Baltic States – CIS, Education and Science, EU – Baltic States, Latvia, Legislation, Ukraine

Leonid Kozhara and Edgars Rinkevics. Riga, 2.10.2013. Photo: flickr.com

After a meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara yesterday, Rinkevics said that the two discussed not only bilateral cooperation matters, but also Ukraine's progress towards partnership with the European Union. ''We had a highly productive conversation,'' Rinkevics said.

The Latvian foreign minister also expressed hope that Ukraine will sign an Association Agreement with the European Union during November's Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius.

In regard to cooperation between Latvia and Ukraine, Rinkevics pointed out that economic cooperation was discussed, as well as potential economic cooperation areas, like pharmaceuticals and agricultural products.

Speaking about education, Rinkevics expressed satisfaction at the fact that there are currently 198 students from Ukraine studying at Latvian institutions of higher education. The two sides also agreed to develop cooperation in the areas of education and culture.

''Latvian strongly supports the signing of an Association Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine, even though there are still a few matters Ukraine must first solve for this to happen,'' Rinkevics said, adding that Ukraine has worked hard to reform its legal and election systems.

The Latvian foreign minister also repeated that he has already clearly made it known that any pressure exerted towards Eastern Partnership countries from third parties, including threatening with trade sanctions, is unacceptable to the EU.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian foreign minister said he was inspired during his visit at the Riga Ukrainian Secondary School, and was overall very satisfied with the warm welcome he received from the Latvian government and the wide range of bilateral issues which were discussed. Kozhara said that this is an important year for Ukraine due to the fact that it intends to sign an Association Agreement with the European Union. He also said that Ukraine highly values Latvia's support on this matter.

The Ukrainian foreign minister said that bilateral relations between the two countries are at the ''highest level'', and that the signing of the Association Agreement will open new doors of cooperation.

As reported, Kozhara arrived in Riga for an official visit today at an invitation from Rinkevics.

As part of his official visit, the Ukrainian minister met with Saeima Speaker Solvita Aboltina (Unity) and Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis (Unity). Kozhara visited the Museum of Occupation and take part in a flower laying ceremony at the Freedom Monument, and make a visit to the Riga Ukrainian Secondary School, where he met with students and teachers.

Kozhara will also meet with representatives from the Ukrainian community in Latvia. He will also present a Ukrainian state award to the University of Latvia Library Director Venta Kocere, for her contribution to raising Ukraine's international prestige and promoting its achievements.

Kozhara has been the foreign minister of Ukraine since December 2012.