GOVERNOR-GENERAL AND LADY DEANE - STATE VISIT TO GREECE - 11th to 12th MAY 2000

12 May 2000

Following their attendance at Wednesday's torch lighting ceremony at Ancient Olympia, the Governor-General and Lady Deane have been making an official visit to Greece at the invitation of the President, His Excellency Mr Constantinos Stephanopoulos.

During the day yesterday (Thursday), as well as a Ceremonial Welcome and being received by and having talks with the President, Sir William met the Prime Minister, His Excellency Mr Constantinos Simitis, the President of Parliament, Mr Apostolos Kaklamanis, and the President of the New Democracy Party and Leader of the Opposition, Mr Constantinos Karamanlis. During his discussions with Mr Kaklamanis, Sir William conveyed a message of friendship from the Commonwealth Parliament's Australia - Greece Parliamentary Group which Mr Kaklamanis said would be read and tabled in the Greek Parliament.

Sir William and Lady Deane also attended a Welcome Ceremony at the Athens City Hall where talks were held with the Mayor of Athens, Mr Dimitris Avramopolous, who awarded the Governor-General the Gold Medal of Merit.

During the day, the Governor-General laid a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier in Syndagma Square. In the evening, Sir William and Lady Deane attended a ceremony to lay a wreath at the Commonwealth War Graves Phaleron Cemetery where 252 Australians killed in action in the Second World War lie buried and where more than 300, whose graves have not been identified, are commemorated.

The day concluded with a State Banquet at which Sir William delivered an address, a copy of which is attached.

Today (Friday) Sir William and Lady Deane will receive a Ceremonial Farewell from His Excellency the President, Mr Constantinos Stephanopoulos at the Presidential Palace before departing for Australia.

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Olympic torch ceremony

Some reports have suggested that the Governor-General was 'snubbed' at the torch lighting ceremony and at a function the previous evening, that there was irony in Sir William's speech at the ceremony and that, as a consequence, the party left Olympia earlier than planned. These reports are simply incorrect. The Mayor of Olympia, the host at the evening function accorded the Governor-General and Lady Deane every proper courtesy, as did the President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee at the ceremony itself. The decision to leave Olympia straight after the ceremony for the long return drive to Athens was taken much earlier, in consultation with all concerned, in anticipation of the Governor-General's and Lady Deane's official visit commitments the following day.