Foreign Minister Pabriks briefs Foreign Policy Council on foreign policy developments

On 16 March 2007, Foreign Minister Artis Pabriks briefed members of the Foreign Policy Council on the latest developments in Latvia's foreign policy. Minister Pabriks noted that at the Geneva Conference on Disarmament on 13 March, which he attended for the first time, he voiced Latvia's concerns about the uncontrolled spread of nuclear technology and biological and chemical weapons.

Minister Pabriks informed those present about the agreement reached by EU leaders during their last meeting and concerning the decision to obtain, by 2020, one-fifth of the energy produced by the European Union from renewable energy resources - the wind, the sun, and the biomass. This decision, however, will not have a particular impact on Latvia, as it currently achieves 36 per cent of its total energy consumption from these sources; nevertheless, it is a very significant step in the area of environment protection.

The Foreign Minister informed the Foreign Policy Council members that the Berlin Declaration, drafted on the occasion of the 50^th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome by Germany which currently holds the EU Presidency, contains issues significant for Latvia - EU enlargement, the common energy and foreign policy, and the principle of subsidiarity.

Mr Pabriks also noted that on 16 February, just one month ago, Latvia was the first of the Baltic states to establish diplomatic relations with Libya.

Participants of the meeting also discussed the progress in concluding the Latvia-Russia Border Agreement and current domestic policy issues.

Members of the Foreign Policy Council are Ilze Brands-Kehre, the Director of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies; Ivars Ijabs, political scientist; Arnis Kaktins, the Director of the Public Opinion Research Centre (SKDS); Ojars Kalnins, the Director of the Latvian Institute; Atis Lejins, the Director of the Latvian Institute of Foreign Affairs; Nils Muiznieks, the Director of the Institute of Social and Political Research of the University of Latvia; Zanete Ozolina, professor, Chairperson of the Strategic Analysis Committee; Uldis Pilens, the President of UPB Holdings; Pauls Raudseps, journalist; Aivis Ronis, the Chairman of the Board of the Latvian-American Financial Forum; Aivars Stranga, professor of the University of Latvia; Peteris Vinkelis, the Deputy Executive Director of Soros Foundation Latvia; and Inna Steinbuka, the invited expert, Director - Economic and Regional Statistics Bureau,  Eurostat.

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