Foreign Minister to debate regional co-operation with Estonian, Lithuanian, and German counterparts

On the invitation of Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins, Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Petras Vaitiekunas, and German Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, will arrive in Latvia to take part in political consultations on 20 May. 

As part of the consultations, it is planned that the officials will discuss topical EU issues, regional co-operation within the Baltic Sea Region, and current events in international politics. Minister Riekstins will advise his counterparts about Latvia's stance regarding the future advance of the region and the planned EU strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, and also about topical issues related to the Summit of the Heads of Government of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS). The summit is due to take place in Riga from 3 to 4 June.  

Consultations between Baltic state and German foreign ministers were first held on 28 August 1996 in Leipzig, on the initiative of the then German Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Klaus Kinkel. This year the political consultations are taking place for the 10^th time.  

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