Analytics, Economics, Latvia, Legislation, USA

Valdis Dombrovskis and Judith Garber. Riga, 5.07.2012. Photo: flickr.com

Dombrovskis said that the past three years had been a very fruitful period for the development of both political and economic relations between the two countries. Dombrovskis hopes that the positive development of the U.S.-Latvia relations will continue to both countries' benefit.

Garber said she was very pleased at the excellent relations between Latvia and the United States upon the end of her term of office. She mentioned U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's visit to Latvia last week and a visit by a U.S. business delegation this week as good examples of the positive Latvia-U.S. relations.

Garber thanked Latvia for supporting the United States on Afghanistan, Iraq and other matters, support that remained unchanged also during the crisis.

Dombrovskis said in turn that Latvia would continue implementation of its defense strategy and that Latvia's defense budget would be increased, thereby improving defense capacities of the National Armed Forces as well as Latvia's contribution to collective defense.

As reported, Garber, who has served as the U.S. ambassador to Latvia since August of 2009, will leave her post this month. The previous U.S. Ambassador to Latvia Charles Larson left Latvia after Obama was elected U.S. president. Larson was the ambassador to Latvia for less than a year.

The United States Senate has confirmed Mark Pekala as the country's next ambassador to Latvia.