Latvija in brief - 2010-09-23

  • 2010-09-22

Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis (New Era) on Sept. 16 addressed European leaders at the European Council meeting by encouraging them to maintain a balance between political, economic and security issues when developing relations with strategic partners, reports Nozare.lv. He as well stressed the great role of the European Neighborhood Policy and the Eastern Partnership in the European Union’s (EU) external relations. Latvia at the European Council meeting was represented by Dombrovskis and Foreign Minister Aivis Ronis. Discussions were held on two key issues: the EU’s relations with its strategic partners, namely, China, India and Brazil, and the management of economic policies on the grounds of the initiative by the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy.

Support for the main political parties in Riga has not changed over the past week, with the most popular still being Harmony Center, Unity, and For a Good Latvia, according to a poll by Nikolo grupa, reports LETA. The poll shows 47.5 percent are for Harmony Center; 25 percent for Unity; 8.7 percent for the alliance For a Good Latvia; 7.5 percent for the Union of Greens and Farmers; 6.3 percent for the alliance All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK; and 4.8 percent for one of the other parties. The poll predicted that Harmony Center will win 27 seats in the Saeima, Unity - 25 seats, and For a Good Latvia - 19 seats. The survey questioned 805 Riga residents between Sept. 13 and 16.

From Sept. 20 - 28, President Valdis Zatlers will be on a working visit to the United States where he will take part in the United Nations’ 65th General Assembly, reports LETA. His address is scheduled for Sept. 24. Zatlers is participating in top-level plenary meetings on Millennium Development Goals. Latvia’s vision of these goals was to be presented in the president’s speech Sept. 22. The president will also be at the opening of the annual plenary session for the organization ‘[Bill] Clinton Global Initiative.’ While in New York, Zatlers is also scheduled to attend receptions hosted by U.S. President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Foreign Minister Aivis Ronis, also at the U.N. General Assembly, met with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton along with other EU foreign ministers to discuss developments in the Middle East.