The Hindu : Poles celebrate `yes' vote

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 10, 2003

International

International

Poles celebrate `yes' vote

WARSAW: Relegating decades of Cold War division firmly to history, jubilant Poles celebrated their return to the European fold after a decisive vote to join the European Union. Poland, with 38 million people, is the largest of 10 nations set to join the E.U. next year, with voting power equal to Spain and behind only Britain, France and Germany. Poland secured its place in the largest wave of E.U. expansion with 77.5 per cent of voters approving membership in a referendum, officials said on Monday. Poles filled public squares from the Baltic port of Gdansk to the southern town of Skoczow to celebrate with concerts and fireworks, waving E.U. and Polish flags. In Warsaw, the Grand Theatre orchestra and choir gave an outdoor concert featuring Poland's national anthem and E.U.'s ``Ode to Joy,'' while some of the spectators popped champagne bottles. ``Poland is once again in the European family,'' the President, Aleksander Kwasniewski, told more than 2,000 cheering Poles outside the theatre. ``We are together again after all those years. We are in.'' — AP

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