Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins to participate in EU – GCC Joint Council and Ministerial Meeting

On 29 April, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins will participate in the 19^th European Union and Gulf state Co-operation Council (GCC) ministerial level meeting at Muscat, in the Sultanate of Oman.

During the meeting, Foreign Ministers of the EU member states and of the Persian Gulf state Co-operation Council will discuss the development of events in the region and worldwide. The Middle East peace process, the situations in Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Global Terrorism and the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, Piracy, and issues with regard to human rights and cross-cultural dialogue are on the agenda for discussion.  At this particular meeting, questions with regard to the global finance and economic crisis and possibilities for resolution thereof will also be addressed.

Latvia is interested to facilitate economic co-operation with the Gulf state Co-operation Council member states which in future could very possibly become very important export markets for Latvian products. Latvia's export potential is in line with that portion of the Gulf state sector in need of food products, factory and woodwork products as well as pharmaceuticals.

The European Union and Gulf state Co-operation Council meetings take place on a regular basis in accordance with an agreement concluded between both parties. Latvia is participating in this meeting format now for the fifth time. The previous meeting took place on 6 May 2008 in Brussels, Belgium.

The Gulf Co-operation Council was created in 1981 as a regional organisation uniting Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

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