COMING EU SUMMIT IN STOCKHOLM TO FOCUS ON EUROPEAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT








STOCKHOLM, MARCH 9, 2001, /FROM RIA NOVOSTI CORRESPONDENTS ANNA BOBINA, LYUDMILA BOZHKO/ -- Europe's economic development issues are to come into focus at the coming summit in Stockholm, projected for March 23, which will host meetings of Russian president Vladimir Putin with presidents and premiers of EU member-states. According to a RIA Novosti correspondent this fact was disclosed by Igor Ivanov, Russian foreign minister, who appeared at the Friday press conference held in the Swedish capital.


	According to him, the coming summit will offer free discussions, welcoming each participant to come forward with own opinion on key problems.


	At the same time the summit will focus on economic issues, said Anna Lindh, Swedish foreign minister.


	According to her, the European Union currently needs to outline guidelines aimed at improving the implementation of social and economic programmes in Europe. With this in mind the Union is interested to discuss these issues with the Russian president.