Papantoniou will brief his counterparts in France and Germany on his talks with US national security advisor Condoleeza Rice during a recent visit to Washington, he told the daily Kathimerini on Sunday.

"Ms. Rice believes that cooperation between Europe and the United States is necessary (...), she believes that the crisis between the EU and the United States can be overcome and that close and lasting cooperation is again possible," he said.

In Washington, Papantoniou discussed at length the role of the United Nations in post-war Iraq as well as the dangers posed by global terrorism and weapons of mass destruction.

"The United States says 'yes' to a role of the United Nations in Iraq after the war, it says 'yes' to renewed ties between Europe and the United States," he added.

Greece currently holds the EU rotating presidency.

Papantoniou said he was convinced that his talks in Berlin and Paris would certainly help improve the strained relationship, "above all if there is an agreement on a UN role afer the war in Iraq.

"This will contribute to improving the relationship and building a framework for joint action to avert (future) threats," he said.

France and Germany, as well as Belgium and Luxembourg, are to hold a special defence summit in Brussels on April 29, which backers hope will give a lift to the EU's faltering common defence policy.

Prime Minister Costas Simitis of Greece said late last month the Schengen accord, which has eliminated border controls among participants, was a blueprint for how the 15-nation bloc could pursue its military track.

SPACE.WIRE