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During a meeting between Latvian Foreign Minister Artis Pabriks and UK Minister for Europe, Geoff Hoon, held as part of the NATO Summit, Mr Pabriks called on the UK to support Latvia's prospective membership in the organization of the world's most economically developed countries, the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development). Mr Hoon emphasized his country's firm support for the accession of Latvia and other EU member states to this Organization.
Both Ministers expressed great satisfaction with this year's progress in bilateral relations between Latvia and the United Kingdom, and emphasized in particular the Latvian President's visit to Great Britain in summer 2006, and the recent visit of Queen Elizabeth II to Latvia.
The Ministers discussed EU enlargement issues, including Turkey's EU membership talks. Minister Pabriks emphasized the need to leave open opportunities for Turkey to continue its way to the European Union.
The Ministers agreed on the need to strengthen the NATO forces in Afghanistan, and to also increase support for this country in the civil sector, by strengthening state administration institutions, restoring the infrastructure, and giving the Afghan people the opportunity to work.
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