Canadian armed forces commander arrives on visit to Latvia

RIGA - From today until May 4, Canadian Armed Forces Commander Jonathan Vance will be on a visit to Latvia. LETA was informed by the Defense Ministry.

During his visit, he will meet with Latvian National Armed Forces Commander Leonids Kalnins to discuss security matters, Latvian-Canadian defense cooperation, as well as matters related to the Canadian-led NATO battle group in Latvia.

He will also meet with the command of the battle group, as well as NATO and Canadian soldiers based in Latvia.

Vance will also participate in a special ceremony at Riga Castle, where President Raimonds Vejonos will bestow to him the Order of Viesturs for his contributions to Latvia.

The battalion, led by Canada, is currently made up of approximately 1,400 soldiers from Canada, Italy, Poland, Albania, Slovenia, Spain, the Czech Republic, Montenegro and Slovakia, and is one of NATO's strategies to enhance the NATO presence in the region and strengthen the region's security.