By joining the European Union and NATO, one of the most important priorities of Latvian foreign policy has become the transfer of our reform experience and support to countries which, similarly to ourselves, have stepped onto the road to democracy and legal and economic reform.  Providing practical assistance to our neighbour countries is important for simple reasons. Democratic and well-ordered countries increase stability in Europe and are in the interests of our security. Co-operation with neighbour countries is an important part of the common EU and NATO policy concerning neighbour countries. 

Countries such as Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine have shown interest in the Latvian Euro-Atlantic integration experience and the successful co-operation of our country with EU and NATO prior to the enlargement. Successful political consultations have also developed with the other countries of South Caucasus: Azerbaijan, Armenia and some other Central Asian countries.

Despite not all the countries of the aforementioned regions wishing to join the Alliance, they are interested in Latvia's experience in defence, security and other issues. In answer to this invitation for assistance, regular political consultations have taken place among defence experts. Political consultations have also been held between the Foreign Ministries of interested countries. The most important tasks of the said countries in defence matters are the establishment of democratic control over armed forces, and broad armed forces reform . Countries of the South Caucasus and a large proportion of Central Asian countries including Ukraine, are aware of the need to complete the change-over from a Soviet-type army to modern armed forces, numerically smaller, capable of taking part in international peace keeping missions and with the potential of being integrated into NATO forces. It is in our interests to support these reforms in order to prevent the army becoming a threat to the population of these countries and their neighbours. At the same time, it is necessary to think about reforms in other interrelated areas such as the justice, domestic, and security sectors. 

Latvian experts from various fields have provided support to countries of neighbouring regions under bilateral co-operation schemes, and the EU and NATO frameworks.   Mr R. Razuks was the NATO consultant to the South Caucasus in 2004 - 2006. Latvian Customs and Border Guard officers continue to take part in the EU Border Assistance Mission on the Ukraine-Moldova border. This EU civil mission is important in reducing the flow of illegal goods from the separatist Piednestra region in Moldova, to Europe. The Chief Justice of the Kuldiga Regional Court, Mr U. Kinis, has taken part in an EU mission to Georgia, advising on judicial reform issues in that country. These are just a few examples illustrating the practical contribution of Latvian experts in the development of domestic reforms in neighbouring regions, and strengthening democracy and stability. 

No less important is the political support which Latvia has shown to countries of neighbouring regions. Latvia has particularly attempted to draw the attention of other countries to the need to resolve the frozen conflicts in Piednestra and the South Caucasus.