The 2nd "City of Athens Democracy Award" is awarded by the mayor of Athens Mr. Georgios Kaminis, on Thursday September 14, to President Felipe González Márquez, the longest-running Prime Minister in the history of Spain, who sealed with his substantial and lasting contribution the consolidation of democracy in the post- Franco era, and worked with dedication and inspiration for the ideals of the European project.
The award is an initiative of the mayor of Athens Mr. Georgios Kaminis, institutionalised by the City of Athens in 2016 and awarded every year around September 15th, the International Day of Democracy.
This year's award ceremony will take place at Herodius Odeon theater, just after the central event of the 5th New York Times Athens Democracy Forum, which takes place the same day at Zappeion and the Stoa of Attalos.
The City of Athens Democracy Award was designed and by the internationally renowned award-winning designer, Ms. Elena Votsi.
It is a special two-sided medal, which on one side marks the power of the "City", the crowd of citizens, where they have the power for the great, with the man in the center. On the second side, the map of Athens is depicted (as it appears in the modern guides that visitors hold in their hands), focusing on the Ancient Agora, where Democracy was born.
With this Democracy Award, the City of Athens honors individuals or organizations with international prestige and recognition, whose life-time work and moral integrity shield and advance democracy and human rights.
The 1st City of Athens Democracy Award was awarded in 2016 to Mr. Kenneth Roth, Executive Director of the Human Rights Watch.
Who is Felipe González Márquez?
Labor lawyer. He was secretary general of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) and president of the government of Spain between 1982 and 1996. He was also deputy for 27 years. In the international arena, he was Vice-President of the Socialist International, representing the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the European Union for the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary for the Commemoration of the Bicentenaries of the Independence of the Ibero-American Republics, president of the Reflection Group on the Future of the European Union, he is currently a member of the National Commission for Follow-up, Impulse and Verification of the Implementation of the Colombia Peace Agreement (CSIVI for its acronym in Spanish). He has recognized awards such as the Charlemagne Prize, the Carlos V Prize of the European Academy of Yuste and the Athens Democracy Award
What is The New York Times Athens Democracy Forum?
The fifth edition of The New York Times ‘Athens Democracy Forum’ will be convened this
September 13-15. The conference will bring together influential statesmen, business
leaders, economists and academics to discuss the pressing challenges facing liberal
democracies, their institutions and economies.
For more information about The New York Times ‘Athens Democracy Forum’:
Christopher Kang (London)
Corporate Communications, The New York Times
Tel.: +44 207 061 3525
e-mail: [email protected]
