Latvian Foreign Ministry State Secretary visits Washington

Between 3-6 March, Normans Penke, Secretary of State of the Foreign Ministry, will visit Washington in order to hold political consultations with U.S. officials in the Department of State, the Department of Homeland Security and the Congress, as well as to participate, together with the Latvian ministers for the economy and the environment, in the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference organized by the U.S. Administration. 

Accordingly, an important purpose of the State Secretary's visit is to take part in a discussion on the role of renewable energy resources in Latvia's energy sector, on the production and use of renewable energy and on its economical and environmental benefits.

Given that Mr Penke's visit takes place before NATO Summit in Bucharest, a topical issue for debate will be security policy issues such as the situation in Afghanistan and in Kosovo, NATO enlargement and the challenges for the 21^st century. State Secretary Penke intends to exchange opinions with his U.S. partners regarding the situation development and co-operation projects in the EU's neighbouring countries, and also to propose more dynamic co-operation among NGO's. A vital topic for both parties will be Latvia's accession to the U.S. Visa Waiver Program and the visit by the Homeland Security Department to Riga, projected for April. State Secretary Penke is expected to meet also with Senator Dianne Feinstein and Congressman John Shimkus, a co-chairman of the Baltic Caucus at the House of Representatives, in order to review Latvia – U.S. co-operation in the combating of international terrorism and to encourage reciprocal parliamentary visits.  

 

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