Foreign Ministry to organize discussion "Latvia - Three Years in NATO: Benefits and Challenges"

On 26 March 2007, Foreign Minister Artis Pabriks will open a round-table discussion on the topic Latvia - Three Years in NATO: Benefits and Challenges for experts, academics and students. The event will be held at noon in the Foreign Ministry's 3^rd floor conference hall. The opening address will be made by the Minister of Defence, Atis Slakteris. This discussion is being held by the Foreign Ministry for the first time and is organized on the occasion of the 3^rd anniversary of Latvia's accession to NATO on 29 March.

Academic staff and students will discuss Latvia's benefits, the experience of Latvia as a NATO member country, and the challenges faced after becoming a full and active player in the new security environment.

The Chairman of the Board of the Latvian-American Financial Forum, the former Ambassador to NATO in 2004 and 2005, Aivis Ronis, will discuss Latvia's benefits and prospects in NATO. The Commander of the NAF Logistics Command, Lt Col Sandris Bralens will talk about the participation of the National Armed Forces in NATO operations. Professor Zaneta Ozolina will speak about the new challenges to NATO following the Riga Summit. Mr Andris Spruds will outline NATO's activities and role in the area of energy security, Mr Atis Lejins will discuss NATO's role in guaranteeing stability, and Mr Visvaldis Valtenbergs will make a presentation on the topic of security and democratisation, "we and they".

Students from the University of Latvia, the Vidzeme University College, and the Riga Stradins University, as well as representatives from the Latvian Transatlantic Organization will participate in the discussion.

The discussion will be led by Zaneta Ozolina and Visvaldis Valtenbergs.

Media representatives and other interested persons are invited to register with the Foreign Ministry Press Centre before 11.00 am on 26 March by telephoning 7016198 or by e-mail: media@mfa.gov.lv. Interpretation into English will be provided at the discussion.

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