Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-10-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] Liberation of Athens remembered

[02] ASE opening: Big rise

[03] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] Liberation of Athens remembered

"Today we celebrate a special moment in history. We are here to honor to those who fought for Athens' liberation, to pay tribute those who waged an uneven but victorious battle. We are here to draw strength and inspiration," the premier said.

Papandreou further noted that history is written by the everyday people, adding that "the national memory teaches us that when the Greeks are united in struggle, they attain their goals", and stressed that "today, too like then, we can create a better Greece of justice, equality, security and rule of law, and win the future we deserve".

The premier also noted that it was a George Papandreou (his grandfather, as then prime minister) who had the honor of raising the Greek flag on the Acropolis.

Athens mayor Nikitas Kaklamanis, in his own greeting to the event, said that October 12 is a "day of collective historical memory", stressing that the pact of freedom was written with struggles and blood, and adding that "it is our duty to remember with respect and reverence the struggle of those who perished from nazism, fascism, hunger and execution".

"It is our duty to remember that freedom is won through constant battles, and preserved by the constant vigilance of us all," Kaklamanis added.

Afterwards, the prime minister laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of prime minister George Papandreou

[02] ASE opening: Big rise

Individual sector indices were moving upward across the board, with the biggest gains in Insurance, up 5.14 percent; Raw Materials, up 2.07 percent; Technology, up 2.03 percent; Financial Services, up 1.99 percent; and Telecoms, up 1.96 percent.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks was up 1.52 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index was up 1.11 percent, and the FTSE/ASE-80 small cap index was up 1.49 percent.

Of the stocks moved, 99 were up, 33 were down, and 18 were unchanged.

[03] Athens Newspaper Headlines

The new government's first actions, the in-party conflict in main opposition New Democracy(ND) ahead of the party's extraordinary Congress for the election of a new leader, and the Economy Ministry's and Bank of Greece's report indicating a major fiscal deficit, dominated the headlines on Monday in Athens' newspapers.

APOGEVMATINI: "Prime Minister George Papandreou's and former prime Minister and outgoing ND leader Costas Karamanlis' last 'battle' in parliament on October 16-18".

AVRIANI: "Chaos prevails in ND - Several dauphins, opinions, tendencies ahead of ND's extraordinary Congress".

CHORA: "ND in danger of splitting up".

ELEFTHERI ORA: "George Papandreou and LAOS leader George Karatzaferis are the ones who gain from the chaos in ND".

ELEFTHEROS: "The disagreement among ND's leadership candidates brings chaos in ND".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Hard bargaining - ND's congress on November 7 will resolve the differences among the candidates".

ESTIA: "ND humiliating itself - Unbelievable turmoil over the new leader's election".

ETHNOS: "The contenders for ND's helm cross swords".

TA NEA: "They (government) annulled the law on pensions and retirement ages".

VRADYNI: "Hours of responsibility for all of you - Karamanlis and the leadership candidates must fulfill the people's expectations and the seriousness of the case".

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