Secretary General pleased with preparations for NATO Summit  

14.07.2006

On 14 July 2006, during the meeting with Latvian Foreign Minister Artis Pabriks, NATO Secretary General, Mr Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, expressed his high appreciation of Latvia's current achievement in preparations for the NATO Summit. As Mr De Hoop Scheffer noted, "I am more than pleased. The preparations are impressive."

Minister Pabriks indicated the need to continue the transformation process of NATO. Both sides agreed that NATO must be a powerful and efficient organisation capable of a prompt response to modern threats and crisis situations in the world.

The Latvian Foreign Minister emphasised that Latvia, as a NATO member, is interested in strengthening the alliance's co-operation with partner countries in Eastern Europe. Minister Pabriks said, "The intensification of co-operation with Ukraine and Georgia will serve as a strong impetus for these countries to continue with the process of democratic reforms. At the same time, success depends on their aspirations and readiness to implement the necessary reforms."

The Secretary General of NATO has come to Latvia on a one-day visit to see the Olympic Sports Centre – the central venue of the Meeting of NATO Heads of State and Government scheduled for the end of November.

The visit also includes meetings with the President of Latvia, Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis, the Minister of Defence Atis Slakteris, and the Head of the NATO Summit Latvia Task Force, Edgars Rinkevics.

The Secretary General will also address the Young Leaders Forum Building Bridges for the Next Generation organised by the Latvian Transatlantic Organisation (LATO) and will attend the celebration of the 800th anniversary of the founding of the city of Cesis.

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