Aigars Kalvītis met the Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Latvia

Today, Aigars Kalvītis, Prime Minister of the Republic of Latvia, met Ian Andrew Minton Bond, the new Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Latvia, who paid the Prime Minister an introductory visit.

During the conversation, Aigars Kalvītis noted the close ties of Latvia and the United Kingdom within the framework of the European Union (EU) and NATO, and expressed hope that the new ambassador would further promote the successful cooperation of both countries.

Ian Andrew Minton Bond will have a special role in Latvia also because from 1 July 2005 the United Kingdom will take over the EU presidency and will have to continue the work on very important issues of the EU: the EU financial perspective for 2007-2013, implementation of the Lisbon Strategy, external relations of the EU, ratification of the EU Constitutional Treaty, and further enlargement: beginning of accession negotiations with Turkey and probably Croatia too.

During the meeting, particular attention was paid to bilateral visits. Aigars KalvÄ«tis invited the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to visit Latvia. Aigars KalvÄ«tis asked the United Kingdom for support in the process of LatviaâÀ™s joining of the OECD. Also was discussed the topic of the EUâÀ™s New Neighbourhood Policy and LatviaâÀ™s experience in cooperation with Moldova, where there are possibilities for joint work of Latvia and the United Kingdom to achieve positive results. The Prime Minister informed the Ambassador on yesterdayâÀ™s decision of the Government to sign the border treaty with Russia.

Prime Minister Aigars Kalvītis wished Ian Andrew Minton Bond success in performing his work as an ambassador in Latvia.