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

Edgars Rinkevics and Abdulaziz Komilov. Photo: flickr.com

The purpose of the visit is to strengthen the relations of Latvia and the European Union with Uzbekistan, especially in regard to the Latvian presidency of the European Union in first half of 2015. A special importance is placed on the issues of economic cooperation and transit, LETA was informed by the Foreign Ministry's Press and Information Division.

Rinkevics was received by Uzbek President Islam Karimov. The president noted with gratification that Latvia and Uzbekistan have enjoyed the best relations for the past twenty years. The officials agreed to strengthen economic cooperation, including transit. Karimov promised support for reverse transit when transporting the ISAF cargo from Afghanistan, and Latvia's efforts of transforming the Northern Distribution Network (NDN), currently used for military needs, into a commercial route, which will not only facilitate economic cooperation in the region, but also serve the interests of cooperation between Latvia and Uzbekistan. Both officials discussed in detail the situation in Afghanistan. The parties agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in culture and tourism. Rinkevics invited Uzbek representatives to take part in the events organized by Latvia in 2014 when Riga will become the European Capital of Culture and expressed hope that the Uzbek president will be able to visit Latvia this year.

Rinkevics also had meetings with the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Oliy Majlis (the parliament), Sodyq Safoyev, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdulaziz Komilov, the Minister of Foreign Economic Relations, Investment and Trade, Elyor Ganiyev, and the Minister of Defense Kabul Berdiyev.

During the meetings, Rinkevics expressed satisfaction over Latvia's excellent relations with Uzbekistan, as indicated by the frequent exchange of visits between the officials of both countries. Rinkevics also invited his counterpart, the Uzbek foreign minister, to make an official visit to Latvia.

Latvian and Uzbek representatives agreed on the need to expand trade and economic cooperation. "Latvia has a great potential and experience in the field of transit, including rail and freight transport, and ice-free ports interested in attracting cargo from Uzbekistan," noted the minister.

Uzbek partners commended Latvia's ability to handle the consequences of the economic downturn and praised the country's economic growth rate, which is the highest in the European Union. The Uzbek foreign economic relations, investments and trade minister offered to explore the possibilities of building in Latvia an Uzbek fruit and vegetable distribution center for further export to Northern Europe. Likewise, Uzbekistan is ready to facilitate the entry of competitive Latvian manufacturers to produce goods that will be suitable for the European market. Uzbekistan is aware of the potential of Latvia as a bridge to Europe and wants to use it. Rinkevics thanked his Uzbek colleagues for granting additional 1,000 transportation permits to Latvian road carriers. Both sides agreed on the need to actively engage the Latvian-Uzbek intergovernmental commission in the preparation of new intergovernmental agreements to be signed. Rinkevics also accentuated Uzbekistan’s significant role in the functioning of the northern transportation corridor to Afghanistan and invited representatives from Uzbekistan to attend the High Level Workshop on Transcontinental Transportation Routes, "Arteries Connecting the Heart of Asia to the Global World", to be held in Riga on June 11-12.

Rinkevics stressed that Latvia not only regards the promotion of its bilateral relations with Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries to be of the utmost importance, but also will set the expanding of EU cooperation with that important region as a priority for its presidency of the European Union during the first half of 2015. Latvia also supports the enhancement of NATO's contacts and cooperation with Uzbekistan: "In its cooperation to date, Uzbekistan has proven itself to be a responsible and reliable partner, in particular, by providing invaluable support for the stabilization of Afghanistan," noted Rinkevics.

The Latvian foreign minister was accompanied on his visit by the rail transport company LDZ Cargo and the road transport company Kreiss, which were scheduled individual meetings with potential business partners in Uzbekistan.

Rinkevics also visited the Latvian Embassy in Tashkent and met with its staff.