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On 3-4 September, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins will participate, as a member of the official delegation, in the state visit to the Republic of Croatia by President Valdis Zatlers. As part of the visit, meetings have been envisaged with senior officials of Croatia: President Stjepan Mesic, Speaker of the Parliament Luka Bebic, and Prime Minister Ivo Sander.
Within the framework of the visit it is intended to express Latvia's support to towards Croatia's integration into the EU and to reaffirm the ongoing readiness of the Republic of Latvia to share its euro-integration experience with Croatia.
Croatia's accession to the European Union is vital for the enhancement of peace and security in the Balkan region. It also bears evidence of the continuing process of EU enlargement, and each European country, which complies with the criteria set by the EU, may become its member state.
Latvia also supports the ratification, at the earliest possible date, of Croatia's NATO Accession Protocol signed on 9 July this year, so that by the next NATO Summit in spring 2009, Croatia would become a full member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
As part of the visit, it is envisaged to discuss the prospects for intensifying Latvia-Croatia economic relations, and a business forum for entrepreneurs of both countries will be organised.
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