Iceland and Norway have agreed to sign an accord for enlarging the European Economic Area (EEA) to include the ten incoming European Union members leaving the tiny Alpine principality of Liechtenstein alone in its opposition, the Czech foreign minister said yesterday.

The two countries last month refused to sign the agreement as a mark of solidarity with Liechtenstein, which objects due to a historic row with the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

"Negotiations today led to the clearly expressed wish of Norway and Iceland that these two countries will soon sign the agreement on the European Economic Area," Czech Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda told reporters.

Liechtenstein's refusal to sign on October 14 put in doubt the EEA's enlargement before May when the currently 15-member EU is due to expand.

The Czech Republic and Slovakia are among the ten new EU members.

Liechtenstein's objections centre on the so-called Benes Decrees, which were adopted by the then Czechoslovakia after the defeat of the Nazis in World War II.

The decrees led to the expulsion of some 2,5-million ethnic Germans whose assets were summarily seized.

Liechtenstein, a statelet sandwiched between Switzerland and Austria, says that many of its nationals were among those whose homes and belongings were confiscated without compensation.

A source in Liechtenstein has said the country's royal family lost 700 km2 of land – equivalent to more than four times the size of the Alpine principality – and several castles because of the Czech expropriation.

The Czech foreign minister said his counterparts from Norway and Iceland would now press Vaduz to change its mind.

"We have to again develop a diplomatic effort so that this accord is signed by everyone, so also by Liechtenstein," Svoboda said.

Referring to the absence of diplomatic relations between Prague and Vaduz, he added: "We are ready to have relations at a normal level without conditions".

Slovak Foreign Minister Eduard Kukan echoed the sentiment, adding: "There are some things which are essential for us, and where we cannot yield".

The foreign ministers of Iceland and Norway did not take part in the press conference, which was called after a meeting of the four ministers.

The EEA comprises the EU's current members as well as Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway. – Sapa-AFP.