Latvian Foreign Minister and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister discuss current bilateral relations

On 3 June 2008, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Maris Riekstins met with the Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Titov to discuss the development of bilateral relations and current international politics.

During the meeting, the possibilities of strengthening the Latvian-Russian bilateral dialogue were discussed. The sides shared the opinion that an inter-governmental commission meeting is required in the early future. In response to the invitation by the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Minister Riekstins affirmed his readiness to visit Russia this autumn. The sides also voiced readiness to organise a visit to Russia by the President of Latvia. Mr Riekstins indicated that a pre-condition of such a visit would be its practical content,  particularly as concerns the signing of bilateral agreements.

The Latvian Foreign Minister urged the Russian side to co-operate more closely in regaining the relocated cultural and historical values, emphasising in particular Latvia's interest in regaining film and museum exhibits and accessing Russian archive documents.

The sides discussed the process of establishing the border demarcation commission. Minister Riekstins briefed Mr Titov on the Latvian composition of the commission and invited the Russian side to appoint its representatives so as to make the launching of the commission's work possible.

Both sides assessed approvingly the agreement reached by the EU member states on the European Commission's mandate for negotiations with Russia on the new Partnership and Co-operation Agreement, which opens up possibilities to commence negotiations on the text of the above Agreement.

Concerning other international policy developments, Minster Riekstins expressed Latvia's concern about the current situation regarding the ensuring of Georgia's territorial integrity. The sides exchanged views on the possibilities of solving Georgia's frozen conflicts and on the situation in Kosovo.

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