Baltic States – CIS, Good for Business, Latvia, Legislation, Markets and Companies, Tourism

Valdis Zatlers and Dmitry Medvedev. Moscow, 20.12.2010.

The governments of Latvia and Russia will cooperate in the tourism sector on the basis of parity and mutual benefit, according to the Latvia-Russia agreement on cooperation in the tourism sector that was signed in Moscow today.

The agreement stipulates mutual support for tourism organizations in the development of local tourism. Both sides also plan to support their respective tourism organizations' participation in fairs organized with support from Latvian and Russian tourism authorities., informs LETA.

The agreement also provides for mutual support in the exchange of statistical and other tourism information between the tourism authorities in both countries, including information exchange on laws and regulations on the tourism sector, tourism development strategies, statistical data on tourism, measures to improve competitiveness and sustainability of tourism, and others.

To facilitate implementation of the agreement, a joint Latvia-Russia tourism task force will be set up to develop joint proposals and programs and supervise their implementation.

Economy Minister Artis Kampars (Unity) signed the agreement on behalf of the Latvian government.

An agreement was signed in Moscow today between Russia and Latvia on cooperation in the fight against crime, especially organized forms.

Signing for the Latvian side was Interior Minister Linda Murniece, who is a part of President Zatlers' delegation.

The agreement foresees cooperation between the authorities in both countries dealing with terrorism, illegal narcotics, drug trafficking and organized crime.

Murniece pointed out that since the fight against organized crime is essential in any country, the cooperation must be set in bilateral agreements, making it more effective.

An agreement on cooperation between Latvia and Russia on prevention and elimination of emergency situations was also signed.

Interior Minister Linda Murniece (Unity), who is on the official visit to Russia together with President Valdis Zatlers, signed the agreement for the Latvian side.

As reported, on May 12th this year, Latvian Cabinet of Ministers supported signing the agreement on cooperation between Latvia and Russia on prevention and elimination of emergency situations. At that time, the Cabinet of Ministers authorized the Latvian Ambassador to Russia Edgars Skuja to sign an agreement on cooperation in scientific, technical, humanitarian and cultural issues during the meeting of Latvia-Russia Intergovernmental Committee in May this year. However, the agreement was not signed then, since the Russian side was not ready yet.

Taking into account that this is the week of Zatler's official visit to Russia, the government authorized Murniece to sign the agreement.

She pointed out that the aim of the agreement is to create a legal basis for the cooperation between both countries in prevention and elimination of emergency situations. "Otherwise it is difficult to provide help and support, for example, if natural disasters occur like this past summer when wildfires raged across Russia."

At the moment Latvia has agreements on cooperation in prevention and elimination of emergency situations with Lithuania, Estonia, Sweden, Hungary, Belarus, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and the work on the agreement with Azerbaijan is also in progress.

The visit will last until December 22 and it has three priorities – political dialogue with Russia on various matters, the development of economic relations and strengthening the basis of intergovernmental agreements.

There are complicated pages of history in relations between Latvia and Russia, however, their discussion belongs to the academic level and not between politicians, Russian President Dmitri Medvedev declared today at the press conference after his meeting with visiting Latvian President Valdis Zatlers.

Due to this reason both presidents have agreed on establishment of a joint Committee of Historians, who will thoroughly analyze historical events. It is expected that the historians will be able to gain access to archives that were not accessible before.

The history of Latvia-Russia relations is complicated, and did not always bring the countries close together, said Medvedev.

Today the conversation with Zatlers was open and historical issues were discussed, among them those with different points of view, including the Second World War.

Medvedev admitted that even though it is impossible to completely separate politics from history in relations between both countries, it is necessary to try and do so. There will always be historical events that will be complicated, but this refers to many other countries as well.

The visit will last until December 22 and it has three priorities – political dialogue with Russia on various matters, the development of economic relations and strengthening the basis of intergovernmental agreements.