81.   Some East European nations are pushing the Commission to promise to open membership talks no more than six months after the end of the reform effort.

82.   Showing their staunch independence, Swiss voters Sunday overwhelmingly rejected a proposal for immediate membership talks with the European Union.

83.   Six other nations, including five former satellites of the now-defunct Soviet Union, were recommended for membership talks.

84.   Six other nations, including five former satellites of the now-defunct Soviet Union, were given recommended for membership talks.

85.   That leaves Turkey as the only aspirant country seen as unfit to begin membership talks.

86.   Sources close to the meeting said Greece wants the EU to set a specific date for membership talks with Cyprus.

87.   That uncertainty has begun to spoil the atmosphere of the membership talks that opened last year.

88.   The Council of Europe suspended membership talks with Russia over the war, and the Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe has deplored human rights violations.

89.   The EU began membership talks with the six front-runners two years ago.

90.   The EU has opened membership talks with Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Estonia and Cyprus.