Heads of state and government as well as royals from 20 countries, including Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair, subscribed Saturday in Athens to the Olympic truce agreement symbolically agreeing to suspend armed conflict during the Olympic Games.
"I would like to honour Greece for this principle that goes back to ancient times and imposes a cease-fire during the Games," said the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Jacques Rogge.
Alongside Rogge and Blair, the document was signed Saturday by German President Horst Koehler, Romanian President Ion Iliescu, Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano.
The truce recalls the ancient Greek tradition of "ekecheiria," or Olympic truce, to ensure the safe passage and participation of athletes and others at the games.
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