Clinton: US wants to support Baltic energy independence amid Ukraine crisis

The United States is deeply interested in supporting the Baltic States' endeavors to consolidate their energy independence, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said. 

Latvian President Andris Berzins is on a working visit to the United States today where he presented Clinton with a Grand Cross of the Order of the Three Stars for her contribution to regional security.

Clinton said that the involvement of U.S. investors in Latvia's financial sector is a strong stimulus to other U.S. companies to invest in Latvian and Baltic economy sectors, including in the energy sector.

President Berzins said the Baltic States had begun a much closer and focused cooperation with the US in the fields of security amid the Ukraine crisis.

When sharing memories about the former U.S. President Bill Clinton's visit in Latvia 20 years ago, Clinton emphasized the positive emotions she felt in Riga, adding that the independence of the Baltic nations had been an important topic to her since her school years, when she learned about it from her teacher while living in Chicago, which has a strong community of Latvian emigrants.

Later, Berzins invited the former U.S. President Bill Clinton and his wife Hilary, to visit Latvia, LETA reports.

Berzins is on a working visit in the United States until September 26..

Today Berzins will participate in a reception hosted by the U.S. President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama.