Dublin Takes Precautions Before EU Ceremony

Authorities blockaded the area around Phoenix Park and deployed about 7,500 police and troops Friday ahead of the appearance of more than 30 heads of state and government for today’s formal ceremony marking the expansion of the European Union.

Every member state is sending either its president or prime minister to Ireland, which holds the EU’s rotating presidency. Some are sending both. Leaders of countries that hope to be included in the next round of expansion -- Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania -- were also planning to attend.

Although there was no specific threat reported, officials were aware that any gathering bringing together leaders such as British Prime Minister Tony Blair, French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder could be an attractive target for extremists.

“You have to plan for the worst-case scenario,” Irish police superintendent John Farrelly told the Irish Times.

Officials also warned that some anarchist groups may be hoping to create havoc. As a deterrent, Ireland borrowed two water-cannon trucks from the police service of Northern Ireland because Ireland does not have any of its own.

In a television address before heading to Dublin, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday that he was confident the European Union would agree to begin entry talks with his country in December.

“Turkey believes sincerely that the EU will make the right decision,” he said.

Much of Europe was already celebrating before the ceremony. The banks of the River Liffey in Dublin were lined with the blue-and-gold EU flag, which also was hoisted in eight Central and East European states and on the islands of Cyprus and Malta.

Hundreds of thousands of people thronged open-air parties, concerts and border ceremonies, with 100,000 revelers reported in Budapest alone.