Bobby Kennedy’s widow and daughter in Athens
Two prominent members of the Kennedy family are in Greece: Ethel Kennedy, widow of Robert F. Kennedy, and her daughter Kerry Kennedy Cuomo, president of Amnesty International. They are here for two events scheduled by the Kennedy-Cuomo’s foundation: «Speak Truth to Power» this coming Thursday, June 13 – a performance by the Analogio Theater at the Athens Concert Hall and the release in Greek of Kerry’s book «Speak Truth to Power: Human Rights Defenders Who Are Changing Our World,» sponsored by Vardis and Marianna Vardinoyiannis. The proceeds are to go to the Greek branch of Amnesty International. Its president, Costis Papaioannou, was present at the press conferences last Thursday, the first at the Museum of Cycladic Art, without Kerry, whose flight had been delayed, and the second in the afternoon at the Athens Plaza, this time with Kerry. She spoke with the directness that characterizes the Kennedy clan about her trips around the world to find the people whose experiences form the heart of her book. «They are not myths, they are people who have fought at the risk of their lives to stop the abrogation of human rights,» said Kerry, who has been married for 10 years to Andrew Cuomo, son of New York’s former Governor Mario Cuomo. Andrew himself is a candidate for governor in the November 2002 elections, helped by his wife and her humanitarian work. On Monday, June 10, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Marianna Vardinoyianni is giving a luncheon in honor of the two Kennedy women at 1 p.m. at the Athens Plaza Hotel in the Pacific Room, to celebrate «Speak Truth to Power.» Telecoms eased 1.24 percent with index heavyweight OTE Telecom closing 1.22 percent lower at 17.74 euros.
