The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 03-02-18

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From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Weather forecast

The temperature in Athens will range from 3 to 8 C and in Thessaloniki from 0 to 3 C.

(18/2/2003 11:00:00 рм)

[02] War can be averted says the EU

Prime Minister Costas Simitis, who presided the meeting, stated that the United Nations Security Council is held primarily responsible for Iraq's disarming.

Moreover, the European Union leaders agreed that United Nations inspectors should be given more time to complete their work in Iraq. However, inspections should not continue indefinitely. They also agreed to cooperate with all their partners and especially with the USA for Iraq's disarming and for peace and stability in the region.

From his side, European Commission President Romano Prodi described the agreement a right decision taken in the right time, while Gerhard Schroeder spoke of a compromising result. The French President Jacques Chirac said that the mini crisis in Europe was terminated, while the British Prime Minister Tony Blair described the meeting as a last chance for Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to disarm his country peacefully.

At the same time, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan appealed to Iraq to comply with the resolutions of the International Community and avoid war. From its side, Baghdad announced that the first reconnaissance flight of a U2 over its air space took place yesterday.

On a relative development, the EU Finance Ministers who met in Brussels yesterday agreed that politicians should cooperate in the case of prolonged international uncertainty caused by the cries with Iraqi.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis stated that the uncertainty caused by the crisis with Iraq and the rise of petrol price to $37 per barrel are causing negative repercussions to the European economy delaying thus its recovery, while the inversion of the climate that was expected to take place in the second half of 2003 will depend on the general developments.

The crisis with Iraq, as well as the next meeting between the European Union and Russia will be discussed today between the President of the European Commission Romano Prodi and the Russian President Vladimir Putin.

(18/2/2003 11:01:00 рм)

[03] Annan believes Cyprus solution feasible by February 28

Messrs Annan and Simitis met on the sidelines of a crucial emergency EU summit meeting called by the Greek EU presidency to focus on the Iraq crisis.

According to government sources in Athens, following the meeting he will have with Papadopoulos, the UN chief will announce his proposals for the continuation of the procedure of the Cyprus talks.

At the same time, Mr Annan has stated that he believed that a solution of the Cyprus issue could be reached by February 28.

Simitis is said to have assured Annan that Papadopoulos is in a ''positive climate'', at the same time noting that in the meeting he had earlier in the day with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul, it was agreed that the negotiations on the guarantor treaty regarding Cyprus be concluded next week.

Finally, the new President of the Cyprus Republic stated that the face-to-face talks for the solution of the Cyprus issue would continue unhampered.

(18/2/2003 11:03:00 рм)

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