War set to dominate accession summit

Date: 10/04/03

IRAQ is expected to overshadow next Wednesday's gathering of EU leaders in Athens for the signing of the Accession Treaty, which paves the way for ten mostly former communist countries to join the Union.

Greece, the current EU presidency, said it had no plans for a debate on the war, which appeared to be entering its final phase last night as US forces consolidated their hold on the centre of Baghdad and the UK made initial moves to set up a civil authority in the second city of Basra.

However, aides to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who will attend the signing ceremony, confirmed he would discuss the humanitarian situation in Iraq and responsibilities for the international community in a post-war administration with the Union's heads of state and government.

President George W. Bush confirmed at a US-UK summit in Belfast on Tuesday that the UN would have a "vital role" in creating a new Iraq.

The European Commission said yesterday that it is providing an extra €9.5 million in emergency aid to boost provision of food, water and health care in the country.

Iraq is expected to overshadow the gathering of EU leaders in Athens on 17 April 2003, for the signing of the Accession Treaty which paves the way for ten new countries to join the European Union.