separate protests organized by the Coalition and the KKE for tomorrow. If I were not a Minister, I would be with the protesters state Minister of Labor D. Reppas. During the protest, the Nafplio market will close down. www.mpa.gr presents the framework o f the discussion in Nafplio.

The two men discussed the Iraq issue in view of the General Affairs Council meeting on Monday, January 27, in Brussels, while they also discussed the latest developments in Iraq.

The Greek Foreign Minister also had telephone communications with the Foreign Ministers of France, Portugal and Austria, in the framework of the Greek Presidency's discussions with the member-states, on the developments in Iraq, in view of the General Af fairs Council meeting.

Mr. Papandreou continued his telephone communications with Turkish Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis, drawing on the regional convention organized by the neighboring country on the same issue in Istanbul, as well as his counterparts in Egypt and Jordan, with whom he discussed developments in Iraq, as well as potential political solutions to the crises.

Mr. Ivanof arrived at "Eleftherios Venizelos" airport last night at 23:30 and then spent the night at the "Athenaeum Intercontinental".

Today, the Russian Foreign Minister will have consecutive meetings with the President of the Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis (13:30), Prime Minister Simitis (14:00), the President of New Democracy Kostas Karamanlis (16:15) and Foreign Minister Giorgos Pa pandreou (17:00).

At 20:00 he will attend a reception in his honor held by his Greek counterpart, at the Foreign Ministry.

On Friday, at 22:45, he will participate in the EU-Russia Ministerial meeting, to be held at the Foreign Ministry.

Russia is keeping a cautious position concerning military action against Iraq supporting the diplomatic and political resolving of the crisis.

organizing various protest rallies. The point of conflict between the protesters and the Ministry of Labor, are work relations and the insurance issue, issues high on the Agenda of the two-day informal meeting.

Greek Minister of Labor Dimitris Reppas stated that he believed the protesters will express their opinions in a democratic and responsible manner, as soon as he reached the city of Nafplio.

Mr. Reppas called the protesters to respect the city and its residents who are hosting them and to contribute in their way to the reinforcement of the EU's social portal.

Regarding the meeting itself, he said that the Greek side will attempt to reach a consensus on a strategy of social cohesion in the EU where there is a shortage today.

Specifically, the issues that will occupy the meeting are the strengthening of flexible forms of employment and the lending of personnel through private agencies, as well as the insurance issue and its connection to the Stability Pact. Regarding the insu rance issue, the 15 Labor Ministers will attempt to materialize a decision taken by the EU two years ago concerning the limitation of early retirement, with a raise in the real age of retirement from 58 in 2000 to 63 by 2010.

Meanwhile there is a strong police presence in Nafplio in order to prevent confrontations and any violent turns of the rallies. More than 2000 police officers both from Athens and the Peloponese police direction, are in charge of the security of the cit y and the meeting. There is an estimated 1 police officer for every 5 protesters.

known the people's problems and demands. Their statements were made shortly after Labor Minister Dimitris Reppas issued an appeal to protesters to show a sense of responsibility and respect the city and its residents contributing to the social strengthen ing of the European Union.

The EU Labor Ministers Meeting got underway today and at the same time, a social "anti-summit" meeting is taking place at the Cultural Center in Argos held by organizations and institutions with the participation of university professors. They will expre ss skepticism and present counter-proposals on issues like social security and social policy. A mass rally with the participation of social movements from all over Greece is scheduled to take place tomorrow and according to estimates, the demonstrators ar e expected to reach 20.000.

The European Social Forum, in which participate the party Coalition of the Left Party, the Network for Social and Political Rights and other organizations, estimates that his protesters will correspond to 70% of the demonstrators. "Action Thessaloniki 20 03" and PAME will participate with about 150 busloads of protesters from Athens, while Thessaloniki's participation will be symbolic with 5 buses chartered by the European Social Forum and one by "Action Thessaloniki 2003" and PAME.

The EU Policy and Security Council Committee will meet in Brussels today, while the summit meeting on the International Treaty against Corruption that opened in Vienna on January 13 continues today and will focus on economic and fiscal issues.

The meeting of the EU Education Council Committee will be completed today after examining education, youth and culture issues.

The meeting of the EU troika with Russia will take place at a ministers' level in Athens tomorrow within the framework of the EU general affairs and foreign relations policy.

The special meeting to analyze the European Court decision on the Open Skies policy will take place in Athens tomorrow. Transportation, telecommunications and energy will be the sectors under discussion.

The main issue under discussion will be the EU-Russia relations in view of the preparations for the EU-Russia Summit Meeting that will be held in Saint Petersburg in May.

In a statement issued yesterday by Mr. Papandreou, who is presiding over the EU Council of Ministers, is mentioned that the regional conference with the participation of countries bordering with Iraq, held as a follow-up to an initiative by Turkey, comes

at a crucial period for the developments in the wider Middle East region.

The conference got underway in Istanbul today and Mr. Papandreou stressed that the EU backs the efforts aimed at lifting the dead end especially, when they come from countries neighboring with Iraq. He also said that the EU shares with them common respon sibilities for a peaceful settlement of the differences within the framework of the UN resolutions.

Of the stocks trading today, the overwhelming majority of 308 recorded gains and 30 had losses, while the value of 43 stocks remained unchanged.

The memorandum concerns the mutual exchange of information and according to a Bank of Greece statement, it will offer a more complete picture of the operation of the Greek banks in Romania. The same goes for the Romanian banks in Greece.

Mr. Ivanov stressed that there is political and diplomatic room for the crisis in Iraq to be settled peacefully and expressed his country's position according to which, an armed conflict in the region cannot be justified based on the existing evidence. H e also pointed out that more time should be given to the UN weapons inspectors to do their job in Iraq.

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis stated that the Greek EU Presidency believes that the war in Iraq can be avoided.

Mr. Simitis and Mr. Ivanov discussed issues concerning the preparation of the EU-Russia Summit meeting that will be held in Saint Petersburg in May, while they also examined a number of bilateral issues.

Earlier, Mr. Ivanov had met with Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis, who expressed satisfaction for the positions of the Russian Foreign Minister concerning the likelihood of a war in Iraq and how it can be avoided.

Mr. Kaklamanis and Mr. Ivanov characterized the Greek-Russian relations as excellent, both at a diplomatic and parliamentary level as well as in the sectors of commerce and tourism.

The Russian Foreign Minister also visited the Russian church in Athens earlier in the morning.