Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-07-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] Symi symposium concludes on the island of Kos on Friday

[01] Symi symposium concludes on the island of Kos on Friday

The 6th Annual Symi Symposium which opened on Sunday to discuss ''Transatlantic relations in the post 9/11 era'' concluded on the eastern Aegean island of Kos on Friday.

Sponsored by the Andreas Papandreou Foundation, the event was hosted by Foreign Minister George Papandreou with the participation of 42 dignitaries from around the world, including former US President Bill Clinton, former US assistant secretary of state Richard Holbrooke, former Turkish foreign and economy ministers Ismael Cem and Kemal Dervis and former Portuguese prime minister Antonio Guteres.

Divided into five working sessions, discussions at the symposium mainly focused on international economic imbalances, the new agenda on security, the policy of cultural and religious identity, and global governance based on democratic institutions.

Speaking at a post-symposium press conference, Papandreou said that the basic optimistic message that came out of the symposium was that there are alternative options and that economic policy was not a one-way street, adding that a more essential dialogue should begin between progressive forces in Europe and the US.

On his part, the former US president explained the approach of the American people vis-a-vis US President George W. Bush's policies and the prevailing state of mind following the September 11 terrorist attacks.

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