Maris Riekstins to meet with German Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs [08 Apr 2008]

Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins will visit Germany on 9 April.

As part of the visit, Minister Riekstins will meet with German Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Frank-Walter Steinmeier and will take part in the opening of the exhibition Geld in Lettland. Geschihte und Gegenwart (Money in Latvia. History and Today) at the Bode-Museum, Berlin. The exhibition is being held as part of Essentia Baltica 2008 das Deutsch-Baltische Kulturjahr.

At the ministerial meeting the officials are expected to review bilateral relations between Latvia and Germany, issues of regional co-operation within the framework of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) and in a broader context, as well as to discuss the summit of CBSS member state heads of government, which is due to take place in Riga on 3-4 June. Both sides are expected to talk about current EU issues, including the ratification and implementation of the Treaty of Lisbon, in addition to current news in international politics.      

As reported earlier, the opening of Essentia Baltica 2008 took place on 15 March at the Berlin Philharmonic, with participation of the world-renowned violinist Gidon Kremer and his chamber orchestra Kremerata Baltica. As part of the German-Baltic year of culture, each of the Baltic states prepares its own individual programme, while emphasising common features in the history, culture, and traditions of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. From January to November 2008, residents of several German cities (Berlin, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Hamburg, and Leipzig) will have the opportunity to become better acquainted with Latvian classical music, contemporary art, literature, and history.

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