Foreign Minister Pabriks addresses issue of visa-free regime with the U.S. during meeting with American Jewish Committee representatives [21 Jun 2006]

On 21 June 2006, Latvian Foreign Minister Artis Pabriks met with a delegation of the American Jewish Committee, headed by its Executive Director, Rabbi David A. Harris. During the meeting, Mr Pabriks emphasised Latvia's interest in establishing a visa-free regime with the United States as soon as possible to strengthen relations between both countries.

The delegation representatives noted that they are aware of the situation and expressed their continued support for a positive settlement of the issue.

During the meeting, Committee representatives expressed their gratitude to Minister Pabriks for his contribution to the development of positive relations with the United States and with Israel. The Committee delegation highly rated the organisational arrangements for the conference on the Holocaust to be held in Riga on 5-6 July, and invited participants to pay special attention to the educational issues of the Holocaust.

The parties also considered a number of regional and global issues which are currently important at the international level as well as discussed domestic policy in Latvia and in the United States.

The meeting with the American Jewish Committee was also attended by the Chairman of the Latvian Council of Jewish Parishes and Communities, Arkadijs Suharenko, and the State Secretary of the Latvian Ministry of Culture, Solvita Zvidrina.

The American Jewish Committee was established in 1906. Its main tasks are to ensure safety and welfare of the Jewish people in the United States, Israel, and elsewhere in the world, to promote the observance of pluralist and civic values, and other related issues.

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