MESIC, TRAJKOVSKI, ZIVKOVIC ISSUE OPEN LETTER

ZAGREB, May 21 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic, Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski and Serbian Premier Zoran Zivkovic have stated in an open letter that Europe will be united only after the countries of South-East Europe are integrated into it, reads Wednesday's issue of The Financial Times. #L# President Mesic's office confirmed that the open letter was issued ahead of the World Economic Forum, to be held in Athens. The letter will also be published in The International Herald Tribune. In the letter the three statesmen express confidence that next month's summit in Salonika would be "a golden opportunity" for the EU and the three countries to establish "a common basis which can lead to concrete progress". The long-term stability of the region depends on economic stability, the most important element being the readiness of South- East European countries to "cooperate with the EU in spending granted funds in a more efficient manner". Each of South-East European countries has started reforms on the political, economic and social front and demonstrated commitment to their strategic goal - full integration in Euro-Atlantic associations, reads the letter, adding that the duration of the process of admission would depend on the countries' individual progress. (hina) rml sb