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

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM calls for party leaders meeting on corruption

[02] Court rules sanitation workers' strike 'abusive'

[03] "Eros: From Hesiod's Theogony to late antiquity" exhibition

[04] ASE opening: Rise

[01] PM calls for party leaders meeting on corruption

Papandreou told reporters after the more than one-hour meeting with the President that he briefed Papoulias on the hard times Greece was facing, and also on the decisions and initiatives he intends to take, the first being the commencement of a broad dialogue with the social partners and society in order to create a large alliance of social forces for the advancement of major changes needed on the country's chronic problems, and especially in the operation of the state.

The premier noted that the Greek economy has its own peculiarities, while its main problems were a lack of transparency, widespread corruption and clientelistic practices and perception that prevailed in recent years, which have resulted in wasteful spending of substantial resources of the Greek people, and lawlessness, which in turn resulted in widespread contribution evasion and tax evasion.

"I asked of the President of the Republic -- and he agreed -- to convene, under his chairmanship, a meeting of the leaders of all the political parties, precisely for the purpose of rallying together in the fight against corruption, in the fight for transparency and the proper operation of the state, with a correct and fair taxation system that will be adhered to by every Greek citizen," Papandreou said, adding that, with such actions, "we can send a resounding message internationally that we are determined, as a country, to forge ahead, put order in our economy, to create the prospect for a different kind of growth, on that will give hope and prospects to each and every citizen," Papandreou said.

Caption: President of Republic Karolos Papoulias (R) receives Prime Minister George Papandreou (L) at the Presidential mansion in Athens on Thursday 10 December 2009. ANA-MPA/KATERINA MAVRONA

[02] Court rules sanitation workers' strike 'abusive'

The court cited reasons of public health in backing its ruling, as well as public interest in light of the upcoming holidays.

[03] "Eros: From Hesiod's Theogony to late antiquity" exhibition

Spanning 12 centuries, the artifacts, dating as far back as the 6th century BC up to the early Christian times, include statues, jewelry, ceramic vases, a plethora of varied objects, and even a 2,500 year-old love letter engraved on clay, have been collected from 50 museums in Greece, Cyprus, Italy and France.

Highlights include a Roman-era copy of Greek sculptor Lysippos' famous "Eros stringing his bow" statue on loan from the Louvre, and an 18th century Antonio Canova sculpture "Cupid and Psyche" from the Capitoline Museums in Rome.

The exhibition, the biggest ever display of its kind, will run through April 2010.

[04] ASE opening: Rise

Individual sector indices were moving upward nearly across the board, with the only losses in Telecoms, down 0.59 percent.

The biggest gains were in Public Utilities, up 3.67 percent; Technology, up 3.51 percent; Banks, up 2.92 percent; and Chemicals, up 2.33 percent.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks was up 2.04 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index was up 1.34 percent, and the FTSE/ASE-80 small cap index was up 0.79 percent.

Of the stocks moved, 90 were up, 26 were down, and 14 were unchanged.

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