|
On 25 June, as part of the visit to Ukraine by President Valdis Zatlers of Latvia, Foreign minister Maris Riekstins met with Volodymir Ogryzko, Foreign Minister of Ukraine.
The meeting highlighted the significance of the political dialogue between Ukraine and Latvia, including the importance of high-level visits, and outlined further measures for the promotion of co-operation. Both counterparts expressed their satisfaction with the increasing economic co-operation between Ukraine and Latvia, and noted the ongoing Latvia-Ukraine Business Forum on June 25-26 in Kyiv, where Latvia is represented by more than 60 entrepreneurs. The ministers also received with appreciation the action programme for the promotion of economic co-operation in 2008-2009, signed in Kyiv by the President of Latvia during his state visit together with other topical co-operation agreements signed during these days.
The Foreign Ministers of Latvia and Ukraine agreed also in future to work for the transfer of the reform experience to Ukraine, especially regarding NATO integration. Minister Riekstins indicated that the work both by the Foreign Ministry and by the Ministry of Defence, including an active dialogue and information exchange with representatives of the NATO Secretary General's Office and of member countries, is of key importance for Ukraine to join the NATO Membership Action Plan. Both parties held the same views with regard to the need of raising public awareness and of co-operation with non-governmental organisations in order to increase public support to Ukraine's NATO membership.
As part of the discussion, the relations between Ukraine and the European Union were also debated, in particular regarding the new EU-Ukraine enhanced agreement. The Foreign Ministers reviewed the prospects for the Lisbon Treaty following the results of the Irish referendum, and also the European Union-Russia summit.
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister expressed his gratitude to Latvia for the Saeima declaration of 13 March "On the Holodomor of 1932-1933 in Ukraine" and its solidarity with the Ukrainian people concerning the tragic events of the Great Famine.
Within the framework of the visit to Ukraine by President Valdis Zatlers, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins, as a member of the official delegation, took part in the discussions between Ukrainian and Latvian Presidents and their delegations, in the discussion with Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament, at the state dinner hosted by President Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine, and in the opening of the Ukraine-Latvia Business Forum.
(end of text)
|
