51.   Peres wants other countries to join a possible U.S. force on the plateau, the report said.

52.   Other Caribbean countries will join after sorting out complex legal arrangements, changing their constitutions and, in some cases, holding referendums.

53.   Others feared Ireland would lose EU funding once poorer countries join.

54.   Petru Lucinschi also promised to improve ties with European countries and the Commonwealth of Independent States, but stressed that the country would not join any military alliance.

55.   A large bloc of voters is still in doubt and could be swayed if other Nordic countries join.

56.   A debate over whether this staunchly neutral country should join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has been going on for months.

57.   A final decision about which countries join the common currency is to be made at an EU summit at the beginning of May.

58.   A key question is whether residents from eastern Europe will be entitled to look for work across the EU as soon as their countries join.

59.   A NATO summit meeting in early July in Madrid is expected to culminate in invitations for the three countries to join.

60.   A Polish bishop said Saturday he wants his country to join the European Union, the first clear message from a senior Roman Catholic church official supporting the move.