Addressing an emergency debate in the European Parliament, hours after the United States launched military actions against Iraq early Thursday morning, Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou said that with regard to the EU-US ties "we have been and are still going through a significant crisis. Nobody can doubt that."

He called for a trans-Atlantic dialogue to try to overcome differences between the two sides and ensure that the United Nations regains the central role it should play in managing international crises.

The European bloc has been deeply divided on the Iraq crisis, with Britain, Spain and Italy strongly backing the United States in its drive for military action while France and Germany have led the anti-war camp at the United Nations.

He said EU leaders, due to meet in Brussels later on Thursday for a regular summit, should discuss how to ease the humanitarian plight of the Iraqi people and preserve the stability of the Middle East despite the risks from war.

Papandreou also warned that the EU could face a new refugee problem as a result of the war in Iraq.

(Xinhua News Agency March 20, 2003)