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Hoagland in Riga: U.S. and EU should continue joint efforts in providing support for Central Asian countries

BC, Riga, 26.02.2015.Print version
Latvian Foreign Ministry’s Political Director, Eduards Stiprais, met with Richard E. Hoagland, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, reports LETA.

At the meeting of Eduards Stiprais and Richard E. Hoagland. Riga, 25.02.2015. Photo: flickr.com

Taking into account that deepening of EU-Central Asia relations are one of Latvia’s priorities for its Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the two officials discussed a broad range of issues related to the involvement of the EU and the United States in the Central Asian region. Hoagland provided information on the New Silk Road initiative and the attention that will be directed in the areas of security, business-to-business contacts, as well as good governance and rule of law.

 

Stiprais pointed out that the EU is also currently engaged in a regular review of its strategy for Central Asia and sees the EU’s value added in its contribution to strengthened border security in the region, counter-terrorism activities, environmental protection (water resource management and energy efficiency), strengthening civil society, and education. During its EU Presidency, Latvia will be focusing its efforts at cooperation in these areas as well as in business promotion and educational exchange.

 

One of tangible examples of this is the involvement of experts from the Latvian Border Guard and customs authorities in the Border Management Programme for Central Asia (BOMCA 9). The Latvian Presidency is also organising a meeting in June 2015 of the EU and Central Asian Ministers of Education in Riga.

 

Hoagland was pleased that Latvia had set cooperation with Central Asia as one of the priorities during its EU Presidency. He emphasized that in view of successful cooperation, the U.S. and the EU should continue their joint efforts in providing support for the Central Asian countries.


Hoagland has been Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs since October 2013.






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