Foreign Minister and Rezekne City Council representatives discuss prospects for regional co-operation with neighbouring countries

On 17 July, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Maris Riekstins, was on a working visit to the City of Rezekne so as to meet with local government representatives and to discuss prospects for regional co-operation with the neighbouring countries, and in particular in the border regions and towns.

The Chairman of the Rezekne City Council, Juris Guntis Vjakse, informed the Foreign Minister about the city's cultural and economic co-operation with foreign countries and said that local entrepreneurs were interested in developing co-operation with the closest neighbours such as Russia and expanding their activities in other regions as well. In this context, the Minister briefed the city leaders on current developments in Latvia-Russia relations and on the work of the Inter-governmental Commission, inviting the officials to inform both the Foreign Ministry and the Inter-governmental Commission on those important co-operation issues that require resolution, so that these could be included in the bilateral dialogue with the Russian Federation.

The Minister also mentioned the forthcoming visit to Central Asia by the President of Latvia and the opening of a Latvian embassy in Egypt, inviting entrepreneurs to consider their possible interests in these regions and to maintain an active dialogue with the economics diplomats of the Latvian embassies in other countries of interest.

The Chairman of the Rezekne City Council reported the problematic situation in the city regarding energy supply in relation to the operation of the Lithuanian investor E energija and their intention to take action against Latvia in an international court. The Foreign Minister promised to acquaint himself with the situation and proposed the initiation of a discussion on this issue at Cabinet level.

As part of his working visit, the Foreign Minister opened the press conference, organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Rezekne City Council, for the regional journalists of the Latgale region on issues such as what needs to be taken into account when travelling abroad and on the responsibilities of Latvian consular officials and their possibilities in assisting Latvian residents while abroad.

During the visit, Minister Riekstins visited The State Border Guard College, at which the Director of the College, General Ivars Zalitis, offered an informative insight into the border guard educational system. General Zalitis informed the Minister about the co-operation partners of the College and participation in international missions. The Director mentioned the development co-operation project with Moldova, as an example of successful co-operation, in which Moldovan border guards were trained in aspects of dog handling.

While in Rezekne, the Foreign Minister visited the air conditioning and ventilation systems factory Nedbaltic to acquaint himself with the company's experience in export abroad.

(end of text)