Foreign Ministry Political Director in e-PINE Washington consultations discusses current international issues

On Wednesday, 30 April, the consultations of the e-PINE (Enhanced Partnership in Northern Europe) are underway, with the participation of Foreign Ministry Political Directors from Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and the U.S.. The Latvian delegation at the consultations is being led by Peteris Ustubs, the Foreign Ministry Political Director. The U.S. is represented by Daniel Fried and Kurt Volker.

Discussions in the e-PINE format are expected to focus on current issues of international significance and on the assessment of the situation in the neighbouring regions of the EU, developments in the Balkans, Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Cuba. Mr Ustubs is scheduled to chair a debate on Moldova.   

On the initiative of Latvia the previous e-PINE consultations took place in Riga for the first time on 26 October 2007. The e-PINE partnership was begun in 2003 as a continuation of the U.S.-Baltic states Northern Europe Initiative policy framework on a larger scale, with the aim of enhancing and maintaining U.S. co-operation with the Baltic and Nordic region. The three broad areas of focus for co-operation under e-PINE includes security policy, neighbourhood policy, and active economies.

(end of text)