Luxembourg, 26/06/2001 (Agence Europe) - The EU/Slovakia Association Council in Luxembourg on Tuesday welcomed progress made by Slovakia in its negotiations and which make it a serious candidate to join the EU as early as 2004. Slovakia - which only began negotiations in the Spring of 2000 - has already closed 17 of the 31 chapters to be negotiated. Two additional chapters (free movement of persons and capital) will be closed on Wednesday at a negotiating meeting in Brussels at deputy-level....