Clashes fail to spoil party in Athens

Date: 17/04/03

By David Cronin

TEN prospective EU states signed the Accession Treaty in Athens yesterday (16 April). But the atmosphere at the historic signing ceremony was partly soured by clashes between police and anti-war protestors just a few hundred metres away from where European leaders had gathered.

While most protestors were peaceful, a breakaway group hurled petrol bombs and red paint at police.

EU leaders used the summit to try and rise above their differences over the war in Iraq. French President Jacques Chirac announced that he had won backing from British premier Tony Blair to launch an airlift for wounded civilians in the next few days. This would bring Iraqis to Europe for vital medical treatment.

But other summiteers tried to emphasize the symbolic importance of admitting former communist countries into the Union.

European Parliament chief Pat Cox said: "As we consign our fractured past to the history books, this is a moment to look to the stars, to contemplate a better future."

Malta's Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami, whose Nationalist Party swept to victory in a general election last Saturday (12 April), said he expected the opposition Labour Party to drop its anti-EU stance in the coming months and endorse the win for the pro-Union side in last month's referendum.

"The Maltese Labour Party has to respect the final decision of the Maltese people," he told European Voice.

• Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis on the historic summit.

Ten candidate countries signed the Accession Treaty in Athens on 16 April 2003 but the atmosphere at the historic signing ceremony was marred by anti-war protestors, angered by the attendance of Tony Blair, the UK Prime Minister.