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Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-12-01Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Papoulias inaugurates OSCE conf'President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias on Tuesday inaugurated the 17th Ministerial Conference of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Athens, welcoming delegates from the OSCE's 56 member countries and describing the international meeting as "an important political event and an opportunity to strengthen peaceful cooperation and promote the common goals of the member states, in order to reach tangible and substantive conclusions".Papoulias also referred to the Fall of the Berlin Wall 20 years ago, stressing that, after the fall, Europe experienced unprecedented security and stability, while he also spoke of the significant achievements Europe made after the Helsinki Final Act. On the OSCE principles and resolutions concerning international legality, international co-existence, and protection of the individual freedoms and rights of the peoples, the Greek President stressed that "there is no room for complacency", adding that this was why Greece was seeking cooperation and co-existence not only with its neighbors but in the wider region, and why it was actively participating in the efforts in that direction. "In that spirit, we initiated the Corfu Process in the framework of the Greek chairmanship-in-office of the OSCE. This Process aims at the organisation's more effective response to the security challenges in the 21st century," Papoulias said. "Despite the progress that has been achieved, the dividing lines still remain, old disputes have not been resolved, new threats are emerging inside and outside our borders," he continued. "Here in Athens, the cradle of democracy, it is our duty to restore confidence and strengthen the cooperation among all the member countries of the Organisation, with determination. The OSCE can proceed with a broad, substantive and strategic dialogue for joint confrontation of all the common challenges to European security," the Greek President concluded. Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of President of Greek Republic Karolos Papoulias [02] Retail vol. index downThe retail trade volume index (turnover in fixed prices), including fuels and vehicle lubricants, fell by 8.7 percent in September against the corresponding month of 2008, according to figures released on Monday by the national statistics service ESYE. The index fell by 1.8 percent in September 2008 over September 2007.[03] ASE opening: Sharp riseEquity prices were rising at the opening of trade on Tuesday on the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE), with the basic share price index up 3.77 percent, standing at 2,348.69 points at 10:55 a.m., and turnover at 59.2 million euros.Individual sector indices were moving upward across the board, with the biggest gains in TEchnology, up 8.21 percent; Banks, up 5.91 percent; Financial Services, up 5.44 percent; and Chemicals, up 4.65 percent. The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks was up 4.81 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index was up 4.09 percent, and the FTSE/ASE-80 small cap index was up 3.43 percent. Of the stocks moved, 142 were up, 11 were down, and 12 were unchanged. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |