Scheffer's final visit to the Baltics

RIGA- The Latvian Institute has released the following regarding NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer's final visit to Latvia:

 
Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, the NATO Secretary General who has headed NATO since its

last enlargement in 2004, paid a farewell visit to Latvia on July 9th. During his sixth visit to Latvia since presiding over Latvia's entry in NATO in 2004, he met with President Valdis Zatlers, Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis and expressed gratitude for Latvia's cooperation and active involvement in the Transatlantic Security organization.

 "Each nation has dreams, which sometimes seem unrealistic. Our dream was to join NATO. But there are people who help to make these dreams come true," remarked President Valdis Zatlers as he presented the high official decoration: the Cross of Recognition of the First Class to Secretary General of NATO Jaap de Hoop Scheffer for his merit for the benefit of Latvia.

"I have the honor to award you with one of the oldest decorations in Europe, founded by the Duke of Kurland in 1710. You will always be a friend of Latvia," he continued.

Scheffer thanked the President for the award and expressed satisfaction of having had the chance to assist Latvia in making its dream come true. He noted: "After my 6th visit to Latvia I really regard myself as a friend of Latvia. Sometimes it is difficult to believe that NATO now is a family of 28 democratic nations.

"You helped this dream to come true. I will continue to support Latvia." Prime Minister Dombrovskis thanked Scheffer for his contribution in ensuring Latvia's involvement in NATO.

It was under Scheffer's leadership that NATO held its 2006 Summit in Riga, Latvia. The historic Riga Summit assembled 26 heads of state and government, and was the first NATO Summit ever to be held in one of the Baltic States. Lithuaniaand Estonia also joined NATO in 2004.

During the meeting, Dombrovskis and Scheffer discussed a variety of current international security and defence matters. Among them, the involvement of the Baltic States in preparing the new NATO strategy concept, NATO patrols in Baltic airspace, and Latvia's participation in the international operation in Afghanistan. The NATO Secretary General highlighted the importance of Latvia's continuing participation in the Afghanistan mission, despite increased hardships brought on by the economic downturn and massive state budget reductions. The Prime Minister acknowledged that Afghanistan is Latvia's priority NATO mission and will continue to be fully supported by the Government.

Scheffer also met with Latvia's Defence Minister Imants Liegis and Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins.

On 7 July in Brussels, under the authority of the NATO Secretary General, the first public debate on the Alliance's new Strategic Concept will be launched, in which Latvia will be represented at the expert level by former Ambassador of Latvia to the U.S., Permanent Representative to NATO, Aivis Ronis, nominated and supported by all three Baltic States.