08/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - After the majority "no" vote by the Swiss to accelerating the process for their country's EU membership (see EUROPE of 5/6 March, p.3), Swiss Foreign Minister Joseph Deiss confirmed to the press that the government will not open accession talks before EU membership receives broad public support. This is a "horizon that will be difficult to keep", he added, commenting on the impact of the results of the referendum on 4 March on the Swiss government's announced intention to reactive the request for EU membership during the next legislature, from 2003 to 2007.