Mr Indulis Berzins to talk over the enlargement of NATO at the meeting with the U.S. Secretary of State [29 May 2001]

On 30 May 2001 in Budapest, Hungary, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia Mr Indulis Berzins will participate in the meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the NATO member and partner countries within the framework of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC).

Mr Berzins together with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the "Vilnius group" candidate countries will have a meeting with the Secretary of State of the USA Mr Colin Powell. This meeting symbolises the strong support of the U.S. Administration to the enlargement of NATO and to the preparation process, taking place in the candidate countries.

Co-operation in the Euro-Atlantic area and the situation in the Balkans will be the central issues on the agenda of the EAPC. In his address at the meeting the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia Mr Indulis Berzins will speak about the enlargement of NATO, emphasising that the membership of the Baltic States in NATO is an integral part of the enlargement process.

Mr Berzins is also scheduled to have a bilateral meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway Mr Thorbjorn Jagland. The Ministers will discuss issues concerning Latvia's aspirations of integration into NATO.

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