SLOVAKIA News:

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"“I was concerned about a couple of steps that the Russian government took in the last several days. One was reducing the energy supplies to Czechoslovakia. Apparently that is in reaction to the Czech’s agreement with us concerning missile defense, and again some of the Russian now announcement they are now retargeting new targets, something they abandoned at the end of the Cold War, is also a concern. So we see the tensions between Russia and their neighbors, as well as Russia and the United States are somewhat increasing.”"

- "Poles Return to Europe With EU Vote:  Poles Vote 'Yes' to Join EU, Fulfilling Aspirations to Return to Europe." ... "With 38 million people, Poland would be the largest country to join the 15-nation bloc, leading the largest wave of EU expansion and holding voting power equal to Spain and behind only Great Britain, Germany, France and Italy." ... "Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Malta and Lithuania have already approved EU membership with referendums. The Czech Republic votes next week, followed by Latvia and Estonia in September. Cyprus is leaving the decision to parliament." -AP via  -ABCNEWS.com 

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-  -  -  - "State Department Noon Briefing Transcript [List of the 30 Nations Supporting US Disarmament of Iraq]." ... "BRIEFER:  Richard Boucher, Spokesman." ... "MR. BOUCHER: There are 30 countries who have agreed to be part of the coalition for the immediate disarmament of Iraq. I'd have to say these are countries that we have gone to and said, "Do you want to be listed?" and they have said, "Yes."" ... "They are: Afghanistan, Albania, Australia, Azerbaijan, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, the Philippines, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and Uzbekistan." ... "In addition to these countries, there are actually another 15 or so that we know of, probably more than 15, that are cooperating with us in -- and the coalition, or perhaps offering defensive assets in the event that Saddam resorts to the use of weapons of mass destruction." -Washington File -State.gov 

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-  -  -  - "Ex-Soviet bloc states line up with U.S. against 'old' Europe:  Central, Eastern European governments back anti-Hussein efforts." ... "Brushing aside French tirades that they should "shut up," the nations of Eastern Europe are flexing newfound diplomatic muscle, and nowhere is this more evident than in their strong support for President Bush in the confrontation with Iraq." ... "While continental heavyweights such as France and Germany, along with Russia, remain staunchly opposed to a U.S.-led attack, neophytes such as Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Slovakia -- all of whom recently emerged from the Soviet yoke -- are standing by Washington. In the Security Council, it was Bulgaria that joined the United States, Britain and Spain in pushing resolutions setting a deadline for Iraq to surrender its weapons." -By Steven C. Johnson -SFGate.com

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-  -  - "9 European nations line up with U.S. in pledge on Iraq." ... "Assuming a somewhat frayed mantle as global diplomat, Prime Minister Tony Blair flew to the United States on Thursday night to meet President George W. Bush, bearing an unusual pledge of support for Washington against Baghdad from nine European leaders but leaving behind a continent ever more divided over the need for war in Iraq." ... "Significantly, the letter's expressions of ringing support for the United States fell short of explicit backing for Washington's threat of a go-it-alone war with what it terms a "coalition of the willing" if other nations continue to oppose it." ... "The signatories included both established European Union members -Britain, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Denmark - along with four countries set to join the Union next year - Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland." -By Alan Cowell  -NYTimes via  -IHT.com 

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