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http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,65108,00.html Fox News October 8, 2002 Eastward Ho! EU's Eastward Expansion: 10 Countries to Join by 2004 -The United States is urging the Europeans to open up to the Turks, anxious not to alienate a NATO member seen as a key Muslim ally in the war on terrorism. The EU's expansion runs almost parallel to NATO's move eastward. Alliance leaders are expected to invite Slovenia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria to join the alliance at a November summit in Prague, the Czech capital. BRUSSELS, Belgium � The European Union is set to take a major step Wednesday toward a historic expansion into central and eastern Europe that, barring last-minute surprises, will bring 10 new members into its fold by 2004. But Turkey, a key ally in the U.S. war on terror, has not even been given a date for starting talks on entry. The EU's head office will release final progress reports on all 13 candidate nations, showing the state of play as four years of negotiations draw to an end. It is expected to recommend that Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Cyprus, Malta, Slovakia, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia be invited to join at the EU's year-end summit in Copenhagen, Denmark. Lagging behind, Romania and Bulgaria will have to wait until at least 2007 before they can enter. To much displeasure in Ankara, Turkey will be told to improve its human rights credentials before it's even given a date for starting formal membership talks. The European Commission's much-leaked paper on Turkey reportedly cites restrictions on freedom of expression, religion and association. It also points to torture of prisoners and urges stronger civilian control over the military. In Ankara on Tuesday, the Foreign Ministry summoned European ambassadors to express Turkey's "discomfort" with the report, especially since the country has recently abolished the death penalty and improved minority rights to meet EU demands. "The human rights issue isn't one that can be solved in a day or two," said Labor Minister Nejat Arseven. "Turkey has shown its dedication to this issue in a very clear way." The United States is urging the Europeans to open up to the Turks, anxious not to alienate a NATO member seen as a key Muslim ally in the war on terrorism. The EU's expansion runs almost parallel to NATO's move eastward. Alliance leaders are expected to invite Slovenia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria to join the alliance at a November summit in Prague, the Czech capital. Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic joined NATO in 1999, and Turkey has been a member of the alliance since 1952. For expansion supporters, the EU's inclusiveness will mark the final demise of Europe's Cold War divide, uniting the continent as a single political and economic unit and giving the 75 million people of the 10 new members a share of the union's stability and prosperity. Opponents among the current 15 members fear that the arrival of so many poor neighbors will syphon off money, straining the EU budget and undercut their farmers and factories with cheap imports. They also worry the entry of so many new members will bring gridlock to EU decision-making that is already hobbled by red tape. While opinion polls show public support for membership is high in most candidate states, a minority gripes about losing national independence by joining another bloc so soon after breaking loose from the Soviet embrace. Others are concerned about economic competition once EU membership tears down trade barriers. Some also complain of becoming second-class members because of delays imposed by the EU before their farmers or migrant workers can enjoy the full benefits of membership. Wednesday's reports should place the 10 firmly on the road to membership by early 2004 following parliamentary ratification of the accession treaties. However, stumbling blocks remain. A double threat comes from islands off opposite ends of the continent. On Oct. 19, Ireland holds a referendum on the Treaty of Nice, which was signed in 2000 to prepare the EU for the biggest expansion in its 45-year history. The Irish already rejected the treaty in June, 2001. If they do so again, the expansion plan would be thrown into disarray. "There is no Plan B," says EU spokesman Jonathan Faull. Cyprus is another headache. The EU hopes negotiations between the Greek Cypriot government in the south and the breakaway Turkish Cypriot north will end a 28-year division of the Mediterranean island and allow a united Cyprus to join. However, U.N.-sponsored reconciliation talks have so far failed. If no deal is reached, EU member Greece wants the Greek half of Cyprus to come in or it will veto EU enlargement as a whole. Ankara has warned it may annex the Turkish side of Cyprus if the north is left out -- a move that would have dangerous implications for Greece-Turkey relations. __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Faith Hill - Exclusive Performances, Videos & More http://faith.yahoo.com --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
