THE FATHER OF HRH CROWN PRINCESS KATHERINE, MR. ROBERT BATIS, RECEIVES HONORARY AWARDS FOR LIFETIME DEEDS

Athens, 29 December 2007 - Mr. Robert Batis, the father of HRH Crown Princess Katherine received two honorary awards for his great lifetime contribution to Greek social sectors and sports.

The ceremony was held at the Ministry of Culture and Sport in the presence of Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine, and was initiated by Mr. Panos Panayiotopoulos, former Minister for Employment and Social Protection, member of the Hellenic Parliament for New Democracy. The Ceremonial delivery of the award was performed by Mr. Giannis Ioannidis Deputy Minister of Culture, with responsibilities for Sport. Mr. Robert Batis (91), undertook the football team of Fostiras which consisted of talented football players, employees of the factory when his was director for 23 years. During his 11 year presidency the team was known as “Killer of the Giants”, and his efforts led to the construction of the football stadium Tavros, which Fostiras is still using today. After Mr. Batis left the team due to his many obligations he was nominated its Honorary President. Mr. Batis in his various positions assisted hundreds of people and especially children and taught his family the noble principles of humanitarianism. During earthquakes he helped the children of the Sikiaridio Prevantorio Institution for Children to be brought there for safety. Mr. Batis’s quick response to any disasters connected his name to great Greek philanthropy. Mr. Batis became the president of the poor young girls association under the auspices of King Paul of the Hellenes where saving books were given to poor one year old girls as diary in order to start a fund for them..

Mr. Giannis Ioannidis said among other things prior to handing over the award to Mr. Batis :“Your contribution for all those years sets an example and a source of inspiration for the principles and values of solidarity, offering and participation in constituting the foundation of values of Hellenism. Our society and especially our youth are the future of our country and they have the need for visionary and charismatic people like yourself who served their life contributing to the global values of sport, humanitarianism and of solidarity.

Mr. Panos Panayiotopoulos, former Minister for Employment and Social Protection, member of the Hellenic Parliament for New Democracy also gave an award to Mr. Batis and thanked him for his contribution to society and sport. Then Mr. Panayiotopoulos thanked Mr. Giannis Ioannidis for taking up the initiative for the Greece Government to award Mr. Batis and to recognize him with such a honour as a worthy person who had contributed through his own initiative to philanthropic work and society.

Finally, Mr. Robert Batis warmly thanked both Mr. Ioannidis and Mr. Panayiotopoulos and added that he didn’t do anything more than his duty, emphasizing that we came into this world to give and not to take.