As anti-war protesters rioted in the streets of this city that gave birth to European democracy, leaders of 25 nations gathered yesterday to sign treaties sweeping away the 20th century's Iron Curtain divide.
Meeting in the shadow of the ancient Acropolis, 10 nations will sign treaties joining the European Union -- including eight former Communist countries cut off from their western neighbors until little more than a decade ago.
"The old continent of Europe is reunified under the principles of freedom and democracy," Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar said.
The existing 15 EU nations are also striving to repair their own unity, badly frayed by differences over the US and British war against Iraq.
Outside the signing ceremony, held in the Athens' ancient Agora, demonstrations against the war turned violent as some protesters hurled gasoline bombs at police, burned banks and smashed storefronts. They also threw rocks at the British Embassy and attacked police in front of the American Embassy.
EU leaders fear that the rioting will detract from the historic resonance of the ceremony that will bring 10 nations into the EU fold: Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Cyprus and Malta.
The countries will formally join on May 1, 2004, pending ratification of the treaties by referendums and parliament votes. The new members, however, will immediately take their seats as observers in the regular meetings that set EU policy.
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