Military

DATE=3/18/04

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=E-U / SUMMIT (L-ONLY)

NUMBER=2-314248

DATELINE=BRATISLAVA

BYLINE=STEFAN BOS

CONTENT=

VOICED AT=

INTRO: Heads of at least 12 countries that will be joining the European Union and, in some cases, NATO, in coming months, are meeting in the Slovak capital, Bratislava, to stake out their ground in the two institutions. But, as Stefan Bos reports from Bratislava, organizers say the meeting is being overshadowed by the ethnic bloodletting in Kosovo.

TEXT: Most of the countries represented in Bratislava were once members of the Soviet Union-led Communist bloc. Ten of them will be joining the European Union in May and some are also becoming new members of NATO.

The discussions on the enlargement of the E-U got off to a promising start when Poland, one of the most vocal opponents of constitutional changes that would diminish its voting rights, said it is now willing to compromise.

Poland and Spain were the most intransigent opponents of the constitutional changes, but Madrid changed its position after Sunday's parliamentary elections, which unseated the current center-right government.

With Poland's new flexibility, organizers of the Bratislava summit now hope a deal on the E-U's new constitution is possible and they can move onto other issues.

The east and central European leaders, together with top E-U and NATO officials are also expected to discuss the future of the most volatile region of Europe -- the Balkans.

The urgency of international action was underscored by this week's ethnic violence in Kosovo, in which at least 22 people died and hundreds were injured.

Former Swedish Prime Minister and Balkans negotiators, Carl Bildt, in an interview with V-O-A, said the signs of ethnic tensions in Kosovo have been obvious for some time, and condemned both the E-U and NATO for not stepping in earlier to prevent the bloodbath.

///BILDT ACT///

It was not unpredictable that the situation was going to be more tense. And there has been a tendency by politicians not to look at the Balkans and think that it is just a success story and then thinning out forces. And perhaps they have been thinning out forces too much. Obviously there are not enough forces in Kosovo like the one we saw yesterday.

///END ACT///

Bruce Jackson, head of the U-S-based Project on Transitional Democracies, said the violence in Kosovo clearly demonstrates that the West must remain engaged in the Balkans.

///JACKSON ACT//

We shouldn't even consider to look for an exit strategy, we don't want one. When America is at war outside Europe, Europe gets neglected. When Russia goes badly and democracy deteriorates, Europe is under pressure. And when Europe gets tired and suffers from fatigue and exhaustion it is not good for the smaller countries of Europe.

/// END ACT///

The host of the summit, Slovakia's Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda, said for countries like his, the dream of becoming part of the E-U will soon be fulfilled. But, he added the vision of a united continent is still some distance away. (Signed)

NEB/SB/MAR/RH/FC