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Athens News Agency: News in English, 11-02-03Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] PM confers with visiting Cyprus President(ANA-MPA) -- Prime Minister George Papandreou and visiting Cyprus President Demetris Christofias on Thursday discussed the latest developments in the Cyprus issue following recent talks held by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon with Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu in Geneva.Describing the meeting with Christofias as "crucial", Papandreou expressed hope that the Turkish-Cypriot side will "finally respond to his well-known proposals for an honest and mutual compromise, in the framework of a negotiation without pressing deadlines and arbitration". Papandreou and Christofias called on Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots to display a constructive stance and refrain from putting forward issues that are not part of the Cyprus reunification process, relevant UN resolutions and the agreements reached between the leaders of the two communities on Cyprus. "We look for a just solution that will end the occupation and settlement and the outdated guarantee formations," Papandreou added. The premier also stressed Greece's steadfast support for the Cyprus government, saying that the Cyprus issue remained a top priority of Greek foreign policy and that Greek-Turkish relations could not be normalised until it was solved. Christofias expressed hope that a just and viable solution to the Cyprus issue that will be acceptable to all Cypriots may be found by the end of 2011. He noted that the Cyprus government's stance in Geneva had indicated its willingness to "proceed in a practical and effective way" to find such a solution and that it was now up to Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots to do the same. He criticised the Turkish Cypriots for insisting on positions that were not in UN resolutions and past agreements, especially its refusal to link the territorial, settlement and property issues, which he stressed were key to a meaningful negotiation. Christofias said this refusal was a deliberate delaying tactic designed to lead the talks to a deadlock and ensure four-way talks on Cyprus' internal affairs. (ANA-MPA) More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form  [02] ADEX closing reportThe March contract on the FTSE 20 index was trading at -1.25 pct in the Athens Derivatives Exchange on Thursday, with turnover a low 42.069 million euros. Volume on the Big Cap index totaled 7,699 contracts worth 29.977 million euros, with 34,697 short positions in the market.Volume in futures contracts on equities totaled 25,788 contracts worth 12.092 million euros, with investment interest focusing on National Bankâs contracts (5,393), followed by Eurobank (2,149), OTE (3,522), Piraeus Bank (4,534), Alpha Bank (2,036), Marfin Popular Bank (4,388), Cyprus Bank (561), Hellenic Postbank (415), MIG (592), ATEbank (239). More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form  [03] Stocks continue bullish runStocks continued moving higher, although at a much slower pace, for the seventh consecutive session in the Athens Stock Exchange on Thursday supported by buying interest for blue chip stocks. The composite index of the market rose 0.67 pct to end at 1,675.14 points, with turnover falling to 116.621 million euros. The Big Cap index rose 1.06 pct, the Mid Cap index eased 0.65 pct and the Small Cap index ended 1.98 pct higher.The Telecoms (5.60 pct) and Raw Materials (1.31 pct) scored the biggest percentage gains of the day, while Health (2.71 pct) and Food (1.58 pct) suffered losses. OTE (5.60 pct), Alpha Bank (2.46 pct), Viohalco (2.0 pct) and Mytilineos (1.86 pct) were major gainers among blue chip stocks, while Titan (1.85 pct), Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling (1.69 pct) and Piraeus Bank (1.18 pct) were major losers. Broadly, decliners led advancers by 94 to 79 with another 54 issues unchanged. Sfakianakis (20 pct), Attikat (14.29 pct) and Attica Bank (12.75 pct) were top gainers, while Paperpack (18.92 pct), Ridenco (12.5 pct) and Kyriakoulis Yachts (10 pct) were top losers. More details on the subscriber's page of ANA-MPA | Subscription request form Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |