"The European Union is deeply concerned about the Iraqi crisis. Time is running out. Resolution 1441 of the UN Security Council was a last chance for Iraq to peacefully disarm itself. If it does not make the most of this chance, it will bear full respons ibility for the consequences.

Iraq must move to full disarmament as far as weapons of mass destruction are concerned. We want it to do so peacefully. This is only possible if Iraq fully complies, without terms and immediately, with all related Security Council resolutions, and especi ally resolution 1441 of the UN SC, of November 8, 2002. Thus, Iraq must comply fully and immediately with its obligations in the disarmament sector", mentioned the message.

The EU expressed its support to the UN inspectors on the weapons of Iraq, which has been called to provide all additional and complete information regarding the issues raised by the international community, as well as certain issues set by the inspectors

themselves in the report to the Security Council on January 27.

After the conclusions of the General Affairs and Foreign Relations Council of the EU on January 27, the countries incorporated, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Republic of Slovakia and Slovenia, the con nected countries, Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkey, undersigned the message sent by the EU.

Christos Tsigaridas, who took the political responsibility for all of ELA's actions until 1991, will testify today, as will Aggelatos Kanas, Irene Athanasaki, and Kostas Agapiou, who requested and were granted a 24 hour extension on their testimony. The last three suspects continue to refuse having participated in the terrorist organization in any way.

Meanwhile, Aggelatos Kanas' ex-wife, Sophia Kyriakidou, made a new testimony on the case, this time to Leonidas Zervobeakos. She repeated that Kanas was a member of ELA, while she supported that Irene Athanasaki was a member of the so-called Revolutionar y Board of the Organization.

At 10am, Aggelatos Kanas was taken from the General Police Direction of Attica to the Appeals Court. His testimony to Mr. Zervobeakos lasted more than an hour and the Special Examiner asked for information surrounding the activities of ELA and the terror ist organization's actions.

Immediately following his testimony, it was deemed that Aggelatos Kannas would remain in custody awaiting trial, since there is his ex-wife's testimony against him.

However, Kanas was once again taken to the holding cells of the General Police Direction of Attica at 11:45, and will be taken to the Corydallos Penitentiary when the testimonies of the remaining three ELA suspect-members are complete.

they can best use the evidence they have. And then there are indictments. Justice is also undertaken from the moment the cases are sent to it".

The meeting will be presided over by the Greek Parliament General Secretary professor Panagiotis Tzortzopoulos and its goal is to prepare the Conference of the EU state Parliaments Presidents and EU candidate states that will take place in Athens on May 23-24 within the framework of the Greek EU Presidency.

Mr. Papandreou stated that Iraq should realize that time is running out and cooperate fully with the UN weapons' inspectors in order to make their work easier.

In a press conference he gave afterwards in the UN Correspondents Association Hall, Mr. Papandreou referred to his recent tour of the Middle East and stated that the message is that there is still hope for a diplomatic solution to the problem. However, h e said that it is up to Saddam Hussein to fully comply and cooperate actively with the UN inspectors.

Responding to a question on the recent letter by the 8 European leaders, Mr. Papandreou stated that the letter in question does not concern exclusively the European unity but the unity of the international community, stressing that the UN resolution 1441

should be respected.

On Greece's stance in the issue of Iraq, he said that an emphasis is given to the UN Security Council final decision. On the likelihood of a change in the Iraqi regime, he said that the country's democratization is a common will at an international level .

Also, Kanas rejects any involvement with ELA and blames his former wife for the fact that he is accused of being a terrorist group member, stressing that she testified against him for her own personal reasons. He also accused his political rivals in Kimo los of involving him in the issue because he was elected local community president.

Of the stocks trading today, 101 recorded gains and 191 had losses, while the value of 86 stocks remained unchanged.

for the 2003 Spring European Council to be held in Brussels in late March.

Participants will discuss the so-called ''Lisbon process'', whose goal is to make the EU economy the most competitive world-wide by 2010, a target meeting difficulties in its application, while the Greek presidency is seeking reconfirmation of the expect ations of EU member-state governments who were signatories to the Lisbon conclusions.

The Seminar, which will include five round tables, will be attended by EU Commissioner for Economic & Monetary Affairs Pedro Solbes, European Central Bank Vice President Loukas Papademos, Center for European Policy Studies (CEPS) Director Daniel Gros, EU

Commissioner for Competition Mario Monti, EU Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs Anna Diamantopoulou and Greek National Centre for the Environment and Sustainable Development President Mihalis Modinos. Concluding remarks will be addressed by L isbon agenda coordinator for the Greek Presidency George Papaconstantinou.

In his letter of resignation, he reminds his decision to be a candidate in the B' electoral district of Piraeus in the next parliamentary elections, while he also mentions that an effort is being made aimed at defaming the political work he is doing in t he region of Piraeus.

In his address, Mr. Papantoniou will refer to the role of the EU foreign and security policy in the prevention of conflicts and crisis management.

Among the issues discussed in the conference will be the global struggle against terrorism, the situation, the prospects and the future role of NATO.

Within the framework of the conference, Mr. Papantoniou is scheduled to meet with his Swedish counterpart Leni Bjowklund.

In favor of the treaty voted the Parliament deputies of the governing Socialist Party of PASOK, except from two (Yiannis Kapsis and Panagiotis Kritikos) and all the right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy deputies, while against the treaty vote d Coalition of the Left and the Greek Communist Party, KKE.

Undersecretary of Public Order Vangelis Malesios in an effort to respond to criticism according to which, the treaty will restrict national sovereignty and Greece will have to show obedience to the US demands, cited the government's recent successes espe cially, in domestic terrorism. He also stressed that the government's efforts will continue against international terrorism.

The Undersecretary denied criticism based on which, Greece will be obligated by the US to extradite Greek citizens to be tried in the United States. He stressed that in Greece the freedom and democratic rights of the citizens have been secured, both in t erms of legislation and constitutionally.

The issue was discussed in today's cabinet meeting in which it was underlined that the Greek government is ready to proceed with talks on the guarantees issue. At the same time, the Prime Minister stated that a new Annan Plan for the solution of the Cypr us problem is likely.

Defense Minister Yiannos Papantoniou stated that defense spending will be cut to 3.9% of the GDP from 4.9%. It is estimated that the 1% cut will correspond to 500 billion drachmas a year.

Mr. Papantoniou also stated that the conscripts serving in the Greek Navy ships will be gradually replaced by professional navy sailors. The decision will be initially implemented in the Greek Navy frigates and gradually will affect tank-carriers, gun-bo ats and missile-boats.

He also stated that the Euro-army will be active in FYROM in the first week of April with the participation of 650 soldiers and officers from EU member states.

The issue of Iraq was also discussed in the cabinet meeting and was underlined that there is still room for a peaceful solution to the crisis.

These four illustrated lunchtime talks are paving the way for the great exhibition A Stage for Dionysus in Dublin, opening this March in the Irish capital. The exhibition is organised by the Embassy of Greece in Dublin, in cooperation with the Hellenic M inistry of Culture, the Melina Mercouri Foundation, the Hellenic Literary and Historical Archives and the Irish Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism.

by the Directorate of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Monuments and the Museum of Byzantine Culture, is entitled "Aspects of every day life in Byzantium" (Aspectos de la vida cotidiana en Bizancio).

Madrid's exhibition opens in February 6 at the Museo Arqueolügico Nacional. On March 15, it will travel to Lisbon, Portugal, due to be open from April 4 to June 8.