THE 4TH ANNUAL CAPITAL LINK FORUM CONFERENCE
Monday October 30, 2000

"GREECE: YOUR EMU PARTNER IN SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE"

Hon. Dimitris L. Avramopoulos

MAYOR OF ATHENS

Dimitris L. Avramopoulos was born in Athens in 1953. He entered the political arena in 1993, following his resignation from the Greek Diplomatic Service.

He studied Political Science and Public Law at the University of Athens, and received two postgraduate degrees on European studies and International organization at the Universities of Brussels and Boston respectively.

In 1978, he enlisted in the Air Force and served for two years. In 1980 he joined the Diplomatic Service. During his diplomatic career in the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1980-1993), Mr. Avramopoulos served successively as Consul in Liege Special Diplomatic Adviser to the Prime Minister. Representative at the Conference of Vienna for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Director of the Prime Minister's Diplomatic Office and Consul General in Geneva.

In 1993, after having resigned from the Diplomatic Service, Mr. Dimitris Avramopoulos was elected Member of Parliament, a position which he held for eight months. In April 1994, he was elected among the top of the Central Committee list of New Democracy Party and in October 1994 he was elected Mayor of Athens casting off his party affiliations. In October 1998, he was re-elected for a second four years term as Mayor of Athens with a landslide victory.

Dimitris L. Avramopoulos is former Chairman of the Central Union of Local Authorities in Greece (KEDKE), and Member and former Vice-President of the World Executive Committee of the International Union of Local Authorities (IULA).

Mr. Avramopoulos convened the first Conference of Mayors of South Eastern European Capitals which led to the establishment of a new permanent regional institution with its Secretariat in Athens. The Mayor of Athens initiated a new concept in the field of International Relations, the Diplomacy of the Cities which received the official endorsement of Mr. Kofi Anan, Secretary General of the United Nations. He has also taken the initiative for an International Price for Democracy placed under the auspices of UNESCO, as well as for the creation of a World Union of Olympic Cities a proposal which was accepted by the President of the International Olympic Committee. He has been made honorary citizen of 26 Greek and 6 foreign cities.

He has received many honors and awards from several countries ( Austria, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Yugoslavia). He has also received the "Golden Cross" by the Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople, the "Superior Commander" by the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the "Revelation Cross of Patmos" from the Ecumenical Monastery of the Island of Patmos. He has been nominated as Honorary Doctor of the ADELPHI University of New York and of DEREE College of Athens. He speaks French, English and Italian.

Mr. Avramopoulos is married to Vivian, and he is the father of two sons, Filippos and Jasonas.

ORGANIZERS