Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-11-17

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] Skopje summit on regional energy community

[02] Anniversary of Polytechnic uprising observed

[03] Hellenic Exchanges launches roadshow in US

[01] Skopje summit on regional energy community

The summit agreed to accept Cyprus as full member of the community, while another four countries --including Turkey -- received observer status.

The minister, representing Athens, presented several proposals during the summit: to begin immediate discussions over the creation of a two new regional energy markets between Black Sea and Mediterranean countries and to organise in Athens - in June 2007 - an international conference on energy-saving policies and actions to promote renewable energy sources.

Sioufas will also meet with several high-ranking Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) government officials.

In addressing the summit, development ministry secretary-general Nikos Stephanou said the countryâs international energy interconnections were progressing rapidly and satisfactorily.

Commenting on a Turkey-Greece-Italy natural gas pipeline project, Stephanou said the Greek side will have completed its part of the pipeline by April 2007 and said he expects the Turkish side to do the same. Referring on the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline project, he said consultations to sign a tri-party agreement to build and operate the pipeline were at a "very advance stage".

Caption: Development Minister Sioufas, second left, is accompanied by executives of Greece's Public Power Corp. (PPC) and state-run petrochemical group EL.PE during a visit to the ÏÊÔÁ refinery in Skopje, FYROM on Friday, Nov. 17, 2006. EL.PE owns a controlling share of OTKA. ANA-MPA photo / STR.

[02] Anniversary of Polytechnic uprising observed

Earlier, Parliament President Anna Psarouda-Benaki laid a wreath at the university, as did representatives of political parties, trade unions, social and cultural groups etc.

The gates of the Polytechnic closed at 4 p.m. local time with a now customary march following to the US embassy.

A total of 5,000 police were on hand to guard against violence, mostly by self-styled anarchist youths that frequently infiltrate protest marches and rallies in the Greek capital.

"Today is a celebration for democracy," alternate government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros said on Friday, while noting that efforts to constantly upgrade the quality of democracy in the country are unremitting.

[03] Hellenic Exchanges launches roadshow in US

The five-day event includes meetings with institutional investors in New York, New Jersey, Boston and Chicago. During the roadshow, Hellenic Exchanges' management will have one-on-one meetings with a total 45 institutional funds with activities in the Greek capital market.

Hellenic Exchange also participated in the 8th Annual Capital Link Forum held in New York, entitled "Greece in the Era of Reforms".

During the forum, the New York Stock Exchange honoured Greek Economy and Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis, the Athens Stock Exchange for the 130th anniversary since its founding and ASE chairman Spyros Kapralos. Afterwards, the Greek minister and the ASE chairman rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange.

Kapralos will also address the Capital Link Forum, where he is expected to focus on the development of the Greek market based on transparency, reducing costs and restructuring operations, along with the successful launch of a common trading platform with the Cyprus Stock Exchange.

Caption: FinMin Alogoskoufis, centre, closes the day's session at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2006. The minister was accompanied by Deputy FinMin Petros Doukas, left, and the president of the Athens Stock Exchange, Spyros Kapralos. The Greek delegation was received by NYSE chief executive officer John Thain, second left. ANA-MPA photo / N. Apostolopoulos.

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article