+ 10 Zdengo PIREC. CLEAR. PRECISE.

Czechoslovakian vice-minister of foreign affairs

"Czechoslovakia's final aim is to enter the European Community (...) All the efforts made by the government of Prague, intent on establishing better relationships with the Twelve in various fields, are devoted to the achievement of this goal." (Il Corriere della Sera, 3-3-90).

+ 8 Geza JESZENSKY. Essential.

President of the Foreign Commission of the Hungarian democratic Forum

Jeszensky has stressed the need for a universal code for the protection of minorities, but has added that only a federal Europe will be able to give a final solution to the problem (of minorities) (MTI, 28 march 90, page 10).

+ 7 Vaclav HAVEL. Confederation or United States of Europe?

President of the Republic of Czechoslovakia

"These suggestions (the confederation of François Mitterand and his own between Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Poland) not only complete one another, but go in the same direction. At the end of the journey we see the new Europe the way President Miterrand imagines it. It is necessary, however, to set some intermediate stages that will enable us to reach this ideal. Firstly, States returning inside Europe must co-ordinate their return; at the same time, it would be wise for the institutions that call themselves European, but have up to now been simply West-european, open themselves up to those who are re-integrating Europe. It would be a good thing if these stages followed one another rather rapidly; other decisions will be necessary and only then will we be able to achieve the goal of a European confederation, or of the United States of Europe, or of another name that will be given to this whole". (Le Monde, 18-03-90)

+ 6 Helmut Kohl. No more suspicions, my friends!

Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany

"I can imagine that after the events of Germany and of the East of Europe, many of my colleagues of both sexes (of course among the Heads of State and of government of the European Community) think it is preferable to go toward a political union in order to better clasp Germany. The reasons are irrelevant. I want to reach the goal. And if it is considered that a political unification of Europe will be reached more rapidly by clasping Germany, all the better". (Libération, 24-03-90, page 17)

+ 4 Tadeuz MAZOWIECKI. Adhesion to the Community!

Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland

"The reapproaching of the two parts of Europe should follow two paths: the first one implies the opening up of certain east-west organizations to the countries of the East; I'm referring to the Council of Europe, of which we have asked to to become a member, and to a formula of adhesion to the European Community. The second way would be to create an organization enabling an almost immediate co-operation between the European countries: in actual fact more than the European States, because it would cover the CSCE, that includes the Unites States and Canada." (Le Monde, 9-03-90)

+ 3 Joseph RIEGLER. Us too.

Austrian Vice-Chancellor and President of the Popular Party

....has stressed the wish of his country and his party to help the people of Hungary which, also in the request of adhesion to the European Community, has taken the path toward self-determination.

(MTI, 17-3-90, page 26)

+ 2 Gaspar Miklos TAMAS. Enlightenment on the way to Damasco?

Deputy, member of the executive board of the Free Democrats

The conversations with the vice-minister Sir Geoffrey Howe have focussed mainly on economical matters. The leader of the Free Democrats has stressed the fact that his party wants to become a member of the Common Market, but is also aware that this cannot occur from one day to another. (MTI, 8-3-90, page 13)

+ 1 Jacques DELORS

President of the European Commission. Where is imagination!

Mister Delors has stated that the association agreement would

go beyond the economical and commercial agreements in force, and would also include programs for a cultural and political co-operation. The agreement will be an integral part of the new type of co-operation between the European Economic Community and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, and that will set the pace for the gradual creation of a European confederation. (MTI, 29-0-90)

0 François Mitterand. I'm coming, I'm coming

President of the Republic of France

"I think we all agree, Germans, French and others, to strengthen the structures of the Community of the Twelve. And I think we shall more and more agree in the decision of offering the countries of the East that are proceeding towards democracy, a type of organization that they need. This is why I have talked about a confederation." (...) President Mitterand has furthermore said that he hopes that the summit of Dublin will "set a calendar of the European political unity and also set a deadline that, I hope, will coincide with the opening of the One European Market on the 1st of January 1993." (Libération, 26-3-90)

- 2 Alexander DUBCEK. Concretely!

President of the Czechoslovakian Federal Assembly

"We are finding a new path toward Europe. We can't imagine that the path will be easy or pleasant. But we must prepare to re-enter Europe." (Le Monde 8-3-90)

- 3 Jozef ANTALL. Again!

President of the Hungarian Democratic Forum

"I've told my French guests that the peaceful process of transition and the political tolerance are very strong in Hungary. I have also stressed the fact that our country is an integral part of Europe and would like to be such in the future."

(Daily News, 2-3-90, page 4)

- 6 Bronislaw GEREMEK. A great confusion!

President of the parliamentary group of Solidarnosc at the Assembly

Jean Monnet's idea developed during many years endorsing federate structures.: the creation of Benelux has been very useful for the integration of the continent." (Le Monde, Liber supplement, 1-3-90)