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Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-03-12Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Karolos Papoulias sworn in as 6th President of the Republic since end of junta eraKarolos Papoulias was sworn in as the 6th President of the Republic in Parliament at noon on Saturday.President Papoulias is the 6th President of the Republic since the end of the junta era in 1974. He took his oath in the presence of Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos and the Permanent Holy Synod. Immediately after the ceremony, President Papoulias laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Syntagma Square in downtown Athens. Later on, he went to the Presidential Mansion where he officially assumed his duties from outgoing President Kostis Stephanopoulos at the end of his 10-year successful tenure. [02] Symbolic blocking of Athens-Lamia motorway endsThe symbolic blocking of the Athens-Lamia motorway at the Afidnes tollgate, which began at noon on Saturday, was reported over early in the afternoon. The blocking of the motorway lasted for half an hour.It was carried out by inhabitants from municipalities in the northeastern region of the Attica prefecture who are opposing the creation of landfills in the area of Grammatiko. Traffic has returned to normal in both lanes of the motorway. [03] Traffic police take special measures as Carnival festivities heighten in Patra on SundayTraffic police took special measures on Saturday morning as holidaymakers leave the capital to enjoy a long weekend as the Carnival period heightens in the city of Patra on Sunday.No serious problems have been reported along the Athens-Corinth and Athens-Lamia motorways so far, although inhabitants from the region of northeastern Attica are expected to gather at the Afidnes toll gate at noon to protest the creation of landfills in their area. Meanwhile, the famous Patra Carnival parade will begin at 2 p.m. on Sunday and 35,000 Carnivalists will be thronging the main streets of this city in western Greece for about four hours. The theme of this year's Carnival parade will be environmental pollution. [04] European ombudsman Nikiforos Diamantouros says European constitution will boost democratic way of lifeNICOSIA (ANA - G. Leonidas) - European ombudsman Nikiforos Diamantouros, addressing an event organised here over the weekend by Parliament and the Press and Information Office, said the European constitution will boost the European citizens' democratic way of life, providing for them a supplementary European nationality.Diamantouros further said the citizens of Europe will have increased rights as a result of the European constitution's ratification. Commenting on the institution of the European ombudsman, Diamantouros stressed that it is the link between the European Union's commitments towards its citizens and their democratic rights which emanate from the European constitution. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |