241 H SERIE-C—NUMERO17

Mrs. Anna Psarouda-Benaki, 4th Vice-President;

Mr. Panayiotis Kossionis, 5th Vice-President;Mr. Fotis Kouvelis, Parliamentary Representative of

the Coalition of the Left and Progress Party;

Professor Panayiotis Tzortzopoulos, Secretary General,

Mr. Andreas Yannopoulos, Special Secretary to the

President;Mr. Dimitris Panayotopoulos, Counselor for Interna

tional Relations;Mrs. Amalia Roupa, Director General of Parlaniienta

ry Control;Mrs. Elli Hassapopoulou, Secretary to the President.

Diplomatic Office:

Ambassador Hans Karabarbounis, Diplomatic Advisor to the President;

Mr. Dionyssios Lelos, Minister Plenipotentiary, Special Advisor of the Ministry for Foreingn Affairs;

Mrs. Eleni Tzannetoulea, Minister Plenipotentiary,Special Advisor of the Ministry for ForeignAffairs;

Mr. Elias Eliades, First Embassy Counselor;Mrs. Kiveli Stamatakis, secretary;Mrs. Katerina Danezi, secretary.

International Relations Department:

Mrs. Despo Orfanoudaki-Meimarides, Director.

European Relations Department:

Mrs. Vicky Apostolou, Director.

Public Relations Department/Protocol Office:

Mrs. Margarita Toya, Director.

Press Office:

Mrs. Sofia Stefanou, Journalist;Mrs. Dimitra Karavassili;Mrs. Peny Nikole;Mrs. Tarsi Bouga.

Security Office:

Mr. Nicolaos Tsoukalis, Head of Security Office.

Secretariat Office:

Mrs. Litsa Koutsafti, International Relations Department;

Mrs. Angelica Matzavinou, European Relations Department;

Mrs. Tanja Frangou, European Relations Department;Mrs. Vivian Ioannidou, European Relations Depart-

ment.

Registration Desk:

Mrs. Natalia Moustaklis, International Relations Department;

Mrs. Nadja Starnatis, International Relations Department;

Airport:

Mr. Dinutri Avranndis, International Relations Department;

Mr. George Hambouris, European Relations Department:

Mrs. Eleni Konstantinidou, European Relations Departrnent.

Medical Care:

Dr. Evangelos Sarpakis, M. D.;Dr. Athanassios Zorbas, M. D.

ANEXO III

Opening speech of the Speaker of the Hellenic ParliamentApostolos Kakiamanis before the Third Conference of Pre

sidents of Euro-Mediterranean Parliaments.

Dear Presidents and distinguished colleagues,

I am deeply pleased and honoured to welcome you onbehalf of the Hellenic Parliament. Your positive response

to this invitation proves our strong attachment to what wasa necessity before and has now become a reality.

Over five years ago, five Speakers of European Parliaments decided in Palernio, where we were meeting on theinvitation of our Italian counterpart, Mr. I. Violante, to convene a wider Conference with the participation of all Mediterranean Parliaments. This was not a fortuitous initiati

ve. The place of our meeting was a vital link that united,historically and geographically, the two sides of the Mediterranean, while the date coincided with the launchingof the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership in Barcelona, in 1995.

Since then four such conferences have been held, inAthens, Palermo, Majorca and Alexandria. At these meetings we had the opportunity to discuss at length all theaspects of the Mediterranean question. We underscoredthe Mediterranean’s major contribution to world civilization, its important geostrategic position and its natural resources. At the same time, we highlighted the problems,which affect this sensitive region, such as political tension, economic imbalances and the upsurge of fanaticism.Finally, we identified the challenges of the internationalenvironment, which spreads its numerous crises and changes also to the Mediterraneari basin.

Todays meeting coincides with a highly critical periodfor mankind and our region, since it is taking place underthe shadow of the terrorist attack of September 11th. Thisunprovoked attack was immediately and unequivocally condemned by the international community as a whole, as wellas any other form of violence, which is directed againsthuman freedom and dignity. All our people and countriesstand united in their resolve to face and eradicate thephenomenon of terrorism. However, the success of thestruggle against terrorism does not solely depend on therelentless pursuit of its natural and moral instigators. Itcertainly will not come from the limitation of our individu

al and collective rights, or new war operations, which ins

tead of the terrorists will harm the innocent civilian populations, as was the case with the terrorist attack on

September 11th in New York. It is to be found in the con

solidation of our democratic institutions, the respect and

implementation of international law and the abolition ofreligious and nationalist fanaticism, which feeds on thepoverty and misery of the people, especially in third worldMrs. Farn Stamatis, Public Relations Department.