Visit of Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins to Minsk.

Foreign Minister of Latvia continued conversation about visas during the meeting with his Belarusian colleague Sergey Martynov. However, it was far not the only subject.

Sergey Hamentovsky reports: Visit of Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins to Minsk is a historical event. From the moment when Belarus and Latvia became sovereign the head of Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs was not received in Minsk yet. Both ministers did not hide pleasure from the meeting in Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Relations between Latvia and Belarus develop positively last years. Noting traditionally strong good-neighborhood communications of two countries, Latvian Minister emphasized that official Riga would speak in support of visa regime simplification for Belarus in the European Union.
(Maris Riekstins, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Latvia)
Cooperation of Belarus and Latvia has also serious economic basis. The volume of mutual trade increased twice and exceeded 2 billion dollars last year. Belarus delivers basically oil products to Latvia and transfers export cargoes in local ports actively. Transport-transit sphere and power in relations of two countries are an unbreakable priority.
(Sergey Martynov, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Belarus)
It is planned to renew direct passenger train movement between Minsk and Riga. Belarus and Latvia intend to involve Ukraine and Estonia to the new project of container transportations by train 'Zubr'.
(Maris Riekstins, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Latvia)
Latvia is the 6th in order of importance trade and economic partner of our country. This Baltic republic also became one of the major investment partners for Belarus last years.
The Latvian businessmen have already invested over semi billion dollars in our economy. Interesting projects in power and oil refining sphere are discussed. Belarusian-Latvian economic forum will take place in Riga next year.

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News & Politics

Tags:

• Maris Riekstins
• Latvia
• Belarus