RIGA- On 14 July, as part of his working visit to Washington, Foreign Minister
Maris Riekstins met with the United States Secretary of State, Hillary
Rodham Clinton.
During the meeting, the parties exchanged opinions on the topics of
bilateral relations between Latvia and the United States of America, the
co-operation within NATO, including international operations in Afghanistan,
as well as the involvement of the Baltic states in the development of a new
NATO security concept. Attention was devoted also to the financial and
economic situation in Latvian and to the support from international
institutions to the structural reforms and measures for economic recovery of
in Latvia. The parties also exchanged opinions on the involvement of the
international community in the political and economic processes in EU's
eastern neighbour countries as well as co-operation with the Central Asian
states, also in the energy sector.
While speaking about NATO, both parties reviewed the role of NATO in facing
the security policy challenges of today. With regard to this, the role of
the new NATO security concept was highlighted as well as the involvement of
the Baltic states in the process of its development. Minister Riekstins also
reiterated Latvia's ongoing commitment to providing its civil and military
contribution to the operation in Afghanistan. The U.S. side commended
Latvia's involvement alongside with other allies in this international
operation.
"An excellent example is not only the participation in the
operation in Afghanistan, but also the provision of an effective supply
route for the U.S. military needs through the territory of Latvia," noted
Minister Riekstins.
Latvia's Foreign Minister also addressed the question about the
international community support to the eastern neighbour countries of the
European Union, emphasizing the increase of presence of international
observers in Georgia, support to demographic reforms in Belarus, Ukraine,
Moldova and in the South Caucasus countries. Mr Riekstiņš and Mrs Clinton
both agreed on the necessity for an all-inclusive dialogue with the Central
Asian countries.
At the end of the discussion, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins invited the
U.S. Secretary of State to visit Latvia in 2010 and to personally
participate at the opening in Riga of the new U.S. Embassy building, which
is currently under construction.
This was the first bilateral meeting of Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins and
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton after the new U.S. administration
has started its work. Both ministers had met before informally during the
meeting of NATO foreign ministers and the EU-USA summit.
"We are partners in NATO; we are partners in so many of the securityissues. We know that Latvia is facing a very challenging economic timeand we look forward to discussing ways that we can work more closelytogether," said Clinton.
