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Welcome Speech by Nikitas Kaklamanis, Mayor of Athens
Antonis Kaklamanis, Mayor of Athens Photo: Kostas Kartelias
Welcome Speech
As mayor of the city of Athens I am happy to welcome you to the eternal city of culture, Athens.
When in 1985 Melina Mercouri who was at the time Minister of Culture had the inspiration and took the initiative of proposing her idea for the establishment of the institution of European Cities of Culture as an independent cultural event, she most probably would not have foreseen the great success her initiative would have.
The result is twenty-two years later we are still meeting and sharing our concerns about culture thanks to the legacy which Melina Mercouri has left us.
And what would be better for a politician and man of art to have won this…. fame in such a distinguished way
Ladies and Gentlemen, Athens is a city endowed with a huge, huge cultural legacy.
Awareness of the significance of this cultural legacy makes it necessary for us to share our achievements, our dreams and ideas with the rest of the world. This is the importance of the institution of Capital Cities of Culture.
Athens has thus become a most important pole of culture, of international fame and renown, because culture is not just something that belongs to its creators.
It grows in value when it becomes the property of mankind as a whole
The institution of the European Capitals of Culture contributes to the promotion and enhancement of the diversity, the variety of the cultural legacy of our continent as a whole.
Today, all European cities want to become cultural capitals, capitals of culture since each and everyone one of them wants to enhance and to promote its tradition, its cultural legacy, its physiognomy and its contemporary, modern achievements.
Dear guests, we have to realize that culture brings us closer together, unites us all.
The cultural legacy of the capitals of culture has operated as a multiplier effect for Europe culture as a whole.
In this context, therefore, we have to recognize the importance of culture as a motivation and as catalyst for growth and development, and in this way culture opens doors to social and economic development for tourism and trade.
It is therefore important that we all become aware that culture is not an abstract concept that concerns a closed minority of people only. It is a tangible matter that
is aimed at mankind as a whole and for this reason should be situated at the centre
of political and economic and social options.
With these few words and thoughts once again I would like to welcome you to Athens and wish you the best of success in the work of this symposium and a very pleasant stay in our city.
Thank you very much for accepting our invitation to come to Athens.
Mayor of Athens Photo: Kostas Kartelias
Website of the City of Athens:
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