Baltic unity is essential for strengthening regional security in current geopolitical environment - Rinkevics

RIGA - The unity of the Baltic states is essential for strengthening regional security in the current geopolitical environment, Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics said Tuesday during a meeting with Saulius Skvernelis, the new Speaker of Lithuania's Seimas.

As the president's adviser Martins Dregeris informed LETA, the meeting focused bilateral relations, regional security and issues high on the international agenda.

Rinkevics underlined that Lithuania is one of Latvia's closest strategic partners and that he welcomes any cooperation formats for an even closer partnership between Lithuania and Latvia. According to the president, one of the examples of the Baltic states' unity is the planned synchronization of their electricity grids with Europe.

"This is essentially the last step to end the Baltic states' dependence on Russian energy resources and an important investment in the Baltic states' energy security," said the Latvian president.

Rinkevics noted the need for a continued political, military, economic and financial support to Ukraine. At the same time, the president expressed support to and solidarity with Georgia's people in their fight for justice and the perspective to become a member of the European Union (EU) in the future. He also condemned the brutal attacks on the Georgian protesters who have taken a firm stand for their choice and future in the EU.

This is the Lithuanian parliament speaker's first foreign visit after his election.