A tripartite meeting is being held on 20.08.2001 in Nikosia between the authorities of the Stock Exchanges of Athens, Cyprus and Tel Aviv, with the participation of FTSE International. The meeting is connected with the promotion of the regional cooperation of the Stock Exchanges of the Southeastern Mediterranean. The first issue is the establishment of a common (combined) stock market index, which will be composed of shares listed on all three Stock Exchanges.

The objective is the commercial development of the three indices in the three countries and overseas, both in the market of securities and the market of derivatives. Simultaneously, the index will be incorporated in the group of indices of FTSE International, as the company participates, through the international specifications and methodologies it has developed, to the make up and marketing of the index.

The four participating agencies are planning to start their cooperation in the form of a marketing joint venture and establish a legal person within twelve months.

The Athens Stock Exchange is also negotiating a co-operation with the Stock Exchange of Istanbul. The objective is the mutual opening of the two markets for the investors in Greece and Turkey through stock market cross membership in both markets on the basis of a common technical application through which the investors of both countries will be in the position to monitor both Stock Exchanges. The second meeting of the technical committee of the two Stock Exchanges has already been held, aiming at the establishment of the technical application. One more meeting will be held among the administrations of the two Stock Exchanges in September.