Copenhagen (Denmark): Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee arrived in Copenhagen on October 9 night to attend the India-European Union (EU) Summit during which he is expected to seek the support of the European leaders in pressing Portugal to hand over underworld don Abu Salem besides sensitising them on India's concern on Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism.

The Prime Minister, who flew in here from Cyprus leading a high-level delegation that included External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha and Disinvestment Minister Arun Shourie, is also expected to brief the EU leaders on the satisfactory completion of elections in Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan's attempt to disrupt them.

Foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal told reporters on board the Prime Minister's flight enroute to Copenhagen that while India was already in touch with individual countries on the Salem issue, the need for his being brought to India is expected to be reinforced during the talks Prime Minister would be having with EU leaders.

He said at the political level there is full support of Portugal, a member of 15- nation grouping, on the issue but there were certain legal procedures to be followed.

Asked about New Delhi's assurance to Portugal that Salem would not be handed out death sentence once he is brought to India, he said such provision is there in extradition treaties.

Maintaining that EU is extremely sensitive on the issue of terrorism, Sibal said that Jammu and Kashmir would definitely come up during discussion in the context of cross-border terrorism sponsored by Pakistan.

Shortly before Vajpayee's arrival, Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, whose country now holds the revolving EU presidency said in a statement that he expected Kashmir and Pakistan to figure high on the agenda of the summit on October 10.

"It is of the utmost importance that tensions in the area should be relieved. India and Pakistan ought to establish a dialogue on security matters. This applies also to the situation in Kashmir," Rasmussen said.

Sibal said that European diplomats who visited Kashmir to witness the Assembly elections have conveyed there appreciation for the conduct of free and fair polls.

He said that one diplomat even said that he was astonished at the level of participation in the elections.

The diplomats recognised the importance of elections as well as the positive perception of the willingness and keenness of the people of Jammu and Kashmir in the political process.

PTI