State Secretary Normans Penke and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister discuss further development of bilateral relations

On 3 June 2008, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Normans Penke met with Vladimir Titov, the Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation. The meeting focused on the key issues in bilateral co-operation and a number of current international developments.

The sides confirmed their readiness to organise a visit to Russia by President Valdis Zatlers of Latvia. State Secretary Penke indicated that it was important to agree on the content of the visit and on the agreements to be signed prior to the visit. One agreement that might be signed during the visit is the Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Tax Evasion Regarding Income and Capital Tax, whose co-ordination at the expert level has been completed.

Both sides were of the same mind on the need to find solutions to the still problematic border- crossing issues. Mr Titov agreed with the State Secretary that it was essential at the moment to intensify co-operation in the field of information exchange so as to facilitate co-ordination on both sides.

Both officials valued as positive, the work of the Latvia-Russia Inter-governmental Commission On Humanitarian Co-operation, as significant work has been achieved in identifying the relocated cultural and historic heritage. They also expressed support for the continued active co-operation among experts. The sides agreed that the next Inter-governmental Commission meeting should be held in the autumn of this year. Until that time a meeting of the Commission's Co-Chairmen of both sides should be organised.

The discussion concluded with an overview of current international political developments, including the prospective EU-Russia relations in view of the EU-approved mandate for commencing negotiations on the new co-operation agreement with Russia.

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