On 20-21 August, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins took part in the meeting of Nordic and Baltic Foreign Ministers in Reykjavik, Iceland. During the meeting, opinions were exchanged on the current international policy issues, including the situation in Afghanistan following the elections, the agenda and priorities of Sweden's EU Presidency, and also the European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. The ministers reviewed regional co-operation in the field of energy as well as the relations with the Russian Federation and the situation in the countries - eastern neighbours to the EU. 

Foreign ministers expressed their unanimous support to the continuation of the accession talks with Iceland and noted that Baltic and Nordic solidarity was an important political signal at the time when Iceland has submitted its application for the EU membership. Minister Riekstins noted that Latvia was prepared to share with Iceland the experience of accession negotiations.

"Given that Sweden currently holds the EU Presidency, the meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Baltic and Nordic countries provides them with an excellent opportunity to discuss the EU agenda and the Presidency priorities, and coordinate, accordingly, their mutual co-operation," Mr Riekstins pointed out.

The foreign ministers noted that the meeting was taking place at the time when an intensive work is to commence at all international organisations, and therefore a concerted approach and information exchange were of particular importance.

In view of the fact that next year Latvia will take over from Iceland the duties of the co-ordinating country, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins invited his ministerial counterparts to the following meeting in Latvia, in August 2010.  

(End of text)