A security officer looks through a pair of binoculars as Greek President Karolos Papoulias and his Slovakian counterpart Ivan Gasparovic review the presidential guard during a welcoming ceremony in Athens yesterday. Gasparovic is in Greece on a three-day official visit and was awarded the Gold Medal of Merit by the City of Athens in a ceremony held at City Hall yesterday. 'We are particularly pleased because the ideals which inspired our predecessors continue to serve as a guide for the new members of the great European family,' said Athens Mayor Nikitas Kaklamanis.