SALZBURG: EUROPEAN ECONOMIC SUMMIT BEGINS

SALZBURG, Sept 16 (Hina) - The European Economic Summit began in Salzburg, Austria, on Monday morning. Over two days, some 600 participants, including from Croatia, will debate numerous political and economic issues. #L# Under the auspices of Austrian President Thomas Klestil, Salzburg, whose centre is under total police siege, will welcome the presidents or prime ministers of Croatia, Bulgaria, Estonia, Macedonia, Slovenia, Serbia, Finland, Portugal, Romania, and the Ukraine. Participants will tackle European Union expansion, Europe's answer to globalisation, Europe's role in the world, the struggle against corruption and organised crime, and the "Building Europe" initiative, which deals with the attitude of Europe's residents, especially young people, towards expansion. Participants will also address numerous economic topics, including investing in Europe's Southeast, the common European currency, and Europe's competitiveness. Discussions will also tackle the situation in Southeast Europe, investing in Serbia, Russia's place in Europe, and Germany on the eve of elections. Croatian President Stjepan Mesic arrives in Salzburg this afternoon. He will deliver a speech at a plenary session dedicated to the "Building Europe" initiative, as well as meet Bosnian Foreign Minister Zlatko Lagumdzija and Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic to discuss the situation in the region. Upon arrival, Mesic should meet the European commissioner for expansion, Guenther Verheugen, and France's minister for European issues, Noelle Lenoir. Mesic should also hold several bilateral meetings, the President's Office said in a statement today. (hina) ha