BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

23/04/2009

Latvian and Belarus foreign ministers agree to intensify work of intergovernmental committees

Nina Kolyako, BC, Riga

Yesterday, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins (People's Party) met with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Sergey Martynov, who was in Riga on a working visit, LETA was informed by the Foreign Ministry's press department.

During their meeting, the ministers discussed the state of bilateral relations between Latvia and Belarus, emphasizing the open and constructive dialogue and accenting the facilitation of economic cooperation.

Riekstins informed his colleague that Latvia's businessmen see a broad potential for economic cooperation with Belarus, especially in such areas as machine construction, metal-works, wood-processing, pharmaceuticals and also emphasizing investment possibilities.

The ministers also exchanged opinions on the need to strengthen the legal framework between both countries and agreed to evaluate further opportunities with regard to the existing treaties on re-admission and on environmental protection.

The ministers were of one mind on the intensification of the work of the intergovernmental committees, with regard to economic, scientific and technical co-operation issues and especially in the areas of transport, transit, and energy.

During their discussions, attention also focussed on the relationship between Belarus and the European Union and on the noticeably positive dynamic of recent times. Riekstins emphasized that the new EU Eastern Partnership initiative is a prospective platform for both multilateral and bilateral cooperation with each of the Eastern Partnership states, including with Belarus.

Riekstins pointed to Latvia's interests in cooperation with Belarus with regard to the facilitation of the mobility of people, market development, environmental issues, energy, as well as mutual educational projects.

"The strengthening of democratic values and guaranteeing of stability in Belarus are important issues for the European Union. The EU is prepared to work with all the Eastern Partnership states, allowing for a differential approach in accordance with the individual achievements and interests of each state,'' noted the Latvian foreign minister.

Martynov's working visit is the first visit to Latvia by a foreign minister from the Republic of Belarus after an interval of eleven years. The previous visit at the foreign minister level took place in 1998, when the then Belarus Minister for Foreign Affairs was Ivan Antonovich.

Source:

http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/baltic_states_cis/?doc=13046

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