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Friday, 29.03.2024, 08:46
Latvia’s EU Presidency priorities and Eastern Partnership discussed in Japan
Both diplomats concurred that Latvia’s Presidency will take place at a time in history when the world’s gaze has been turned to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Against that background, Eastern Partnership questions assume special importance, and Japan has been increasing its attention in this regard.
Deputy Director-General Muto told Ambassador-at Large Poikāns that Japan has been actively involved in solving the Ukrainian crisis by offering a financial aid package of around 1.5 billion U.S. dollars while supporting the efforts of G7 and the EU. At the same time, Japan supports a continued dialogue with Russia and encouraging its involvement in dealing with the crisis in Ukraine and other global challenges. Mr Muto said that those topics were addressed at the recent meeting of Japanese and Russian leaders in Milan in the margins of the ASEM summit.
The Ambassador and the Deputy Director General agreed on arrangements for the EU-Japan cooperation conference to be organized by the Foreign Ministries of Latvia and Japan in Riga in February 2015. The Japanese Foreign Ministry is ready to invite both government officials and representatives from academic circles to attend the event. The upcoming Eastern Partnership Summit to be held in Riga on 21 and 22 May 2015, and various other activities and events were discussed at the meeting.
Mr Poikāns emphasised that, when presiding over the Council of the EU, Latvia will highlight the political association and economic integration between the EU and its partner countries, human mobility, expanding of people-to-people contacts, and a broader involvement of civil society in implementation of policy in the Eastern partnership countries.
On 27 the Ambassador-at-Large Poikāns also met with the academic staff from Japanese universities. His visit will include meetings with the diplomatic corps, at the Ministry of Defence, and in think-tanks, as well as several lectures to students and a media interview.