RIGA - The current amorous state of Latvian-French bilateral relations shows no signs of turning cold with news that former President Vaira Vike-Freiberga is to back a bid by the French city of Bordeaux to be the European Capital of Culture in 2013.
Following the success of French-Latvian cultural exchanges in 2005 and 2007, Bordeaux Mayor and former French prime minister Alain Juppe invited Vike-Freiberga to act as President of the Bordeaux - European Capital of Culture 2013 Support Committee, a position which she accepted.
Bordeaux is competing against fellow French cities Strasbourg, Marseille, Nice, Lyon, St-Etienne and Toulouse for the right to claim the title, though Slovakia will also provide a capital of culture.
Latvia is due to provide the capital of culture in 2014 (along with Sweden) but the next Baltic representation will be Vilnius 2009 (shared with Linz, Austria) and Tallinn 2011 (shared with Turku, Finland).
A final decision on which French town has succeeded will be made in early 2009.
