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"STATEMENT OF WORLD PERSONALITIES IN THEIR INDIVIDUAL
CAPACITIES IN SUPPORT FOR THE OLYMPIC TRUCE"
WHEREAS:
The idea of the Olympic Truce ("Ekechereia") dates back
to an ancient Hellenic tradition. In keeping with this tradition all hostilities
would cease during the Olympic Games. The Olympic Truce was fully respected
for twelve centuries of Olympic Games in antiquity.
In 1992, the International Olympic Committee urged the
international community to observe this tradition anew, calling for all
hostilities to cease during the Olympic Games, and beyond. Since then,
numerous initiatives to promote understanding and solidarity through sport
in communities around the world have been developed with the cooperation
of National Olympic Committees. In July 2000, the International Olympic
Committee and the Government of Greece established the International Olympic
Truce Center. This Center seeks to further promote the observance of the
Olympic Truce.
The United Nations General Assembly, with the strong
support of all of our countries, has five times called for member states
to observe the Olympic Truce, individually and collectively, most recently
in its Millennium Declaration in September 2000, with the signatures of
over 160 Heads of State and Government.
Today, the Olympic Truce has become an expression of
Mankind?s desire to build a world based on the rules of fair competition,
humanity, reconciliation, and tolerance. Moreover, the Olympic Truce epitomizes
a bridge from the old and wise tradition to the most compelling purpose
of today?s world ? the maintenance of international peace and the promotion
of multicultural dialogue, cooperation, and understanding.
The period of the Olympic Games, and beyond, should provide
an opportunity for such a dialogue and the search for durable solutions
for the restoration of peace in all areas of conflict, where the first
victims are the children, the youth, women, and the aged.
Humanity?s quest is for a world free of hatred, terrorism,
and war, where ideals of peace, goodwill and mutual respect form the basis
of relations among peoples and countries. The goal may still remain elusive,
but if the Olympic Truce can help us to bring about even a brief respite
from conflict and strife, it will send a powerful message of hope to the
international community.
WHEREFORE, WE, THE UNDERSIGNED:
1.Urge world leaders, Governments, and International
Organizations, to give peace a chance and to agree to join efforts to
use the Olympic Truce as an instrument to promote peace and reconciliation
in areas of conflict and strife;
2. Pledge to exercise our best efforts to ensure that
the Olympic Truce appeal is observed in our countries and in our region
during the upcoming Olympic Games as a way of promoting goodwill and encouraging
the peaceful settlement of conflicts in full conformity with the purposes
and the principles of the Charter of the United Nations; and
3. Pledge to support and disseminate, individually and
collectively, the symbolic call for Olympic Truce throughout all future
Olympic Games and beyond, and to exercise our best efforts within our
communities, countries, and relevant international organizations to achieve
its recognition and observance.
View Statement in
French
View Statement
in Greek
Statement of World Personalities, in their individual capacities, in support for the Olympic Truce
Initially signed by Foreign Ministers of Greece and Turkey on, 8 November 2001
Additional Foreign Minister signatures to date, (Dec. 28, 2001)
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