by Maria Spiliopoulou
ATHENS, June 24 (Xinhua) -- The outcome of the British referendum confirmed Athens' insistence on the need for dialogue on the future of the European Union, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias said on Friday, as the Athens Stock Exchange general price index had plunged by 14.6 percent.
"The results of the British referendum reaffirm of our insistence on the need to carry out a democratic, binding debate on the future of the European Union, on the strengthening of its social functioning and on the democratization of its structures, so that it can function to serve the peoples of Europe and be attractive to the societies of the member states," Kotzias said.
"In general, based on the developments in recent years and in particular with regard to the refugee issue, we express our concern at the increasing tendencies towards fragmentation of the European Union, and we stress the need to combat nationalism and extremist conduct," the Greek official added in an e-mailed statement.
"The priority for European leaderships should be to abandon punitive mindsets and retrenchment policies, and to cultivate a culture of democratic dialogue and consensus," Kotzias concluded.
The leader of the main opposition conservative New Democracy party Kyriakos Mitsotakis commented that the result was a "loud wake-up call for Europe" that a "new agreement of truth" is necessary.
The widespread concern across Europe regarding the landscape taking shape after the British referendum results was reflected in the dramatic fall of the general price index at the Athens Stock Exchange.
It opened with great losses, as most stock markets internationally, with the bank sector suffering mostly. Banks opened in limit down with shares dropping by 30 percent by noon.
