Baltic States – CIS, Belarus, EU – Baltic States, Forum, Latvia, Legislation, Transport, USA

Edgars Rinkevics and Vladimir Makei. New York, 28.09.2015. Photo: flickr.com

The Latvian Foreign Minister expressed the view that the recent release of political prisoners is building a new and positive atmosphere conducive to the deepening of EU-Belarus relations. The engagement and constructive role of Belarus in addressing the crisis in Ukraine must also be positively assessed. The Ministers agreed to organise consultations on questions of regional security policy between the Foreign Ministries before the end of the year.

In the context of the bilateral relations between Latvia and Belarus, Edgars Rinkevics recognised that the agenda of Latvia-Belarus relations is intensive and constructive, and it brings results: an active political dialogue and broad sectoral cooperation are ongoing, including the areas of economy, transport and transit, border control and surveillance, education and science, and culture. And this dynamic for cooperation should be continued.

Foreign Minister Rinkevics asserted that Latvia is also interested in expanding cooperation in the field of logistics, especially on the transit of petroleum products through Latvia.

In conclusion, Edgars Rinkevics emphasised that Latvia supports negotiations for the membership of Belarus in the World Trade Organisation, which would contribute to the formation of more open, stable and predictable relations with the European Union.