Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Sunday
Czech Republic Votes to Join EU
Aired June 15, 2003 - 18:14 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN ANCHOR: The European Union is preparing for a major expansion next year. A week after Poland said yes to joining the EU, the Czech Republic is also giving thumbs up to membership. Kathleen Soles (ph) reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice-over): Supporters say it's been a long time coming, a day that marks the symbolic end to the Czech Republic's 14-year struggle away from communism, and a day that, for the first time since World War II, the nation finally sees itself as returning to its place in the West. In a two-day referendum that ended Saturday, Czechs voted a resounding yes on the question of whether to join the European Union.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I don't see any reason to have doubts about our decision to become an EU member.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): The European Union is a union of European states, isn't it? I think we belong in Europe.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): We voted yes for Europe, because we think it will be better for our children.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Politicians gathered at the Foreign Ministry to watch the results come in. The final tally showed just over 77 percent of the voters approved the measure. Nearly 23 percent voted no. The result makes the Czech Republic the seventh of 10 candidates to vote in favor of joining the EU in May 2004.
VLADIMIR SPIDLA, CZECH PRIME MINISTER (through translator): I think the role of the Czech Republic in Europe is to become a fully independent member, one that can contribute fully and freely on all important issues within the union.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But some fear the transition will not be easy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I am pro, but I have small doubts. For example, how are we going to deal with increases in prices and many other things we don't know about the European Union?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Like the Czech Republic, many of the other EU applicants, including Poland, Lithuania and Slovakia are also former Soviet bloc countries. Analysts note that in each case, the voter turnout has not been overwhelming. ROBERT NIBLETT, CENTER FOR STRATEGIC & INTERNATIONAL STUDIES: The average turnout has been somewhere around 60 percent. In a couple of cases, certainly in the case of Hungary, it dropped to below 50 percent. So the turnout is really being quite low, even though the majority of those who turned out have been very favorable. So you can see in all of these countries a kind of underlying ambivalence. They know they've got to do it. They know they have no other option.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Nevertheless, EU leaders are hailing the results, saying the Czech Republic has claimed its rightful place in the heart of Europe.
Kathleen Soles (ph), for CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired June 15, 2003 - 18:14 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN ANCHOR: The European Union is preparing for a major expansion next year. A week after Poland said yes to joining the EU, the Czech Republic is also giving thumbs up to membership. Kathleen Soles (ph) reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice-over): Supporters say it's been a long time coming, a day that marks the symbolic end to the Czech Republic's 14-year struggle away from communism, and a day that, for the first time since World War II, the nation finally sees itself as returning to its place in the West. In a two-day referendum that ended Saturday, Czechs voted a resounding yes on the question of whether to join the European Union.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I don't see any reason to have doubts about our decision to become an EU member.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): The European Union is a union of European states, isn't it? I think we belong in Europe.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): We voted yes for Europe, because we think it will be better for our children.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Politicians gathered at the Foreign Ministry to watch the results come in. The final tally showed just over 77 percent of the voters approved the measure. Nearly 23 percent voted no. The result makes the Czech Republic the seventh of 10 candidates to vote in favor of joining the EU in May 2004.
VLADIMIR SPIDLA, CZECH PRIME MINISTER (through translator): I think the role of the Czech Republic in Europe is to become a fully independent member, one that can contribute fully and freely on all important issues within the union.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But some fear the transition will not be easy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I am pro, but I have small doubts. For example, how are we going to deal with increases in prices and many other things we don't know about the European Union?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Like the Czech Republic, many of the other EU applicants, including Poland, Lithuania and Slovakia are also former Soviet bloc countries. Analysts note that in each case, the voter turnout has not been overwhelming. ROBERT NIBLETT, CENTER FOR STRATEGIC & INTERNATIONAL STUDIES: The average turnout has been somewhere around 60 percent. In a couple of cases, certainly in the case of Hungary, it dropped to below 50 percent. So the turnout is really being quite low, even though the majority of those who turned out have been very favorable. So you can see in all of these countries a kind of underlying ambivalence. They know they've got to do it. They know they have no other option.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Nevertheless, EU leaders are hailing the results, saying the Czech Republic has claimed its rightful place in the heart of Europe.
Kathleen Soles (ph), for CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
