Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-10-25

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

CONTENTS

[01] Night of Greek culture, peace, to mark anniversary at UN

[01] Night of Greek culture, peace, to mark anniversary at UN

Greece will be hosting the anniversary concert, to take place at the UN General Assembly Auditorium, for the first time, with the event, a tribute to civilisation and peace, also marking the approaching completion of the country's two-year term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2005-2006 period. The concert is sponsored by the Alexander S. Onassis Benefit Foundation, under the auspices of the Greek Foreign Ministry and with the support of ERT.

The ERT National Symphony Orchestra perform Mikis' Theodorakis' "Axion Esti" and "Epiphania", based on the poems written by Nobel laureate Greek poets Odysseas Elytis and George Seferis, as well as Manos Hatzidakis' "Megalo Erotiko" and other Greek poetry set to music by 20th century Greek composers.

ERT has engaged the renowned Mexican tenor Ronaldo Villazon to sing, alongside Greek soloists Fotini Darra, T. Apostolou and A. Smyrnakis.

The United Nations Day concert was organised by ERT with the assistance of a grant from the Alexandros Onassis Foundation, and will be broadcast by satellite over an area spanning America, Australia and South Africa, while it will be broadcast in Greece on the following day from 19:00-21:00 in the evening.

The President of the Alexander S. Onassis Benefit Foundation, Antonis Papadimitriou, at a press confererence he gave at the Foundation's Cultural Centre in Manhattan on Tuesday, referred to the presentation by Greece, for the first time, of the anniversary concert which will be held on Wednesday evening at the hall of the UN General Assembly, both on the occasion of the 61st anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, and of Greece's participation at the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member for the 2005-2006 period.

The concert is sponsored by the Alexander S. Onassis Benefit Foundation, under the auspices of the Greek Foreign Ministry and with the support of state-run Greek Radio and Television (ERT).

The concert will be attended by UN officials, permanent representatives and many other diplomats of the organisation's 192 member-states, including officials of the political and cultural life of the United States and Greece.

"One of humanity's lasting quests seems to have found its answer. It concerns the seeking of beauty through art," said Papadimitriou.

"The specific songs which we have been chosen present the additional characteristic that their performance follows this which is usually called a classical style. The songs are played by a symphony orchestra and are interpreted by lyrical singers," Papadimitriou added.

Present at the press conference were Shashi Tharoor, UN deputy secretary-general for communication affairs, ERT president and managing director Christos Panagopoulos, and Greek Permanent Representative at the United Nations, Ambassador Adamantios Vassilakis.

Indian diplomat Tharoor referred to the UN's mission, on the occasion of the 61st anniversary of its foundation. He spoke with praise about Greece's historic and cultural course, the country of Plato, as he said, and thanked the Greek government, the Foundation and ERT.

ERT president Panagopoulos referred to the participation of the National Symphonic Orchestra at Wednesday's event, stressing that "it is being held at the most important site for the proclamation and defence of peace and culture:The hall of the UN General Assembly."

Ambassador Vassilakis thanked in particular Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, the Foundation's president Papadimitriou and ERT president Panagopoulos for their contribution in the implementation of this effort which constituted, as he said, his "personal dream".

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of UN building in Athens

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