Upgrading "second-tier" candidate countries

German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer expressed his country_s support for the Baltic statesi accession to the European Union during a meeting here Sept. 3 with his Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian counterparts. Fischer also said Germany supports Baltic inclusion in European security structures. "Germany remains strongly committed to a fast integration of the Baltic states in the EU," Fischer said at a press conference following the so-called "3+1" meeting with the other foreign ministers. "We will fully support the enlargement process here in the Baltic states." The four ministers described the Sept. 3 talks, which also included discussions about regional cooperation, as "fruitful" and "very constructive." Latvian Foreign Minister Indulis Berzins said it was important for Latvia to "feel strong support from Germany and Estonia," especially during the process of EU negotiations, and Lithuaniais Algirdas Suadargas emphasized the close relationship Germany shares with his country as its largest trading partner. Fischer said that during the December summit in Helsinki, he would push setting a target date for EU enlargement and upgrading "second-tier" candidate countries, such as Latvia and Lithuania, into the first group. "We are in favor of fixing a date on closing talks with candidates in the first round, and we want to upgrade the second group so there is only one group," Fischer said. In 1997, Estonia was among the six countries invited into fast-track negotiations with the 15-member bloc, but Latvia and Lithuania were assigned second-tier status. They are hoping that Decemberis summit will accelerate their accession talks.