as Syros. Eight islands in the Cyclades have declared a state of emergency, as the intense rainfall has caused great damages. Minister of the Environment, Planning and Public Works, V. Papandreou, characterized the weather phenomena as unprecedented, in reference to the shifts and landslides.

"The power of Europe is its common will for more peace, democracy and progress", stressed the Prime Minister, pointing out that after the consent of the candidate countries to the common position of the 15 on Iraq, a new momentum is building up in the Un ited Europe.

The Prime Minister also underlined that despite the fact that differences within the EU are often overstressed, what is important is achieving consent.

The Greek Presidency was praised on convening and the results of the informal Summit Meeting, by the European family. European Commission spokesperson Jonathan Faull greeted "the courage which was so very much needed on behalf of the Greek Presidency to convene this meeting, but mainly the results that this initiative bore", and he stressed that "the consent noted between the partners at the informal Summit proved that the EU is really united during a difficult international crisis".

Satisfaction on yesterday's decision was also expressed by the Greek Minister of Development Akis Tsochatzopoulos, who mentioned that a common position of Europe towards the Iraq issue was made possible. "I think that the EU made an important effort to s peak with one language regardless of the different opinions between the countries, succeeded in the continuance of the effort to avert the war, as was expressed in a very dynamic way by millions of European citizens over the last few days, in streets acro ss Europe. And of course they ask that the UN Security Council play the defining role in the area of legalizing every response towards the need for Iraq to accept UN decisions, which is a demand of the United Nations for a peaceful disarmament and to let the inspectors complete their work".

As far as his discussions with Mr. Prodi are concerned, Mr. Papantoniou expressed his satisfaction with the Commission's response to the Greek Presidency's request to take initiative on a more cohesive and effective cooperation framework in the defense s ector.

The Minister made a proposal to the Commission President, that a new line be created in the budget for the financing of defense R&D, and asked that the concerns on competitiveness issues in the defense sector, as well as in the sector of defense research , be noted in the findings of the Summit Meeting this coming March.

With Commissioner Barnier, Mr. Papantoniou discussed the initiative of the Greek Presidency in strengthening the ties of European Defense and European industry, both through the reinforcement of expenses for research on defense issues on the side of the EU, as well as supporting the view of the Assembly in the constitution, regarding the creation of a European armaments organization in the direction of creating a common market for weapons systems within Europe.

With Giscard D' Estaing, the Minister discussed various issues connected to international developments, the potential war in Iraq and the results of the European Council regarding this crucial issue, as well as the developments as far as the European Con stitution is concerned, which is the object of the Assembly Mr. D' Estaing presides over.

The President of the European Assembly will reach Athens tomorrow afternoon. On Thursday morning he will meet with President of the Republic Costis Stefanopoulos, Prime Minister Costas Simitis, and the Mayor of Athens, Dora Bakoyanni.

In the afternoon he will speak at the EVEA Conference and will present the first findings of the Assembly to the participants representing 25 countries.

Mrs. Aggelopoulou and her husband accepted the invitation of the king of Spain, who expressed his interest and asked to be briefed on the progress of the preparations for the 2004 Olympics.

Mrs. Aggelopoulou will also meet with the Spanish deputy Minister of Sports, Juan Antonio Angulo. She will visit him escorted by Authorized Consultant Spyros Capralos, in order to brief him concerning hospitality issues and the services to be provided fo r the Spanish athletes to participate in the Olympics.

The Education Council Committee and the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the EU (COREPER I and II) are meeting in Brussels today.

The 6th Framework Program among Candidate and Third Countries conference is being held in Thessaloniki.

Tomorrow, the President of the Assembly on the Future of the EU, Valerie Giscard D' Estaing, will visit Athens, while he has scheduled an informal meeting on budget issues.

The Employment Committee will meet in Grevena, while the Preparatory Meeting for the Promotion of Research and Development between the EU and Balkan Countries will be held in Thessaloniki.

In Brussels there will be meetings of the Council of Agriculture and Fisheries, the Political and Security Committee and Education Committee.

The Ministry of Transportation has pointed out the difference in the treatment of third country airlines to those of the EU. For example, there is the case of a Middle Eastern airline and a Greek airline, covering the similar itineraries in the same regi on. The Middle Eastern airline can receive various forms of state subsidies, in contrast to the Greek, and in general any EU airline.

The Regulation Proposal is an issue proposed by Commission in June 2002, and depends on the coordinated decision of the Council and the European Parliament. Its goal is to allow the Community to take measures against the airlines of certain countries, wh ich either receive support, state subsidies, or resort to practices for the determination of fairs which are considered unfair. The measures foreseen will take the form of fees to be collected from the airlines, which receive direct subsidies or other adv antages provided by their governments.

The issue is being discussed by the Council and practical ways of applying the Regulation are being searched for, in relation to the general framework of foreign airline relations. Minister of Transportation and Communications Christos Verelis stated tha t the Greek Presidency will pursue the attainment of a political agreement, if there are positive developments.

The complexity of the EU cannot be removed by the European Constitution, noted Mr. Papier in statements to the MPA. The President of the German Federal Constitutional Court was acclaimed honorary Doctor of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Law Sch ool at a special event yesterday.

"If we reach a point where the European Union, acting as a federal state through one united Constitution, determines its own rights and responsibilities without taking into account the principles of the member-states, that would create problems", he supp orted, and added that in that case there should be differentiations in the provisions of each member-state's Constitution.

"In this case, German legislature foresees the holding of a referendum so that the citizens decide if they want such a Union, and I believe that something similar would occur in all other countries".

Mr. Papier's answer was not limited to the case of trials concerning terrorist organizations, but in Criminal trials in general.

"The issue has at times occupied the German Federal Constitutional Court. Its verdict was clear and the entrance of television crews inside courtrooms was forbidden", a fact, which, he says, "caused the reaction of isolated television networks in Germany ".

"The live transmission of trials holds dangers. When the "stars"-defendants, district attorneys, etc.- know that millions of people are watching them, then they change their behavior".

He considered that the entrance of journalists that want to cover a trial, should be allowed for democratic reasons, and for the protection of the defendants. CV

Hans Jurgen Papier was born in Berlin in 1943. He studied Law at the Free University of Berlin, from where he graduated in February 1976. In May 1970 he was nominated Doctor at the Free University of Berlin and in February 1973, Professor at the same ins titution.

From 1975 to 1992, he taught Public Law at the University of Bilefelt. In January 1992 he was invited to the University of Munich, where he still teaches Public Law and Public Law of Security Funds.

In April 2002, he was elected President of the Federal Constitutional Court, an office with an 8-year tenure.

He has a rich bibliography, concentrated on Law pertaining to the State's civic responsibility, Law for the protection of property and the environment, as well as the issue of securing the independence of the judicial authority.

The workers will gather approximately 500 meters from the hotel, in an area they have agreed on with the police, for security reasons. The President of GENOP-DEI, Nikos Pilalidis, said that a delegation will attempt to meet the President of the Meeting, Greek Minister of Development Akis Tsochatzopoulos, in order to submit a resolution with certain demands.

Speaking to reporters before the meeting, Mr. Stephanopoulos praised the Prime Minister for his initiative and the summit result, as the leaders of the 15 EU member states reached a common position on the Iraq issue.

Mr. Simitis said that the volition had existed for a common confrontation of the problem, and expressed the hope that "we shall continue like this in the future".

He warned, however, that tension was anticipated as ''the Iraq issue is not finished'', but added that ''no one can proceed alone, without the cooperation of the others''.

After the 90-minute meeting, Mr. Simitis said that he and the President had discussed international affairs, developments in the European Union and the results of the EU leaders' meeting in Brussels on Monday.

He described Monday's summit as a success "because Europe's common desire to play a role" was made apparent.

"'War is not inevitable", he said, reiterating the common EU position agreed at the summit, adding that Iraq must comply with the Security Council resolutions.

Mr. Simitis gave the assurance that the Greek government effort for a peaceful solution would continue "because everyone must realise the misfortune that war brings".

The European Committee on Employment is a high level European Union body with a special weight which introduces issues to the Labor and Social Affairs Ministers Council.

The committee meeting in Grevena is one of the most important as its conclusions and proposals will be linked with the main issues concerning the revision of the European Strategy on Employment and the assessment of the Lisbon agreement implementation co urse.

In the committee meeting participate about 60 representatives (Undersecretaries, General Secretaries, General Directors) from the 15 EU member states.

Of the stocks trading today, 191 recorded gains compared to 81 that had losses, while the value of 107 stocks remained unchanged.

They also held a protest march to Alexandra Square chanting slogans against a war in Iraq and against the United States.

The agreement is the outcome of the efforts made by the Thessaloniki Stock Exchange Center aimed at promoting the Greek stock exchange to the developing countries within the framework of the DAC program sponsored by the Greek Foreign Ministry.

The goal of the Cooperation Memorandum is to promote open cooperation relations between the interested parties.

After the signing of the Cooperation Memorandum, Mr. Farmache expressed gratitude to the Greek side for the overall assistance planned to be offered to the local stock exchange. He also expressed the hope that the program already tabled by the Thessaloni ki Stock Exchange Center, regarding the establishment of a New Stock Exchange Market in Romania, will be approved soon within the framework of the Greek Development Aid.

Mr. Protopapas stated that the Prime Minister himself has put an end to the scenarios. He added that Mr. Simitis will complete the mandate given to him by the Greek people. He also said that he will be heading the governing Socialist Party of PASOK in th e next parliamentary elections seeking another victory in the polls.

Mr. Protopapas stated that the Greek EU Presidency has been upgraded through perseverance, patience and specific political goals. It has become an EU Presidency that can play a decisive role in developments, form developments and undertake initiatives th at can be exploited at an international level for the solution of problems.

He also expressed the hope that the decisions reached will contribute in a positive way to the creation of a climate that will guarantee that the crisis will be overcome through peaceful means and the disarmament of Iraq.

The Greek government spokesman concluded that Saddam Hussein should accept his country's complete disarmament from weapons of mass destruction and the UN Security Council can guarantee that there will be no threat for humanity in the future through the w eapons' inspectors work.

According to information, Mr. Michalopoulos rejected the accusations targeting him characterizing as slander and lies the charges made against him, while he also spoke of a well orchestrated attempt aimed at his extermination.

Grigoris Michalopoulos was called to give information on the fact that he was an eyewitness in the assassination of Michalis Vranopoulos in January 1994. Based on the same information, he stated that he was never called by the police to testify even thou gh he had made the fact known from the beginning.

Mr. Yiannitsis briefed Mr. Short on the common decision reached by the "15" concerning Iraq, while Mr. Short conveyed to the Deputy Foreign Minister the outcome of his recent visit to Ankara. They also discussed the prospect of a referendum in Cyprus in case the Annan Plan is approved.

Regarding the revised Annan Plan, it was established that an agreement is very difficult to be reached by February 28, while a reference was made to the Turkish reservations.

The European Union would like the Prime Minister, Mr Seydou Diarra, to be given the full support of all Ivorian parties in the work of forming a government, so that it can swiftly embark on the task of achieving reconciliation and an end to the crisis. The European Union accordingly calls on all forces involved in this process to avoid taking any steps that might endanger the national reconciliation process underway.

The European Union would reiterate the firm commitment of the entire international community to full implementation of the undertakings given in Linas-Marcoussis and confirmed at the Paris Summit.

In this connection, the European Union welcomes the role played by the Economic Community of West African States, the African Union and the United Nations in promoting a return to peace and reconciliation in Cote d'Ivoire.

As an observer of the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement and a participant in the Paris Summit on January 25-26, the European Union will, by virtue of its position within the Follow-Up Committee, be playing an active role, in particular by monitoring application

of the terms of reference for the Agreement, and calls on all participants to lend their full cooperation to the Follow-Up Committee. The European Union emphasises its commitment to supporting implementation of the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement, using all appropriate instruments at its disposal.

The Acceding Countries Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia, the Associated Countries Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey and the EFTA countries [Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway], mem bers of the European Economic Area align themselves with this declaration.

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