09/02/2004 (Agence Europe) - In an interview with the journal "Central Banking", Otmar Issing, Chief Economist and member of the European Central Bank's board of governors asserted that, "N o problem at all would be caused for the Euro or the ECB if some countries stay out for a long period" of the Euro-zone. the German banker insisted that out that the United Kingdom, Denmark and Sweden were expected to join the single currency after taking part in the European Exchange Rate for two years. He underlined that new members of the Euro-zone had to respect the same rules as current members (see above on Eurogroup). In regard to the Stability Pact, Mr Issing said that he was "very disappointed" that Germany was one of the countries that was not respecting it. (Site: htt: //.http://www.centralbanking.co.uk/publications/journals/cjb.htm ).