* Says fundamentals support zloty strengthening
* No immediate inflationary risks
* Long-term zloty weakening could increase inflation (Adds details, quote, background)
WARSAW, June 15 (Reuters) - Poland's new central bank governor, Marek Belka, expects the zloty to strengthen, driven by the recovering economy and its convergance with the European Union, a newspaper on Tuesday quoted him as saying.
Belka added a longer term weakness of the zloty could fuel a rise in inflation, but remained optimistic that in near future there were no risks that could fuel a rise in prices.
"All signs show that the zloty should strengthen," Belka told Rzeczpospolita daily. "For 20 years the zloty is in an appreciation trend. It is a result of ongoing economic growth and is a phenomenon tied to our convergence with developed economies."
The zloty
Belka was approved as central bank chief on June 11 to replace Slawomir Skrzypek, who died in a plane crash in western Russia along with the President Lech Kaczynski and many other high officials on April 10.
European Union's largest ex-communist economy was the only one to avoid recession during the global crisis and it has picked up steam in the first quarter with a 3 percent expansion. Economists expect this year's expansion to reach 2.9 percent.
The central bank's 10-strong monetary policy panel has kept the key interest rate on all-time low level of 3.5 percent since June 2009. (Reporting by Patryk Wasilewski)