Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-05-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] Weather Forecast: Sunshine on Sunday

[02] Greek and Slovak PMs discuss EU Thessaloniki summit issues

[03] Simits continues EU tour, meets with Hungarian premier

[01] Weather Forecast: Sunshine on Sunday

Hot, sunny weather is forecast in all parts of the country, with scattered cloud in the north and west. Winds variable, light. In the Ionian, temperatures will range from 15C to 31C; on the mainland from 13C to 34C; and in the Aegean from 16C to 30C. Temperatures in Athens between 18C and 33C; and in Thessaloniki from 16C to 31C.

[02] Greek and Slovak PMs discuss EU Thessaloniki summit issues

Prime Minister Costas Simitis held talks in Bratislava with his Slovak counterpart Mikulas Dzurinda on Friday, as part of his ''round of capitals'' in light of the European Union's Thessaloniki summit in June.

Dzurinda told reporters afterwards the main issue to be discussed at the summit will be the results of the Convention on the future of Europe.

The Slovak prime minister said the second main issue Simitis briefed him on was the reforming of European institutions who wished to be informed on his position regarding the system of the EU's presidency.

Dzurinda further said the issue of the election of the Commission's future president was also discussed, as well as its composition and many issues concerning the reforming of EU institutions.

The next issue discussed with Simitis, Dzurinda added, was the question of common European policy on guarding borders and welcomed Simitis' proposal to include it among the main issues to be examined at the Thessaloniki summit.

Simitis said the issue of illegal immigration will be discussed at the summit, adding that illegal immigrants come across borders and indeed the borders of all EU countries and then can travel to every country. He went on to say that if there is no coordination and common policy no country will be able to combat illegal immigration alone.

The Greek prime minister will continue his tour of capitals with a visit to the Czech Republic on Saturday.

[03] Simits continues EU tour, meets with Hungarian premier

Greek Prime Minister and European Council President-in-office Costas Simitis said on Friday from Budapest that there are no fundamental differences among European Union member-states in relation to the situation in Iraq, but rather differences existed in terms of the role of the United States and the United Nations, and these were understandable, could be explained in terms of the existing global situation and could be settled.

Simitis visit to Hungary was part of his tour of European Union member-states and acceding countries in view of Junes Thessaloniki EU Council. The visit was the first official visit by a European Council President to Hungary after this country entered the Union.

On Friday morning, Simitis met for talks in Budapest with his Hungarian counterpart Peter Medgyessy.

Speaking to the press after the meeting, Medgyessy said that his discussion with Simitis centered on the most significant issues to be examined during the Thessaloniki EU Council.

According to the Hungarian premier, such issues included matters concerning the Convention on the Future of Europe and the proposal to be tabled for discussion in Thessaloniki by Convention Chairman Valery Giscard d'Estaing.

Referring to the Iraq conflict, Simitis expounded on the EU position, saying that there was the first phase of ?security?, explaining that a military force was required to safeguard peace, but European states and the UN believe that such a military force should be provided by the US-led allied forces.

The second phase, according to Simitis, was ?recovery and reconstruction?, which related more to providing political and economic support to help the Iraqi people. He said that the UN and the EU should take part in that phase, and if there will be a relative UN resolution, the EU will very probably take part in Iraqs reconstruction.

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