President of Latvia meets the President of Italy [27 Jun 2005]

President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga met the President of Italy Carlo Azeglio Ciampi in Rome today stressing that this – the second visit of the President of Latvia to Italy was taking place in a new status as both countries were members of the European Union now. The President also expressed the hope that in the new level of relations the relations between Latvia and Italy would achieve unexperienced dynamics. The President also mentioned that namely in Rome the EU member states had signed the EU Constitutional Treaty in the autumn of the previous year and then there had been the hope that legal basis were being laid for the future where with new instruments still more effective operation of the union would be achieved. According to the President of Latvia the enthusiasm had been lost now and the member states were looking into the future with a more realistic view to achieve the set aims. She also indicated that although France and the Netherlands had rejected the ratification of the Treaty also the opinion of the countries that had adopted it had to be taken in account. She pointed out that today the Europeans were intrested in different issues on how far the future European borders would extend and how the European Monetary Union would work and namely these issues would be the ones to be faced by the UK Presidency that would start in July. Vaira Vike-Freiberga indicated that the new EU member states hoped that the action of the United Kingdom would benefit the overall competitiveness of Europe as well as the development of the new member states.

During the meeting the Presidents also touched upon the European security policy. The state leaders expressed satisfaction with the bilateral contacts in the military area between Latvia and Italy. During the meeting the Presidents mentioned that Riga was prepared to offer to host the NATO summit.

The President of Italy congratulated the President of Latvia on the fact that Latvia, like Italy, had ratified the Constitutional Treaty and was approaching the membership in the Eurozone. He stated that he trust of such a new and dynamic state as Latvia into euro was strengthening the belief that single currency confirmed the united will of the Europeans in real facts. Along with a competitive economy needed the stability guarantee the Italian leader said. He also mentioned that the EU ability to introduce the single currency quiets the criticism often aimed at the European union that it was unchanging in its status quo. Euro was a proof of its openness, innovations and big forsightedness.

The President of Latvia and the heads of Italy dealt with the further bilateral co-operation in economy, culture and various common European issues related to security, political co-ordination as well as culture projcts.

 

President's Chancery