Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins and Lithuanian Foreign Minister discuss sea border agreement between both countries

On 9 January, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins met with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Vygaudas Ušackas, who had arrived on a working visit to Riga. During their meeting, the Foreign Ministers reviewed the topicalities of bilateral relations, including the issue of the Latvia-Lithuania sea border agreement, regional co-operation in the context of the Baltic states and the Nordic countries, as well as energy policy.

Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins highlighted the issue of the Latvia-Lithuania sea border agreement signed by both sides, but not yet ratified by the Saeima of Latvia. Minister Riekstins proposed the assessment of Article 4 of the border agreement, at the level of experts of both countries,  as it concerns the distribution of natural resources. "An expert discussion would focus the direction for further co-operation between both countries after the coming into force of the border agreement," noted Minister Riekstins.

During their talks, ministers Riekstins and Usackas reviewed the energy security  issue in the European Union, including the Baltic Sea Region. Both ministers agreed that attention sould be devoted to the diversification of energy suppliers, and the issue should be one of the priorities of the Czech EU Presidency.    

During their talks, both sides acknowledged the political and economic dialogue between Latvia and Lithuania, emphasising the regular exchange of high level visits. 

Vygaudas Usackas, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Lithuania was on a  visit to Latvia at the invitation of Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins. The Lithuanian Foreign Minister took up his appointment on 9 December 2008. Prior to this posting Mr Usackas had worked for many years at the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, having served as the Lithuanian Ambassador to the U.S., to the United States of Mexico and also to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

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