Maris Riekstins: Latvia - a trustworthy support to Azerbaijan in its co-operation with the European Union

On 16 April, in commencing his Official Visit to Azerbaijan, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins met with the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and with Minister for Foreign Affairs Elmar Mammadyarov.

During their meeting the major attention focused on bilateral economic and political dialogue, on co-operation between the EU and Azerbaijan - including within the framework of the new Eastern Partnership, as well as on issues concerning energy and on the strengthening of regional security.

In the meeting with President Ilham Aliyev, both sides expressed satisfaction at the successful evolution of political dialogue at the most senior level. President Aliyev expressed the hope that he will be able to host Latvia's President Valdis Zatlers on his planned visit to Baku during the second half of this year. Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins noted the significance of political support, including at presidential level, for the facilitation of co-operation between businessmen. The Minister also expressed his hope that today's visit and the business forum planned for tomorrow will provide an additional impulse and new contacts for businessmen.

In discussions regarding the Eastern Partnership initiative, both sides emphasised the individual significance of their relationship to each of the Eastern Partnership member states. Minister Riekstins identified those areas in which Latvia would be prepared to realise co-operative projects with Azerbaijan, including energy security, transport, logistics and the information technology sector. The Minister also emphasised the necessity, within an EU framework, to jointly resolve issues with regard to the movement of people and on the easing of visa restrictions. "Co-operation between Latvia and Azerbaijan has the advantage of a mutual understanding on traditions as well as of the fact that there is no language barrier thus allowing for great prospects in the passing on of our experience and in mutual contacts", noted Maris Riekstins.

Senior Azerbaijani government officials emphasised that they view Latvia as a source of support in regard to the resolution of several issues with the European Union and expressed their appreciation of the investment in co-operation to date with the Eastern Partners.

The Foreign Ministers of both Latvia and Azerbaijan unanimously expressed their support for the co-operation between parliaments of both states, taking advantage of the Latvian and Azerbaijani parliamentary co-operation groups. The Ministers noted the co-operation in Education, including studies by students from Azerbaijan at the Baltic Defence College. They agreed on the possibilities for secondment between Foreign Service diplomats of both countries. During these discussions, attention was focussed on issues of regional security and on the frozen conflicts, especially in regard to Nagorno-Karabakh.

In continuation of the Official Visit, Foreign Minister Riekstins together with a delegation of Latvian businessmen will meet today with Azerbaijan's Ministers for Economic Development and for Transport.

On 17 April, Minister Riekstins will open the Latvia – Azerbaijan Business Forum which is being organised in Baku by the Embassy of Latvia in association with the Azerbaijani Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZpromo) and the Caspian-European Integration Business Club.

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