Prime Minister Aigars Kalvītis and Mikhail Fradkov, Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, discussed opportunities for closer co-operation of both countries
On 27 March 2007, during his working visit to Moscow, the Latvian Prime Minister, Aigars Kalvitis, met with the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Mikhail Fradkov. The meeting concluded with the signing of the Latvia-Russia Border Treaty. After the meeting the Prime Minister Kalvitis and the Latvian delegation attended a working lunch hosted by Mr Fradkov.
During a bilateral meeting, Prime Minister Kalvitis stressed the role of the Treaty in the relations between Latvia and Russia. "Latvia is interested in building stable and pragmatic relations with Russia. This meeting and the signing of the Border Treaty is a significant step towards the further development of relations, which, to a certain extent, have had a ten-year break," noted Mr Kalvitis.
The Head of the Latvian Government emphasized Latvia's interest in the early ratification of the Treaty by both countries, and following this with the arrangement of Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga's visit to Moscow.
The Latvian Prime Minister also presented a draft agreement on an eased border crossing procedure, earlier agreed on by the Latvian and Russian prime ministers during their meeting in Reykjavik last year.
During the meeting, the Chairmen of the Latvia-Russia Intergovernmental Committee, Mr Igor Levitin and Mr Oskars Spurdzins, briefed those present on the results of the Committee's meeting last week. The key priority of the Committee is further development of the legal framework. It will pay special attention to the signing of the double taxation convention, the agreement on the protection of investment, to border crossing issues and to further development of the transport infrastructure.
The Latvian Prime Minister emphasized the need to intensify the exchange of visits of the Latvian and Russian ministers so as to promote the development of bilateral relations between both countries.
During the discussion about energy issues, Prime Minister Kalvitis briefed his Russian colleague on the North European gas pipeline, the potential development of the Dobele gas storage facility, and the prospect of the signing of a long-term agreement on gas supply between Latvia and Russia.
Mr Kalvitis also addressed the issue of Latvia's fish export to Russia. The Latvian and Russian officials agreed that this issue needs to be settled at the level of experts.
Other issues on the agenda by the Latvian Prime Minister were the taxes on export of wood from Russia, and tariff policy on the double railway tax.
Taking into account Latvia's interest in the new EU-Russia partnership agreement, the Head of the Latvian Government discussed the opportunities of starting the talks on the agreement in near future.
At the close of the meeting, the Latvian Prime Minister reiterated the invitation to his Russian counterpart to make a working visit to Latvia.
As part of his visit to Russia, Prime Minister Kalvitis is also scheduled to have a meeting and a working dinner with representatives from the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (Employers).
