Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins to take part at Munich Security Conference [04 Feb 2010]

From 5 to 7 February, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins will take part in the 46^th Munich Security Conference. The annual security conference in Munich is one of the major events of this profile in Europe, and brings together heads of state from all over the world, influential politicians and international policy experts.

This year's agenda includes the topics of transatlantic and European security, energy security challenges, the situation in Afghanistan and the Middle East, and also the future of NATO's new Strategic Concept.

The 46th Munich Security Conference is expected have around 300 participants, including several heads of state and government, as well as ministers for foreign affairs and defence. During the gathering, Minister Riekstins is to hold several bilateral meetings.

The Munich Security Conference was first held in 1962 on the initiative of the German publisher Ewald von Kleist. The Conference convened the Cabinet Ministers, members of parliament, high-ranking representatives of the armed forces, scientists and representatives of the media, for sharing opinions on foreign policy and security policy challenges in the relations between Europe and the United States of America.

(End of text)