Page 45 - ΝΑΥΤΙΚΑ ΧΡΟΝΙΚΑ - ΜΑΙΟΣ 2023

On Wednesday 26 April 2023, in the presence perpetuate the memory of this great European
of H.E. President of the Hellenic Republic, Ms who was always ahead of our time. A brilliant
Katerina Sakellaropoulou, the ceremony for the mind and legendary voice, who has been call-
presentation of the 1st Costa Carras European ing for “Paradigm Shifts” ever since he founded
Citizens Award for the Safeguard of Endangered Elliniki Etairia together with his wife Lydia and
Cultural and Natural Heritage took place. The a small group of visionaries 50 years ago! For
hall welcomed over 100 participants to honour Europa Nostra, this is also a symbolic gesture to
the winners and the memory of Costa Carras, honour the legacy of one of our greatest lead-
founding President of Elliniki Etairia and long- ers, and this in the year in which we celebrate
time Vice-President of Europa Nostra. The award our 60th anniversary. But this award is so much
ceremony was organised within the framework more than a tribute to our Costa, this is the way
of the Delphi Economic Forum 2023 and was to encourage present and future generations of
moderated by Jimmy Jamar, Head of the Brussels Europe’s citizens to follow his power of example.”
Office of Europa Nostra. Andreas Zompanakis, Board Member of
The Award was given to the Romanian NGO ELLET, highlighted everyone's satis-
A.R.A. - Architecture. Restoration. Archaeology faction with the establishment of this
for its exemplary work in mobilising citizens important Award that celebrates the
locally and across the country for the protection life and work of Costa Carras and is an
and promotion of Roșia Montană, in the region inspiration for those who continue his
of Transylvania (Romania). work. He also recalled Costa Carras'
The Award was instituted this year by Europa "deep belief in the transformative
power of civil society".

The Founder and President of the Delphi
Economic Forum, Symeon Tsomokos,
thanked the Secretary General of Europa
Nostra, Sneska Quaedvlieg-Mihailovic,
and the President of the Elliniki
Etairia, Lydia Carras, and referred
to the work of Costas Carras with warm
words: "Costa has been undoubtedly a particu-
larly rare bright personality – a truly great Greek
of all time. He will not remain in the collective
memory only for his inexhaustible passion and his
vision for the protection of the cultural heritage
of our country and Europe, for the protection
of nature and the environment, but also for the
deep philosophical attitude to life that he had
throughout his life". He also proudly announced
"We are ready and willing for the Costa Carras
Award to be granted every year during the Delphi
Economic Forum".

In his video message, Anastasios P. Lev-
Nostra and Elliniki Etairia for the Environment entis, President of the A.G. Leventis
and Cultural Heritage (ELLET) in memory of Foundation said: "It is a special pleasure for
Costa Carras, an iconic figure in the protection of us to support this prestigious award in memory
the environment and cultural heritage in Greece of such an important person for the preservation
as well as in Europe and beyond. Founding Part- of cultural and natural heritage". He also empha-
ners are the A.G. Leventis Foundation, the Delphi sised that the European character of the Award
Economic Forum and the European Investment is in absolute agreement with the most important
Bank Institute. international dimension of Costa Carras’ action.
Maria Nathanail, the European Investment
During the award ceremony, Europa Nos- Bank Representative, expressed her institu-
tra’s Secretary General Sneska Quaed- tion’s strong appreciation for the Costa Carras
vlieg-Mihailovic pointed out: European Citizens Award initiative. She empha-
“By launching this European Award we wish to sised that the EIB - whose Institute is the proud

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