Athens News Agency: News in English, 02-12-08

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] FM: EU enlargement in jeopardy if Cyprus not included

[02] Nigerian arrested for arson attack on bar

[03] Greek First Division soccer results - Standings

[04] Greek First Division soccer results

[05] Weather Forecast: Snow, sleet and rain on Monday

[01] FM: EU enlargement in jeopardy if Cyprus not included

Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou warned over the weekend that if ?someone stops Cyprus course towards European Union accession? they will be responsible for scuttling the Unions highly anticipated enlargement.

In two interviews published over the weekend in as many local dailies, Papandreou confirmed that the entire island republic of Cyprus will accede into the Union, while adding that ''the acquis communautaire will be implemented for as long as a solution to the political problem requires in the territory where the legal government of Cyprus exercises power ? its implementation will be extended to occupied territory with a final resolution.''

In an interview published by the Sunday edition of the Athens daily ?Eleftherotypia'', the Greek FM said the time left until this weeks EU's Copenhagen summit ''is now very little, and whatever effort or pressure aimed at having the two communities reach an agreement immediately can produce the opposite results.''

Referring to Greece, he said: ''our strategic goal regarding the accession of Cyprus remains steadfast, and will be consolidated regardless of a prior solution of the political problem.''

On the question of whether Cyprus' accession will be linked in Copenhagen to a solution to the islands long-standing political problem, Papandreou noted, ''the political problem existed and was known to the EU and member-states.?

In another interview, published on Saturday by the ''Imerisia'' daily, Papandreou said there will be a serious crisis in the European Union in the event Cyprus does not accede.

''I do not believe that there will be member-states reversing decisions and undermining EU targets for enlargement,'' Papandreou said, adding: ''if this happens, with the pretext that the political problem has not been resolved, then we will have a serious crisis of the EU itself and of its credibility and strategy. A major political and institutional crisis which will take us a long way back.''

However, Papandreou said the certainty of Cyprus' accession stems from decisions taken at the EU's Helsinki summit, reiterating that the decision to be taken at the EU's Copenhagen summit will concern the 10 candidate-states, including Cyprus, regardless of whether the political problem has been resolved beforehand.

[02] Nigerian arrested for arson attack on bar

A young Nigerian national was arrested at dawn on Saturday for hurling a firebomb into a bar and causing burns to 12 fellow countrymen after being refused entry.

Hasan Hashish wasa arrested by police who arrived at the scene and confessed that he had thrown the firebomb into the bar ''Sinema'', located in Aharnon street in Athens, after he had not been allowed to enter and participate in a party for the Moslem Ramadan.

All 12 victims of the arson attack, two of whom are in a serious condition, were hospitalised. The ensuing fire in the bar was extinguished by the fire brigade after causing extensive damage to the premises.

[03] Greek First Division soccer results - Standings

Results of Greek First Division soccer matches played over the weekend:

Akratitos Athens-Aris Thessaloniki 0-2

Ioannina-Xanthi 1-1

Panionios Athens-OFI Crete 0-0

PAOK Thessaloniki-Ionikos Piraeus 3-0

Aegaleo Athens-Kalithea Athens 0-0

Olympiakos Piraeus-Panahaiki Patra 7-0

Proodeftiki Piraeus-AEK Athens 1-1

Panathinaikos Athens-Iraklis Thessaloniki 2-0

Standings and points after ten weeks of play:

PAOK 21 points, Olympiakos 20, Panathinaikos 19, Iraklis 18, Aris 18, Xanthi 15, Panionios 15, AEK 15, Proodeftiki 14, Aegaleo 12, Ionikos 10, OFI 10, Kallithea 10, Akratitos 8, Ioannina 6, Panahaiki 1.

[04] Greek First Division soccer results

Results of Greek First Division soccer matches played over the weekend:

Akratitos Athens-Aris Thessaloniki 0-2

Ioannina-Xanthi 1-1

Panionios Athens-OFI Crete 0-0

PAOK Thessaloniki-Ionikos Piraeus 3-0

Aegaleo Athens-Kalithea Athens 0-0

Olympiakos Piraeus-Panahaiki Patra 7-0

Proodeftiki Piraeus-AEK Athens 1-1

Panathinaikos Athens-Iraklis Thessaloniki (began at 5 p.m. GMT, 2-0 at halftime)

[05] Weather Forecast: Snow, sleet and rain on Monday

Cloud and local snowfall is forecast in central and northern Greece and rain or sleet in the rest of the country. Winds easterly very strong in the west of the country and northeasterly very strong in the east. In the north, temperatures will range from -2C to 4C; in the Ionian and on the rest of the mainland from 2C to 7C; and in the Aegean islands from 7C to 10C. Cloud and sleet in Athens with snow in mountainous areas and possibly in the north of the prefecture with temperatures from 3C to 8C. Cloud and periodical snowfall in Thessaloniki with temperatures from 0C to 4C.

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