Athens News Agency: News in English, 02-06-19

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Nelson Mandela adds his support to 'Olympic Truce' initiative

[02] Parliament ratifies social security bill in principle

[03] Greek FM calls for collective action to safeguard human rights, aid

[04] Greek expatriate press and mass media awards

[05] Exhibition in memory of Callas opens in Vienna

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates - Thursday

[07] Greek stock plunge near year's lows on Wednesday

[01] Nelson Mandela adds his support to 'Olympic Truce' initiative

South African statesman Nelson Mandela on Wednesday lent his signature to a high-profile drive by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Greece to expand and promote the idea of an ?Olympic Truce? during the holding of the winter and summer Games.

Mandela, the Nobel Peace laureate and veteran crusader against apartheid in South Africa, was also honoured for his contributions to world peace during an event held at the Athens Concert Hall (Megaron).

?The Olympic Truce is a highly commendable effort to remind us of the idea of promoting peace ? this could not have come at a more opportune time, as we are preparing for the next Olympic Games, and as the world continues to be plagued by violence and warfare,? the former South Africa president said.

?We publicly reaffirm our support for the Olympic Truce initiative,? he stressed.

Mandela was greeted at the event by Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou, who praised his decades-long struggle for democracy in South Africa as well as his role as an international peacemaker. Papandreou, one of the most prolific proponents of the Olympic Truce idea, also emphasised the importance of establishing an in international cease-fire observed throughout the world during the holding of the Games.

In a phrase that comprised the leitmotif of Wednesdays event, the director of the Olympic Truce Centre, Stavros Lambrinidis, noted: ?If we can achieve peace for 16 days, maybe one day we can have peace forever.?

?Your example shows us that everything is possible, even for world peace,? renowned composer Mikis Theodorakis, one of several Olympic Truce ambassadors, told Mandela.

Finally, Athens 2004 organising committee chairwoman Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki cited what she called Greeces pride at being a messenger for peace via the Olympic Truce initiative.

?The ancient premise can become todays promise,? she said.

Mandelas signature joins another 113 by heads of state and governments.

The Olympic Truce initiative materialised in 1998 following a proposal by the Greek government to members of the IOC for the institutional consolidation of the idea in the new millennium.

In December 1999 the IOC announced the establishment of the International Olympic Truce Foundation and the Olympic Truce Centre, in cooperation with Greece, with both institutions opening their doors a few months later.

[02] Parliament ratifies social security bill in principle

A Parliament plenum ratified the social security bill in principle on Wednesday with 144 votes in favour and 131 against, while 25 deputies were absent from voting.

After the result was announced, main opposition New Democracy party Parliamentary representative Nikitas Kaklamanis announced that his party was abstaining from the discussion on the bill's individual articles ''refusing to participate in the deception of the Greek people on the so-called reforming of the social security system.''

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) also walked out of the discussion. KKE secretary general Aleka Papariga had announced during the morning session that her party would walk out at the end of the discussion on principles.

[03] Greek FM calls for collective action to safeguard human rights, aid refugees

Foreign Minister George Papandreou on Wednesday called on everyone to struggle for the protection of human rights and the establishment and function of democratic institutions, in light of the International Day of Refugees, celebrated on Thursday.

''We all should struggle not only for the protection of human rights and the establishment and function of democratic institutions, but we should cooperate to decrease or wipe out the reasons that create more and more refugees in our era,'' Papandreou said.

He noted that refugees around the world are estimated at about 50 million people, of which about 80 per cent are women and children, adding that ''we all of us have the obligation and the duty to confront this catastrophic effect of women's human rights violations''.

[04] Greek expatriate press and mass media awards

President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos on Wednesday night presented the annual awards for Greek expatriate press and mass media during a ceremony held at the Old Parliament.

In a brief speech, Stephanopoulos said the expatriate press and mass media help towards maintaining the bonds of the Greek expatriate community with Greece, keeping alive the presence of Hellenism.

The institution of the awards began four years ago, under the aegis of the Press and Mass Media Ministry.

Press and Mass Media Minister Christos Protopapas said the institution of the awards awarded the select representatives of the expatriate press and mass media which represent ''the main transmitor of communication of the expatriates with the motherland.''

[05] Exhibition in memory of Callas opens in Vienna

VIENNA (ANA-D. Dimitrakoudis) - An exhibition in memory of Greek opera singer Maria Callas opened here on Wednesday.

The exhibition, inaugurated at the Herbert von Karajan Centre, is being held on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the death of Callas on September 16, 1977.

Unpublished photographs of Callas will be included in the exhibition which will last until August 8.

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates - Thursday

Indicative tourist buying rates per euro

U.S. dollar 0.963

Pound sterling 0.645

Danish kroner 7.491

Swedish kroner 9.150

Japanese yen 119.3

Swiss franc 1.485

Norwegian kroner 7.435

Cyprus pound 0.584

Canadian dollar 1.486

Australian dollar 1.702

[07] Greek stock plunge near year's lows on Wednesday

Greek stocks plunged near their year's lows on Wednesday as investors continued closing positions in the market unnerved by a volatile climate in international markets.

The general index ended 0.97 percent lower to 2,193,43 points, although it managed to cut its 1.7 percent intra-day loss with the help of a wave of selective buying in medium capitalisation stocks and for Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation's stocks. OTE ended the day 0.62 percent higher.

National Bank's share dropped 3.64 percent lower hit by reports, although official denied, over the sale of a 6.0 percent stake in the bank by the Public Securities Company (DEKA).

The IT Solutions and Construction sectors were the only ones to score gains (0.37 percent and 0.06 percent, respectively), while the Banks, Cement and Metals sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses of the day (2.08 percent, 1.33 percent and 1.16 percent).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks fell 1.32 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index ended 0.42 percent lower and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index dropped 0.80 percent.

Turnover was an improved 114.5 million euros, while decliners led advancers by 234 to 64 with another 54 issues unchanged.

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