COPENHAGEN: The Taoiseach has said that Ireland's Nice Treaty referendum result had provided an important boost to the process that brought last night's "historic" deal at Copenhagen.
The EU had now taken "a quantum leap towards European unity", he said.
Ireland would hold the EU Presidency when the new states joined on May 1st 2004.
He said Ireland would now work to forge close ties with the new member states.
He would be visiting the Czech Republic and welcoming the prime ministers of Poland and Estonia to Dublin in the New Year.
It had been a privilege to witness "the joy" of the accession countries after the decision, as their long struggle was now over.
The Government would now work towards organising a suitable event during Ireland's Presidency "to celebrate what will be a very historic occasion".
The Taoiseach raised the concern about the Irish fishing industry with Mr José Maria Aznar, the Prime Minister of Spain, whose fleet is seen as a particular threat to dwindling Irish fish stocks.
"I informed the prime minister of the difficulties that the Irish fishing industry would face if access to the Irish box was opened up, especially in the context of declining fish stocks," he said.
He said Ireland wanted to participate in a thorough review of the existing fishing arrangements during 2003.
He also wrote to the European Commission President Mr Romano Prodi and the President of the European Council, the Danish Prime Minister Mr Anders Fogh Rasmussen on the matter.
He said the European Council decision on Turkey - that Turkey can begin accession talks if by December 2004 it has met the political conditions - was one which "balances the incentive of a timeframe in which its application for membership will be considered and the need to demonstrate tangible progress towards achieving the political criteria for membership of the European Union".
Mr Ahern made special reference to the Government's role in the Convention on Europe, in the wake of recent criticism that it had not been talking to the body, which is discussing a constitution for the EU, seriously enough.
"The Government is in no doubt about the significance of the Convention and fully accepts that its outcome will be highly influential," he said.
"I have to say here that in the European Convention Ireland has been among the most active and influential of the small member states." Ireland would have to vote on the EU constitution when it is completed.
He said it would be wrong to see the development of the EU as a threat rather than an opportunity.
On the Middle East he said the Council meeting had expressed alarm "at the continuing illegal settlements and urged the Government of Israel to reverse its policy and freeze all settlements immediately".
In relation to Iraq he said the role of the United Nations Security Council in maintaining international peace had to be respected and that the EU "will continue to give its full support to ensure full and immediate compliance with resolution 1441".