PARTICIPANTS IN SALZBURG SUMMIT SUPPORT EU EXPANSION

SALZBURG, May 22 (Hina) - The presidents of Central European countries attending a summit of Central European heads of state in Salzburg on Thursday voiced strong support for the expansion of the European Union towards Central and East Europe and pointed to the need to adopt a common European foreign policy. #L# Addressing reporters at the end of the first working meeting of the presidents of 17 Central European countries, the summit's host, Austrian President Thomas Klestil, pointed to the significant influence of the region on European politics. EU member-countries must assist integration processes in non- member countries. Europe must unite and speak with the same voice in the face of global terrorism, organised crime, differences between the rich and the poor and other problems in the new millennium, Klestil said. The Austrian president informed reporters that the first working session also discussed relations between the EU and the USA. Close cooperation between the Union and US is one of the most important issues for global security, Klestil stressed. (hina) sp rml sb