Baltic States – CIS, EU – Baltic States, Latvia, Legislation, Ukraine

Andris Berzins and Sergio Mattarella. Rome, 1.04.2015. Photo: president.lv

While discussing the relations with Russia, the two presidents agreed that relations with Russia were of major importance to the European Union, therefore everything possible should be done to solve the crisis in Ukraine and normalize the relations with Russia, because military solutions never achieve the intended results, contrary to diplomacy and cooperation. In this context, the Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi's visit to Moscow at the beginning of March was mentioned, which, in the Italian president's opinion, was an important step toward normalization of the relations with Russia.

Berzins stressed he believed that solving the crisis in Ukraine would be a long and complicated process. Nevertheless, Latvia will do everything in its power to help Ukraine by sharing its experience, in order to attain a positive solution for the country in the long term.

"The question of Ukraine and developments in Eastern Partnership countries are important to Latvia, and not just during Latvia's Presidency of the EU Council – these matters have been and will always be important to Latvia," said Berzins.

In conclusion, Berzins thanked Italy and Italian Air Force for participation in the Baltic Air Policing mission and for successful cooperation within NATO. Latvia and the other Baltic countries have been developing their armed forces from scratch since the restoration of independence, and by now the professional level of these countries' armed forces is on par of other NATO countries, said Berzins.