Reopening of the Benaki Museum

I feel particulalry honoured ond moved by my good fortune to be able to communicate with you as President of the Board of Friends once again through the pages of the Friends' Bulletin in its new format and also feel the obligation to mention, even in a few words, the crowning event for Greek cultural eνents, marked, at the adνent of the Millenium, by the inauguration of the renovated Benaki Museum. Let us recall that one year earlier, on Sunday 4 June 2000, our Museum again opened its doors to the public, which had great expectations after such lengthy works of improvements, and that the first of the four days of splendid inauguration, in which all of Greece rejoiced, was dedicated to the 'Friends' of the Museum. lt was a symbolic gesture on the part of the Governing Committee of the Benaki Museum, of especial honour for us, and which I believe should touch us and encourage us to redouble our efforts in active and affectionate contribution. 

Α most important eveπt the reopening of the Benakί Museum, 4"' June 2CXXJ from left: Mr. Marinos Geroulanos President of the Board of Trυstees of the Benaki Museum, Mrs. Artemis Scoumboυrdi member, S.E. Mr. John Grίgoriadis Vice President of the Board of Frίends, Mrs. Kettγ Κοptου member, Mr. Linos Benakis Vice Presideπt of the Board of Friends, Mrs. Anna Psarouda-Benaki Deputγ and actually Presideπt of the Greek Parliament, Mrs. Lila de Chaves, Presideπt of the Board απd Prof. Aπgelos Delivorrias, Director of the Beπaki Museum.

Minister of Culture and the President of EOSFIM at the opening of an exhibition at the Benaki Museum

On that unique evening, the words of President of the Governing Com­mittee Mr. Marinos Geroulanos were full of warmth for the Friends, and what was said by the Director Professor Mr. Angelos Delivorrias came from the heart: on my part, my short greeting was ο declaration of twenty-five years of Ιονe for the Ιnsπtute and α promise of unbreakable friendship. This outset of the inauguration was honored by the presence, with α pithy speech, by former Minister of Culture and at present, President of the Parliament Mrs. Anna Psarouda-Benoki, who said, among other things: 
" ... The New Benaki Museum which this eνening we are pre-inaugurating, Ιs α multi-faceted event, of α historical course and απ outcome with seνeral meanings of significance. 
... Eνen more significant howeνer ond distinguishing this evening is the contribution of volunteerism, os represented by the now historical Άssocia­tion of the Friends of the Benoki Museum'. Backed by more than forty years of life and action for the sake of the Museum, including in its membership prominent names of Athenian society, and haνing undertaken απ impor­tant role ίn the Museum's life, the Association has fulfilled with admirable conscientiousness the role required to be played by the insπtution of Friends of α museum. Ιt ίs also noteworthy that the organizσtion and contribuπon of the Friends, albeit on α νolunteer basis, ίs no accidental initiatiνe, since ίt follows in the steps of international models for such ο port. lt offers its serνices whereνer, howeνer, and wheneνer required by the needs of the Museum, while mointaining its independent presence in the nation's social and cultural areas."