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On November 20-21 this year, Ivars Godmanis, Prime Minister of the Republic of Latvia, participated in the annual meeting of the Baltic Council of Ministers which was also participated by Andrus Ansip, Prime Minister of Estonia, and Gediminas Kirkilas, Prime Minister of Lithuania.
During the meeting the three Baltic Prime Ministers discussed a number of matters of trilateral cooperation and the international situation. The focus of the meeting was on cooperation in the energy sector by supporting further progress of those projects which would enhance energy safety of the Baltic States. The heads of governments addressed further defence cooperation of the Baltic States in order to increase security and stability within in the NATO Member States and outside the Organisation. The officials also discussed such essential issues as environment, transport, European Neighbourhood Policy, relations of the European Union and Russia, as well as economic and financial matters.
When discussing cooperation in the energy sector, the heads of the Baltic governments agreed on further development of a Baltic energy network, on harmonisation of market regulations with the Nordic energy network and on further progress towards an integrated Nordic – Baltic energy network by 2013. To this end, in the period of 2008-2009 it is necessary to amend the relevant laws and to continue work on the development of interconnections between the Baltics and Sweden. The Prime Ministers shared the view that already in December this year it is necessary to adopt a decision on an interconnection with Sweden within the framework of the Baltic Interconnection Plan. An additional pre-requisite for the development of a common energy market is construction of a nuclear power plant in Lithuania.
When discussing the Baltic cooperation in the area of defence, the Prime Ministers underlined the necessity of common policy guidelines for patrolling the air space of the Baltic States by pointing out to the fact that it is important to see actual NATO presence in the Baltic air space.
After the meeting the Prime Ministers visited the Baltic Defence College, expressed their acknowledgement for its achievements and stressed that it is necessary to promote international recognition of the College
Additional information about the visit can be provided by Edgars Vaikulis, Press Secretary of the Latvian Prime Minister, by phone: + 371 29209714.
Zanda Šadre
Consultant
Communication Department
State Chancellery
Phone: +371 67082919, +371 29120742
E-mail: zanda.sadre@mk.gov.lv
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