国际英语新闻：Western Balkan countries meet in Slovenia to mull integration into EU

BRDO PRI KRANJU, Slovenia, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of several western Balkan countries met at the Slovenian mountain resort of Brdo Pri Kranju on Saturday to discuss presenting a united front en route to joining the European Union.

Serbian President Boris Tadic boycotted the event because of the presence of Kosovo's prime minister.

Belgrade rejects the declaration of independence by Kosovo -- a breakaway province of Serbia -- two years ago.

Slovenian Prime Minister Borut Pahor (L) receives European Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele in the Slovenian mountainous resort of Brdo Pri Kranju, March 20, 2010. A Western Balkan conference, organised by the Slovenian and Croatian Prime Ministers Borut Pahor and Jadranka Kosor, began on Saturday morning in Brdo Pri Kranju

European Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele said that he hoped that the entire region would become part of the EU one day.

"This conference is a right step in that direction," said the European commissioner.

A press conference was to be held at the end of the summit on Saturday afternoon.

Slovenian Prime Minister Borut Pahor(R) and Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor receive European Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele (L) in the Slovenian mountainous resort of Brdo Pri Kranju, March 20, 2010. A Western Balkan conference, organised by the Slovenian and Croatian Prime Ministers Borut Pahor and Jadranka Kosor, began on Saturday morning in Brdo Pri Kranju.