.

"When in 1997 Greece won the Olympiad which the IOC had owed to it since the 100th anniversary, Rome was defeated, but today the presence in the Eternal City of the soul, of the leading worker, of the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and her wishes to see a future Olympiad in Rome again is an ideal passing of the baton, a unique moment," Veltroni said.

Daskalaki was honoured for her contribution to the hosting of a sports event of a worldwide significance, while all speakers focused on the absolutely successful holding of the 2004 Olympic Games and on the new era signalled for the Olympic Games with their return to the land which gave birth to them and established them.

Daskalaki said that she was "accepting the award in the name of the thousands of Greeks who worked hard to make the 2004 Games a unique, unforgettable and dream Olympiad", while also underlining "the role of all who worked, as well as of the volunteers and people who filled the stadiums to support the athletes."

Pole vault legend and IOC member Sergei Bubka, chairman of the IOC's Athletes' Comission, received the award for the promotion of athletics, while Grandi received the award for culture.

[02] Greece welcomes Israel-Palestinian accord

"These actions are small but steady steps in the right direction, in other words the overall implementation of the provisions of the Road Map," Greek foreign ministry spokesman George Koumoutsakos stressed.

He called on the two sides to avoid incidents that might overturn the progress achieved so far and to cooperate with an EU monitoring mission that will soon be deployed in the area, in order to further reinforce security conditions and living conditions in Gaza.

The deal on opening the Gaza-Egypt border was struck on Tuesday, with the personal involvement of U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and is seen as key to boosting the prospects of the impoverished Gaza Strip and giving outside access, following Israel's withdrawal in September.

Referring to other measures for the Middle East initiated at the G8 summit in June 2004, in response to a call by Middle East countries for political, economic and social reforms, Koumoutsakos said that Greece will participate in the "Foundation for the Future" that was decided on the sidelines of the Bahrain summit.

This will aim to enhance and support initiatives for reform in the Middle East, with non-governmental organisations and the Society of Citizens will play a key role, he said.

Participating in the Foundation for the Future are the G8 countries, 25 Arab countries and a number of European countries, including Greece.

Greece will not be participating in the "Fund for the Future" - designed to support small and middle-sized businesses in the region.

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