EC PRESIDENT ENDS VISIT TO MACEDONIA

SKOPJE, Feb 21 (Hina) - The support countries in the Western Balkans have shown towards the USA regarding the Iraqi crisis will not have any influence on the policy of expansion of the European Union, European Commission President Romano Prodi told reporters at the end of his visit to Macedonia, after meeting Macedonian state officials. #L# Prodi said it was necessary for European countries to realise that they shared their economy with the EU and their security with the USA. He stated that it had taken 45 years to establish a European community and that it would take as many years to shape a common policy since disagreement about that issue existed within the Union itself, which was evident at the recent meeting in Brussels. In his address to the Macedonian parliament Prodi said that Europe would be united only when Balkan countries became part of it. That is the EU's current attitude and its objective is the gradual integration of Balkan countries, which will be supported in their political, social and economic reforms, he said. The EU's key role in the process is the development of regional co- operation, particularly as countries in the region depend on one another, Prodi said, adding that this especially referred to former Yugoslav countries. Maintaining the regional framework is the key, which will prevent new borders from turning into walls of division and enable economic development and the solution of problems such as illegal migrations and organised crime, he said. The pace of integration with the EU depends on each country, he added. Prodi today also spoke to professors and students at Skopje's "Sv. Ciril i Metod" University, which awarded him an honorary professor title. (hina) sp rml sb