VISBY, Sweden, May 4: The 11 leaders of the Baltic Sea states concluded a landmark two-day summit here today with a call for increased regional cooperation to stimulate their economies and to combat crime and pollution, reports AFP.
In their final declaration, the heads of government agreed to form a task-force of their personal representatives to map out and implement joint action to curb organised crime. '
They agreed to reinforce cooperation between police, border, customs, immigration and coast guard authorities.
Environmental initiatives included the need to strengthen a Joint environmental action programme for the Baltic Sea — one of the dirtiest in the world — and to assess the risk to the environment of oil transportation.
The summit also voiced support for Estonia. Latvia, Litnuania and Poland in their bid to Joint the European Union (EU).
It backed the early creation of a free-trade area between Estonia. Latvia. Lithuania and Poland.
The leaders also supported membership of the world Trade Organisation for Estonia. Latvia, Litnuania and Russia.
Then prime ministers of
Denmark, Estonia, Finland. Iceland. Latvia. Lithuania. Norway. Poland. Russia and Sweden. and German Chancellor Helmut Kohl were taking part in the first meeting at this level.
Outgoing Italian Prime Minister Lamberto Dini, whose country holds the rotating chairmanship of the EU. attended the summit, held at this fortress-city on Gotland. 90 kilometers (55 miles) off southeastern Sweden.
European Commission President Jacques Santer attended Friday's session.
The Visby summit follows a first meeting of Baltic Sea representatives in Sweden in 1990. when the Cold War and diverging ideologies had limited discussions to the environment.
But the collapse of the communist block has allowed increased cooperation. The Council of Baltic Sea States (CBSS) was created in Copenhagen in 1992.
The summit here will be followed by a meeting of CBSS diplomatic heads in Kalmar, Sweden, on July 2-3. in order to study the application of today's agreements.
On Friday, the European Green Party presented its "Visby charter" outlining its policy for the Baltic region It called for Increased coordina-
tion between EU applicant countries, the development of a social policy and an environment protection policy.
Delegates were greeted by protests from the international environment pressure group Greenpeace.
Five activists faking pregnancy wore T-shirts reading 'bon toxic’ on their midriffs as the sound of babies crying came from a cassette player — a reference to the high pollution levels of the Baltic Sea.
Opening the summit. Swedish Prime Minister Goeran Persson called on the leaders to create a “dynamic, stable and safe region." "It Is up to all of us ... to take this opportunity to rebuild, to enhance cooperation, to tear down existing obstacles." Persson said, adding that the region has "tremendous" potential and its "future looks promising" after "more than a naif-century of divisions.”
Meanwhile, a 20-kllometre (12-mile) oilslick was detected late Friday in the Baltic Sea off Sweden. coastguards In Borgholm said today.
Three ships were sent to the area off the island of Oland to contain the slick. Coastguards suspect oil tankers of leaking or illegally draining tanks off the coast, something they say is becoming more and more frequent