Zorba (PSE). – (EL) Mr President, in an effort to end the clashes which were plaguing the Peloponnese, the Delphi Oracle advised the warring sides in 776 B.C. to organise games, putting their differences to one side, so that athletes and citizens from all over Greece could take part in the games in safety. Thus the ancient Greek tradition of the Olympic truce was born and has lasted for over 1000 years.

Greece promoted the revival of this tradition with the support of the UN, the European Council, UNESCO and the International Olympic Committee. In the run up to the Olympic Games in Greece in 2004, the International Olympic Truce Centre was set up and undertook to conduct a major campaign. Over 400 famous people in the world have signed the text of the Olympic truce.

The Olympic Games, which return this year to the country in which they were born and to Europe, are a global reference point and, together with the message which emerges from the sporting performances, can send the message of the culture of peace. Peace and dialogue are two objectives which the European Parliament has always supported. They are values which we continue to hold at the centre of our efforts for as long and with as much effort as are needed to achieve them. Each of us, as members of the European Parliament, are called on to act as ambassadors of the good will of the Olympic truce, promoting the message and the culture of peace in all meetings, missions, parliamentary committees and international fora in all the corners of the planet which we frequently visit.

We expect the support and encouragement of the Council and the Irish Presidency in this effort. The main message of the Olympic truce is: if we manage to have peace for 16 days, perhaps we can manage to have it forever.