Latvian and Chilean Foreign Ministers sign agreement on visa waiver for holders of diplomatic, service and special passports

On 23 September, during the UN General Assembly in New York Foreign Minister Aivis Ronis met with the Foreign minister of Chile Alfredo Moreno Charme. As part of the meeting, the two sides signed The Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Latvia and the Government on the Republic of Chile on Exemption of Visa Requirement for Holders of Diplomatic, Service and Special Passports.

During their discussion, the Latvian and Chilean Foreign Ministers noted that the signing of this agreement is a step towards facilitating the relations between the countries and expanding the political dialogue. The ministers commended the work of the Chilean Honorary Consul in Latvia Oļegs Kuzņecovs, as well as the contribution by the Latvian Honorary Consul in Chile Ilze Kazjukēviča to the deepening of relations between the two countries. Ministers Ronis and Moreno Charme shared the opinion about a successful co-operation between Latvia and Chile within the UN, practicing a mutual exchange of votes in support to candidates from both countries for the membership in the UN Human Rights Council.

Foreign Minister Ronis emphasised the role of Chile in the facilitation of economic and political stability in Latin America and noted that Chile was the first from among the South American countries to become member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The Latvian Foreign Minister highlighted Latvia's interest in further strengthening of the EU-Chile relations drawing upon the agreement achieved during the EU-Chile Summit on 17 May 2010 in Madrid that set senergy and trade as priorities in the EU's co-operation with Chile.

During the meeting, the parties also talked about the current developments in the operation for the rescue of more than 30 miners trapped underground in a gold and copper mine since it caved in on 5 August.

On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, and on New Zealand's initiative, Foreign Minister Ronis had bilateral meetings with the Foreign Minister of New Zealand Murray McCully in order to discuss co-operation within UN.