Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins on working visit to Egypt and to participate in international conference on aid for the reconstruction of Gaza

From 1 – 3 March, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins will be on a working visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt, where he will meet with Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit to discuss the possibilities for the development of political dialogue with one of the most influential states in the Middle East, as well as to actuate co-operation in economics, culture, and education. During the visit it is planned to conclude an intergovernmental agreement on education and science.

On 2 March the Foreign Minister will take part in an international donor's conference on aid for the reconstruction of Gaza, thus responding to Egypt's call to the international community to become involved in the Middle East peace process, especially accentuating the necessity to resolve the human crisis in the Gaza Strip. The conference will be attended by state leaders and senior government officials with representation at foreign minister level from more than 70 countries, as well as representatives from international organisations such as the UN, the Arab League and the World Bank.

Diplomatic relations between Latvia and Egypt were established on 23 January 1992. Latvia co-operates with Egypt both at the bilateral level as well as through the EU and the Union for the Mediterranean format.  Minister Riekstins will also formally open the Latvian Embassy in Cairo, which has been representing the interests of Latvia in the region for more than a year now. The resident Latvian Ambassador to the Arab Republic of Egypt, Maris Selga, was accredited on 16 June 2008. 

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