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Today, Aigars Kalvītis, Prime Minister, met Halldór Ásgrímsson, General Secretary of the Nordic Council of Ministers, the former Prime Minister of Iceland who is paying a working visit to Rīga.
The Prime Minister and General Secretary of the Nordic Council of Ministers discussed opportunities for closer co-operation in particular sectors – education, culture, as well as in international organizations - in the European Union (EU) and Council of the Baltic Sea States. The Prime Minister admitted:”Latvia will continue to develop co-operation with the Nordic Council of Ministers and is open to new proposals and ideas”.
The sides were of the same opinion that the experts of ministries have to prepare definite proposals for participation of Latvia in different programs of the Nordic Council of Ministers because starting with the year 2008, Latvia could participate in these programs more actively and on equal terms with other member states of the Nordic Council of Ministers.
Halldór Ásgrímsson appealed to Latvia to support co -operation of the Nordic Council of Ministers with the EU and Council of the Baltic Sea States, where Latvia will be a presiding state starting from July 1.
The Head of the Government underlined the interest of Latvia in closer co-operation with all countries of the region in order to jointly solve the issues related to the development of the region and increasing of competitiveness. The Prime Minister informed about the regular meetings of the Prime Ministers of Northern countries of the EU and Baltic countries before the meetings of the European Council where the issues and positions that are topical for the region are discussed.
Aigars Kalvītis and Halldór Ásgrímsson were gratified about bilateral relations of Latvia and Iceland – successful political dialogue and official visit of the Prime Minister to Iceland in the spring last year.
Jana Vektere
Consultant
Communication Department
Phone: 7082919, mob. ph.: 29244699
E-mail: Jana.Vektere@mk.gov.lv
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