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.
PHOTO: AFP
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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RULES BROKEN: The MAC warned Chinese not to say anything that would be harmful to the autonomous status of Taiwan or undermine its sovereignty A Chinese couple accused of disrupting a pro-democracy event in Taipei organized by Hong Kong residents has been deported, the National Immigration Agency said in a statement yesterday afternoon. A Chinese man, surnamed Yao (姚), and his wife were escorted by immigration officials to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, where they boarded a flight to China before noon yesterday, the agency said. The agency said that it had annulled the couple’s entry permits, citing alleged contraventions of the Regulations Governing the Approval of Entry of People of the Mainland Area into the Taiwan Area (大陸地區人民進入台灣地區許可辦法). The couple applied to visit a family member in
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‘EXTREME PRESSURE’: Beijing’s goal is to ‘force Taiwan to make mistakes,’ Admiral Tang Hua said, adding that mishaps could serve as ‘excuses’ for launching a blockade China’s authoritarian expansionism threatens not only Taiwan, but the rules-based international order, the navy said yesterday, after its top commander said in an interview that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) could blockade the nation at will. The object of Beijing’s expansionist activities is not limited to Taiwan and its use of pressure is not confined to specific political groups or people, the navy said in a statement. China utilizes a mixture of cognitive warfare and “gray zone” military activities to pressure Taiwan, the navy said, adding that PLA sea and air forces are compressing the nation’s defensive depth. The navy continues to
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