Foreign Minister Māris Riekstiņš and new Ambassador of France to Latvia outline course for future co-operation [13 Apr 2010]

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On 13 April, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstiņš met with the new Ambassador of France to Latvia, Chantal Poiret, who arrived in Latvia last week to take up office, replacing former Ambassador Pascal Fieschi.

Foreign Minister Māris Riekstiņš evaluated the recent dynamic bilateral dialogue between Latvia and France and noted the potential for co-operation within international organisations. Minister Riekstins and Ambassador Poiret discussed the possibilities to co-operate by organising more frequent meetings between officials from both countries, and political consultations, as well as by promoting French investment in Latvia and developing cultural co-operation, for instance, during the time when Riga is preparing to become the European Capital of Culture in 2014.

During the meeting, both parties also dealt with multilateral co-operation within the European Union and NATO, as well as other international topicalities. Mr Riekstiņš and Ms Poiret shared an opinion that an active dialogue among the EU members is required, as well as mutual solidarity when deciding on issues related to the EU's future and to co-operation with partner countries.

Chantal Poiret has been a career diplomat in the Foreign Service of France since 1981. Ms Poiret has worked in the embassies of France in Bucharest, Bonn, and in the permanent representation to UN in New York; she has been Ambassador of France to Azerbaijan and Norway. The new Ambassador of France is to submit her credentials to the President of Latvia next week, on 20 April.

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