BULGARIA is among European Union member and candidate countries invited by current EU president Greece to attend a special summit it is convening in Brussels on Monday to discuss the Iraq crisis.
According to an Associated Press report, representatives of the 10 countries that will join the EU in 2004, as well as Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey were invited to submit their positions, together with the 15 member states of the Union.
"It is necessary, and it is our firm conviction, that Europe should remain united in this crucial period," Greek government spokesperson Christos Protopapas said.
He warned of a "deep crisis" if Europe could not speak with one voice on Iraq, and officials feared the bitter dispute that had split NATO could disrupt the summit.
If "this does not occur, then I think the Greek presidency will have exhausted all possibilities," said Panos Belglitis, spokesperson for the Greek foreign ministry.
The UK, Portugal, Denmark, Italy and Spain broadly back Washington's stance on Iraq. France, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Sweden and Luxembourg, however, want UN weapons inspectors to finish their work.
Greek Foreign Minister Georgios Papandreou postponed a EU mission to China that he was supposed to lead on Wednesday in order to stay home and follow the crisis over Iraq ahead of the summit to be held in Brussels.
"We desire that Europe will be heard with a common voice," Papandreou said. "The exact goal is to have a unified voice. Another goal will be to set down the issue that a European foreign policy must go forward," he noted.
According to an Associated Press report, representatives of the 10 countries that will join the EU in 2004, as well as Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey were invited to submit their positions, together with the 15 member states of the Union.
"It is necessary, and it is our firm conviction, that Europe should remain united in this crucial period," Greek government spokesperson Christos Protopapas said.
He warned of a "deep crisis" if Europe could not speak with one voice on Iraq, and officials feared the bitter dispute that had split NATO could disrupt the summit.
If "this does not occur, then I think the Greek presidency will have exhausted all possibilities," said Panos Belglitis, spokesperson for the Greek foreign ministry.
The UK, Portugal, Denmark, Italy and Spain broadly back Washington's stance on Iraq. France, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Sweden and Luxembourg, however, want UN weapons inspectors to finish their work.
Greek Foreign Minister Georgios Papandreou postponed a EU mission to China that he was supposed to lead on Wednesday in order to stay home and follow the crisis over Iraq ahead of the summit to be held in Brussels.
"We desire that Europe will be heard with a common voice," Papandreou said. "The exact goal is to have a unified voice. Another goal will be to set down the issue that a European foreign policy must go forward," he noted.
