period. There are many tensions and "we hope we will succeed in controlling them" stated Prime Minister Costas Simitis.

We must have a serious discussion on how and why we got to where we are, as well as on our course from here on, stated Mr. Papandreou, stressing the need to develop an honest dialogue on EU-US relations and for this crisis to be the starting point for th e reinforcement of a joint foreign policy and European defense. We hope, added the Greek Minister, that this procedure will bring a new spirit to Europe, strengthening its will to play a more important role in international developments.

Mr. Papandreou pointed out that the UN must be at the center of developments, both now and following the war, coordinating reconstruction and humanitarian aid efforts. Whatever the developments, he noted, our concern is focused on the Iraqi people, stabi lity in the region and the peacekeeping procedure in the Middle East.

Mr. Constantinidis referred to the statements of the Minister of Transportation Christos Verelis, that passengers should have no worries. All regular and commercial flights will be carried out as usual. Thorough checks and additional security measures at

all airports will secure the aircraft. The air traffic control center is in fully operational offering services and surveying the movement of all aircraft.

the EU should have one policy and one voice.

The above was underlined by deputy Foreign Minister Giannis Magriotis in statements to "Mega" TV and he explained that it will definitely be a difficult effort, but there may be results because the world needs another pole to feel more secure and the EU must take steps forward.

Commenting on the first attacks on Iraq, he said that in this war we will see something unfamiliar, because there will be many phases for propaganda, diplomacy and military operations.

Strikes in public transportation have been organized in Greece's two largest cities in protest to the war. In Athens, subway and train employees have organized a 3-hour walkout, from 13:00 to 16:00 and a 4-hour walkout, from 12:00 to 16:00, corresponding ly. In Thessaloniki, employees in the Mass Transit Organization will hold their walkout tomorrow, thus keeping busses of the street from the beginning of the shift until 08:00 and from 21:00 to the end of the shift.

Meanwhile, members of the Greek Social Forum, and the youths of the Coalition of the Left and the KKE, proceeded to symbolically surround the US Embassy in Athens last night, from midnight to 03:00, when the ultimatum to Saddam met its deadline.

Antiwar rallies have been organized for today and tomorrow all over the country by parties, bodies and organizations. In Athens, a meeting has been organized at 11am at Syntagma square, while at 16:00 another protest to the US Embassy will follow.

There will also be a barrage of antiwar rallies in Thessaloniki, to follow the protests held last night at the US and British consulates as soon as the attack was announced.

At 12:00, "Action: Thessaloniki 2003", the Panhellenic Workers' Front and the Thessaloniki Civil Servants Union have organized a rally at the Venizelos statue and a march to the US Consulate. They have also organized a protest with a concert and other ev ents at the same venue from 15:00 to 18:00.

At 18:00, the Workers' and Employees' Center of Thessaloniki called for a meeting at the statue Venizelos, and another march to the Consulate. The same course will be followed at 19:00 by the Greek Social Forum.

Mr. Magriotis pointed out that this time the war has not been legalized, Saddam Hussein's military machine is weaker and a continuation of operations is expected in other countries belonging to "the axis of evil", as the US President has characterized th em, and according to his statements in his speech today.

On the antiwar protests in Greece, he said that it is the right of the people to express its demand for peace and that the government is not opposed to peace movements, while he mentioned that the EU will take the initiative of supporting the Iraqi peopl e with humanitarian aid and the strengthening of the refugee camps wherever they are created.

Mr. Hitiris reiterated that all necessary alert and protection measures have been taken and stressed that there should be no fear, while no panic is justified. He said that Greece does not participate in the war, it is far away from the theater of operat ions and it is a safe country with a stable economy. Asked to comment on the use of the Souda Base in Crete, he responded that Greece and other countries observe the international agreements they have signed in the past decades.

Regarding the Greek Navy frigate "Kountouriotis" which is in the Gulf region, Mr. Hitiris stated that it is outside the war-zone and it will not enter the war-zone under no circumstances. In case the war-zone expands, the frigate "Kountouriotis" will ret urn to Greece.

Yesterday, Evros prefect Nikos Zabounidis stated in the Athens newspaper "Kathimerini" that the prefecture, in northeastern Greece, is unable to cope with a likely inflow of refugees from Iraq as already is unable to keep the three illegal immigrants rec eption centers operating in the region.

At the same time, the UN High Commission for Refugees has issued an appeal to state governments calling them to "freeze" for a three-month period the return to Iraq of all those who have applied for asylum but their application was turned down. A special

reference is made on Greece, expressing the hope that the Greek government will leave open the borders for individuals in need of protection and will offer them access to the asylum procedure.

The general index dropped to -0.29% at 1.538,89 points, while the volume of transactions was small at 45.2 million euros.

Of the stocks trading today, 138 recorded gains and 143 had losses, while the value of 102 stocks remained unchanged.

The assurance was given in Parliament by Minister of Defense Yiannos Papantoniou responding to a question by Greek Communist Party general secretary Mrs. Aleka Papariga.

The Minister of Defense reiterated that the positions of the Greek government are clear and are based on four principles: first, the international law and legality; second, the commitment to fight for the disarmament of all countries, states or organizat ions with mass destruction weapons that constitute a threat for humanity; third, the consolidation of peace, stability and security in the wider region of eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East and finally, the cooperation within the framework of the U N to deal with any threat against world peace.

Mr. Papantoniou also clarified that Greece participates only in peacekeeping missions linked with the battle against international terrorism.

Responding to a question on the facilitation offered by Greece to the US concerning the air and naval base of Souda in Crete, he stressed that this action is provided and regulated by the existing Greek-US defense cooperation agreements.

The protesters were holding banners with slogans such as "We should stop the war, change the world" and "How many dead people per litre of oil?".

In the protest participated British professors as well holding a banner with the slogan "Not in our name Mr. Blair".

Anarchists, who had infiltrated the march, tried to smash the shop window of the fastfood restaurant "McDonald's" in the center of the city and then they set a parked car on fire. The fire spread to two more cars parked nearby causing serious damage.

Mr. Loverdos stated that "The Greek government is prepared to provide humanitarian aid at any time and anywhere it is requested or is deemed necessary, so that we may assist, to the greatest possible extent, in the limiting of the suffering caused by the

war".

The journalists working for newspapers, radio and television stations covering the news concerning the war and the peace events and initiatives may not join the work stoppage.

Meanwhile the Presiding Board of the Athens Journalists' Association condemned the unacceptable and criminal US attack on Iraq and announced that it will participate in the European anti-war mobilization with a symbolic work stoppage between 11am and 12p m tomorrow.

In the statement it is mantioned that the journalists and everybody working in the mass media regard as unacceptable that the peoples in the region and around the world have to pay the consequences of the US government demands for the redistribution of e nergy resources and the control of the planet.

In that framework he pointed out that the Greek Presidency will promote a series of issues, such as:

The need for this crisis to provoke thought and discussion, so that the European Union can have one unified foreign policy, one voice, and be effective internationally.

Dealing with the humanitarian problems to arise in Iraq.

Dealing with the wave of refugees from Iraq, as well as stability in the broader region.

Securing the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq, as well as stability in the broader region.

Dealing with the problem of the Curds, because there is the fear of a new front opening there.

Dealing with the consequences in Turkey, whose reforms and European course must continue.

Promoting of the UN's role, even if only from this point on.

Applying peacekeeping procedures in the Middle East.

Initiating an honest dialogue between the EU and the US on major global issues and how they will be dealt with, after the significant crises in their relations.

The Positions that will allow Europe to have a voice and intervene in further developments".

Mr. Simitis expressed deep regret because it was not made possible to find a peaceful solution to the problem in Iraq, he also wished that hostilities will end as soon as possible to minimize the number of victims in the civilian population.

He gave the assurance that the Greek EU Presidency will do its duty, like in the last extraordinary European Council, and express the will of the European people for a common course of peace and progress.

Mr. Simitis stated that the tripartite social summit convened this morning given the fact that the Council's subject is the EU policy of development and social cohesion.

Mr. Papandreou expressed his regret and disappointment at the impasse in diplomatic initiatives and the commencement of military operations in Iraq. He referred at length to the diplomatic initiatives undertaken by the Greek Presidency and the EU aimed a t averting war, stressing that until just a short time ago, the common objective of the EU was to exhaust all possibilities for a peaceful resolution of the problem.

At the same time, he emphasised the need for the EU to have a single voice during the coming period, noting that despite the efforts of the Greek Presidency, differences of opinion were expressed within the EU concerning the legitimacy and expediency of military intervention in Iraq. He went on to stress that "if the EU wishes to speak with one voice, it must quickly proceed with a review of the differences in the Union" and define a set of priorities.

Mr. Papandreou underlined the need to explore ways of creating a true common foreign policy, with the starting point of considerations being the picture presented by the EU. Continuing his address, Mr. Papandreou said the EU must set as a priority the ta ckling of humanitarian problems, the safeguarding of the sovereignty and integrity of Iraq and averting general destabilisation in the region through the creation of a new front in the Kurdish region in the north.

Mr. Papandreou stressed the need for progress in the Middle East problem, as well as an overall review of transatlantic relations in a candid spirit.

During the same session, External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten described as "heroic" the efforts made by the Greek EU Presidency to achieve a common European position on Iraq.

The subject of the European Council meeting is the policy for developing the EU and specifically the Lisbon Process, Mr. Simitis said. In particular, he added, whether the structural and macroeconomic policies are adequate or need to be speeded up.

Progress has been made in recent years, Mr. Simitis said, noting that 5 million new jobs had been created and the number of unemployed was reduced by 2 million.

"However, I would be the last person to claim that this suffices," Mr. Simitis said, explaining that the Member States would have to increase their commitments, while policies would need to be made more specific with concrete measures in four areas: - employment and social cohesion, with the speeding up of reforms in tax benefit systems, the labour market and the strengthening of lifelong learning. - the promotion of research and innovation, by increasing the relevant expenditures and reforming the institutional framework. - the liberalisation of the energy and transport markets, as well as of the financial system and in the improvement of the regulatory framework. - the protection of the environment.

Referring to the Tripartite Social Summit, Mr. Simitis said that the European social model found the Greek EU Presidency in agreement. He added that while some adjustments would have to be made, with which the social partners agreed, they should not be s uch as to create uncertainty in the labour market.

An emphasis is being placed on promoting Community legislation aimed at protecting the part-time employed, as well as on the issue of migration, Mr. Simitis said, expressing the view that a comprehensive debate should be initiated on the impacts of migra tion in each economic, social and political area.

Also, participating in the press conference were European Commission President Romano Prodi, Greek Labour Minister and Social Affairs Council President Dimitris Reppas, European Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs Anna Diamantopoulou, Union of

Industrial and Employers' Confederations of Europe President George Jacobs and European Trade Union Confederation General Secretary Emilio Gabaglio.

Announcing the humanitarian aid package, Mr. Nielson said "Our key objective is to dispatch aid as speedily as possible to the victims of this crisis. Obviously, the exact scale and nature of the humanitarian needs over the coming days and weeks are not yet clear but what we do know is that, even in the best case scenario, a lot of people are going to need help".

The Commissioner added that "our initial efforts are focused on ensuring that basic relief items such as medical supplies, tents, blankets and food are available for populations displaced as a result of the fighting and for other vulnerable groups".

The issues to be discussed include the consequences of the war in Iraq for the EU economy, as well as the taxation of savings and energy.

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article