Denmark urges support for East

Denmark yesterday urged West European nations to open up their markets to Eastern Europe to prevent the region from turning its back on democracy, AP reports from Copenhagen.

Opening 30-nation conference on Eastern Europe, the Danish Foreign Minister, Niels Helveg Petersen, said the best way to promote the economic development of the Central and Eastern European countries was to provide them with proper market access.

The EC has signed trade and cooperation accords with six East European neighbours - and is negotiating for one with Russia - that still restrict some 40 per cent of two-way trade.