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EU News Flashes and Events for 97-04-30
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS
[01] EU freezes ties with Iran
[02] Zaire rebels killing Hutu refugees
[03] Cooperation deal with Macedonia
[04] EU-China relations
[05] Greece/EU meeting with Turkey
[06] EU stand on Iran-demonstration
[07] Yugoslavia welcomes EU move
[08] Hoogovens/Usines Gustave Boel
[09] EU clears Arbed/Champion
[10] Slovak PM blames U.S. on NATO
[11] WTO/EU banana regime breaks rules
[12] De Silguy-EU talks Apr/May '98
[13] Main EU events for April 30
[01] EU freezes ties with Iran
LUXEMBOURG - The European Union toughened its stance against Iran on Tuesday,
suspending ministerial ties with Tehran in response to a court finding that
Iran's rulers had ordered political assassinations in Germany.
[02] Zaire rebels killing Hutu refugees
LUXEMBOURG - Emma Bonino, the EU commissioner responsible for humanitarian
aid, accused rebel forces in Zaire on Tuesday of a deliberate drive to wipe
out refugees believed to have taken part in genocide in Rwanda.
[03] Cooperation deal with Macedonia
LUXEMBOURG - The European Union on Tuesday signed a cooperation deal with the
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, which took the opportunity to stress
its ultimate goal was full membership of the bloc.
[04] EU-China relations
LUXEMBOURG - Five European Union countries that broke ranks and failed to
support a U.N. resolution critical of China are to tell Beijing not to
retaliate against those in the bloc that supported the move.
[05] Greece/EU meeting with Turkey
LUXEMBOURG - Greece maintained its long-standing veto on a European Union aid
package to Turkey on Tuesday, casting a shadow over the bloc's first high-
level talks with Ankara since 1995.
[06] EU stand on Iran-demonstration
LUXEMBOURG - Several hundred demonstrators from Iran's resistance movement,
with banners waving and Iranian music blasting out over loudspeakers, urged EU
foreign ministers on Tuesday to end their critical dialogue with Iran.
[07] Yugoslavia welcomes EU move
BELGRADE - Yugoslavia welcomed special trade privileges granted by the
European Union on Tuesday and said the deal would help it to speed up economic
reforms.
[08] Hoogovens/Usines Gustave Boel
BRUSSELS - The European Commission said on Tuesday it had cleared the
acquisition by Dutch steel group Hoogovens NV of a 50 percent stake in Usines
Gustave Boel of Belgium.
[09] EU clears Arbed/Champion
BRUSSELS - The European Commission said on Tuesday it had cleared as proposal
by ProfilArbed, which belongs to Luxembourg steel group Arbed, and
Etablissements Metallurgiques J. Champion SA of France to create a joint
venture to trade and stock hot-rolled long steel products.
[10] Slovak PM blames U.S. on NATO
BRATISLAVA - Prime Minister Vladimir Meciar said on Tuesday that Slovakia had
virtually no chance of joining a first phase of NATO expansion and blamed the
"negative attitude" of the United States.
[11] WTO/EU banana regime breaks rules
GENEVA - A World Trade Organisation dispute panel has ruled that the European
Union's banana regime favouring imports from mainly Caribbean countries
violate open trading rules, diplomats said on Tuesday.
[12] De Silguy-EU talks Apr/May '98
WASHINGTON - European Commissioner Yves-Thibault de Silguy said on Monday he
expected a "fast-track" meeting in early 1998 where finance ministers will
meet immediately before and after EU leaders decide which countries qualify to
join monetary union in 1999.
[13] Main EU events for April 30
LUXEMBOURG - EU foreign ministers meeting continues at 0730 GMT. Association
Councils with Poland (1300 GMT) and Hungary (1430 GMT).
BRUSSELS - European Commission regular weekly meeting begins at 0700 GMT.
Commissioner Monti holds news conference at 0930 GMT on action plans for
fighting customs fraud and completing the single market; Commissioner Liikanen
holds news conference at 1000 GMT on the EU 1998 budget; Commissioner Bonino
holds news conference at 1030 GMT on food safety; Commissioners Bangemann and
Fischler hold news conference at 1100 GMT on EU food law.
TORONTO - "Quad" trade ministers (U.S., Canada, Japan and EU) meet (first of
three days); discussions include trade negotiations under the WTO, regional
trade initiatives, integrating the least developed countries into global
trading system.
BRUSSELS - Latvian Foreign Minister Valdis Birkavs meets NATO Secretary
General Javier Solana; press opportunity at 1415 GMT.
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
© ECSC - EC - EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg, 1995, 1996
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