Mr. Annan told Mr. Rasmussen that today there will be very close negotiations on the Cyprus issue, and if necessary, the UN Secretary General may even travel to Copenhagen. Depending on the result of the negotiations, the Summit Meeting will accept the t ext with the conclusions for Cyprus' accession, either with an agreement on the Cyprus issue or the text with the conclusions on an accession regardless of the resolving of the Cyprus issue, and based on the Helsinki decisions.

In the press conference the Prime Minister held very late last night, Mr. Simitis appreciated that Turkish and Turkish Cypriot sides do not have the will to resolve the Cyprus issue. He underlined that Greece wants a solution, and that Turkey cannot alwa ys use the Cyrpus issue in order to resolve other problems.

In fact Mr. Simitis will have another meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, who will meet with French President Jacques Chirac and Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.

Meanwhile Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou stressed that it seems that no agreement will be signed on the resolving of the Cyprus issue during the Summit, in an interview to ANT1 television.

He also added that in such a case, the Greek government wants to form the necessary dynamic to find a solution shortly.

However, Mr. Papandreou believes that Cyprus' accession to the EU without any additional terms has been secured.

As far as setting a date for the initiation of Turkey's accessional negotiations is concerned, Mr. Papandreou stressed that the distance between the neighboring country and the EU has greatly decreased. He noted that Turkish Prime Minister Gul asked for negotiations to begin in 2003, while France and Germany asked for them to begin in 2005.

Meanwhile, after the completion of the works of the Enlarged European People's Party in Copenhagen, President of New Democracy, Greece's main opposition party, stated that our common goal was and still is Cyprus' accession to the EU without additional te rms, regardless of whether a solution is found to the Cyprus issue.

Mr. Karamanlis stressed that in the framework of the EPP Meeting, he had the opportunity to discuss major issues concerning Europe's enlargement and future with many European leaders.

As far as Turkey is concerned, he was in favor of its European prospects, noting, however, that first of all it has to prove that it has fully met the criteria that have been set to it.

Finally, while the negotiations were taking place, a delegation of the Movement "Action: Thessaloniki 2003" has departed for Copenhagen, after an invitation from the Danish Movement "Stop The Union Copenhagen 2002".

The movement will participate in the meetings and protests against EU and consortium policies.

According to sources, 15 formations of Turkish aircraft moved to 25 violations of National Air Space, in the area of the Northern Aegean and East of Rhodes. The 36 Turkish fighters, 10 of which were armed, were recognized and intercepted immediately by G reek fighters, while there were 12 cases of "simulated dogfights".

Mrs. Bakoyianni was not hurt but her driver was slightly injured.

The attacker was arrested and according to information is 35yearold Giorgos Sandalis. According to information, the attacker is a mental patient.

of Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis and Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou.

However, Mr. Hitiris pointed out that it appears that there is no response on behalf of the Turkish Cypriot side.

Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson speaking to Reuters referred to the issues of democracy and human rights in Turkey and stated that the EU decision regarding 2004 is final and non negotiable.

Mr. Persson also stated that no change in the EU stance is expected after the meeting of the Turkish Prime Minister with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder and French President Jacques Chirac. He said that Germany and France are two big countries but the

final decision is reached by the "15". In the negotiating table each country has one vote. It is not enough to persuade two countries but all 15, stated the Swedish Prime Minister.

The general index dropped to -0.42% at 1.820,41 points, while the volume of transactions was at 91.7m euros.

Of the stocks trading today, 117 recorded gains and 174 had losses, while the value of 85 stocks remained unchanged.

A former mental patient, 35yearold Giorgos Sandalis opened fire with a shotgun on Mrs. Bakoyianni's car near her office injuring her and her driver. The attacker was arrested a few blocks away.

Mrs. Bakoyianni is slightly injured in the face and hands and her driver has neck injuries.

Mr. Papantoniou said that Cyprus belongs to the EU and regarding the political solution of the Cyprus problem he stated that efforts are being made for a solution to be reached as soon as possible, adding that Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides is there to negotiate. He said that it is up to the Turkish side to sit at the negotiating table and seek a solution.

He said that Greece wants a solution because it wants Cyprus to enter the EU united and because it wants the tragedy, that was the result of the invasion and occupation in 1974, to end as soon as possible.

As reported by Flash Radio, there has been a reaction from the Cypriot Opposition parties, while Glafkos Cleridis will meet with Prime Minister Kostas Simitis.

Mr. Cleridis has not secured a "yes" from the rest of the parties in Cyprus, on signing the plan or committing to signing it, because they want the freedom to negotiate after agreeing in principle on the accession, and not signing at this specific point.

The Greek Cypriot side must not back down, pointed out party leaders in Cyprus.

The Danish Presidency is expected to present a proposal to Turkey and the rest of the EU member states concerning the date to begin Turkish accession negotiations, which could, according to Danish diplomats, be accepted by all.

According to information, that proposal foresees beginning accession negotiations by May 2004 at the latest, under specific terms and conditions.

Greek diplomacy will seek to connect the issue of initiating Turkey's accession negotiations and the resolving of the Cyprus issue.

According to information, there are indications that the possibility of Cyprus incorporated with terms and conditions has been removed, and everything points to a decision for Turkey with very many notes.

According to Turkish journalists, Mr. Blair said that "a clear date has to be set for the initiation of Turkish accession negotiations, and we are going to fight for that".

The agreement "may even be forwarded tonight", as Mr. Solana stated, to the Atlantic Alliance, for it to be ratified within the next few days.

According to diplomats, the agreement excludes Cyprus and Malta, which are not NATO members, nor have they signed any agreements with the Northern Alliance.

Another issue that was discussed was the EU accession of Bulgaria and Romania. The EU welcomes the progress made in the two countries and based on the further progress that will be made the two countries will become EU members in 2007, stated Mr. Papandr eou. Greece has contributed to this development with the non paper it had submitted a year ago, added the Greek Foreign Minister.

The third issue was the EU enlargement. The new EU borders should not be borders that shut others out but they should be borders of cooperation. A whole text was prepared on this issue that refers to the Balkans, the Mediterranean, Russia, Ukraine, Molda via and Belarus. The European Commission will prepare a specific proposal on the EU policy in the enlarged European Union, stated Mr. Papandreou.

According to the conclusions draft plan, Cyprus will become an EU member and the implementation of the European standards on the Turkish occupied part of the island will be suspended.

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