On 2 September, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins met with the Chairman of the Riga City Council, Nils Usakovs.

During the meeting, the officials reviewed the co-operation of the Riga City Council with foreign cities, including Mr Usakovs' upcoming visit to Moscow. Minister Riekstins spoke about the development of the Latvia-Russia relations, in view of the meeting planned between Mr Usakovs and Igor Levitin, Co-chairman of the Latvia–Russia Intergovernmental Commission. 

During their discussion, Minister Riekstins and Mr Usakovs addressed the issue of preventing the cases when foreign tourists are swindled in the Old Town bars and nightclubs. The Foreign ministry had alerted the Riga City Council to the fact already earlier. "A negative image of Riga may only frighten away potential tourists, and therefore I am gratified that the present Mayor of Riga has taken decisive action to improve the situation," Minister Riekstins noted. The Foreign Minister also observed that, during the second half of summer, the Foreign Ministry has received fewer notifications from foreign embassies concerning fraud against foreign tourists.

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