+ 8 Jozsef Antall - President of the Democratic Forum

or: how to befool drawing-room Europeanists

"It is to be hoped that Hungary can achieve the common market within 1992 or 1995". (...) Our main goal is that of entering the European Community, ...". (MTI, 14-4-90)

+ 6 Francois Mitterand - President of the Republic of France

Helmut Kohl - Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany

Perhaps a revolutionary gesture, but stubbornly confined to the Twelve.

"Our aim is that these fundamental reforms - economic, monetary and political unity - come into force as of January 1, 1993, after the ratification of the national Parliaments." (..) "Considering the deep changes in Europe, the creation of an internal market and the accomplishment of an economic and monetary union, we believe that it is necessary to accelerate the political construction of the Twelve". (MTI, 20-4-90)

+ 5 Istvan Bethlen - President of the economic commission of the Hungarian Democratic Forum

Much more than a bridge ...

In an interview to the MTI Hungarian agency, Istvan Bethlen expresses his confidence that Hungary has realistic chances of becoming a full-blown member of the European Community within a reasonable lapse of time, that is, within 1992 and 1995. (...) Mister Bethlen believes that it is in the Community's interest as well to have Hungary among its members, because it could serve as a bridge with other East European markets and with the Soviet Union. (MTI, 25-4-90)

+ 3 Alfred Dregger - President of the CSU-CDU parliamentary group

What'll it be?

"Because Hungary is a European country just like Great Britain or France or Germany, I see no valid reason for the Community not to open its doors to it." (MTI, 12-4-90)

0 Bronislaw Geremek - President of the Solidarnosc parliamentary group

To want or not to want

Mister Geremek revealed that what he said were just "words of sympathy" and asked - on behalf of Czechoslovakia and Hungary as well - for an agenda, a calendar which will ensure a future adhesion, or at any rate, some sort of statute related to the European Community. (...) "We cannot see any real commitment on the part of Western Europe. We have the impression that the Community is closing the door, like a running train, because we are viewed as a possible obstacle." (Herald Tribune, 26-4-90)

- 5 Franjo Tujman - Leader of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ)

Federalism no, federalism yes

"...the future relationships between the Republics (of Yugoslavia) are bound to be founded on the principles of a confederation. If it were impossible to agree on such a basis, if would be better for each Republic to enter Europe in the ways that best please it." (Le Monde, 22-4-90)

- 10 Jean-Pierre Chevènement - French Defence Minister

A hopeless case

"A European defence structure will emerge more from agreements of close cooperation between armies, which will remain national, than from pure and simple integration within a European army. The spirit of an army is necessarily linked to the feeling of belonging to a national community (...). (Le Monde, 22-4-90)