28 Nov - Address by the President of the United States George W. Bush to the participants of the Young Leaders Forum and of the Rīga Conference

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Prime Minster, Senator Sessions from the great State of Alabama who is with us. Marc Leland, my friend from a long period of time. I want to thank the rector of this important university, distinguished guests, ladies and gentleman, thank you for your warm welcome. I am delighted to be back in Riga.

Gallery of the event

28 nov - Remarks by president Vīķe-Freiberga and president Bush

in Riga Castle

PRESIDENT VĪĶE-FREIBERGA: Well, ladies and gentlemen, it's been a great pleasure to have the President of the United States here in Riga for the second time in less than two years. And I expressed how delighted we are to be receiving him and his delegation here on the occasion of the Riga 2006 summit.

28 Nov - Address by H.E. Dr. Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga at the Riga Conference

It is such a pleasure to see you again after that very exciting kick-off that we had last night and I hear that you already had an opportunity to engage in very vigorous debate during the Night Owl sessions. I trust that plentiful supply of coffee has been available this morning to make sure that we all are bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and ready to go on with this wonderful opportunity to exchange ideas. I once again express my heart-felt appreciation for all those who have helped to organize this conference: Žaneta Ozoliņa, who has worked very hard with all team and of course, our partners from the private sector, who have been so understanding, so far-sighted in supporting these programmes of public diplomacy. They are extremely important for an alliance that must rely on the support and the understanding of the populations. Any alliance, a military alliance is not just based on the military strength and capabilities, but also on the commitment of its citizens.

28 Nov - Address of H.E., Dr. Vaira Vike-Freiberga, President of Latvia, at the Inauguration of the Summit Exhibition Transformation in and through Action

in the Olympic Centre

It is a pleasure for Latvia to be receiving this extraordinary event and also to be providing the facilities for this remarkable exhibition. I think that as you walk through these halls you will see to what extent NATO as an alliance has been up to the challenges of the modern age; how it is reacting and reacting radically to the changing needs, to the changing threats and responding in a way that is compatible with a democratic traditions of its members and in fact corresponding to this need to inform their own citizens. I think we have all this outreach of information which is part and parcel of the military in a democratic society being subject to civilian rule.

28 Nov - Secretary General`s speech at the Young Leaders Forum "Building Bridges for the Next Generation"

Let me start by saying how much I appreciate the opportunity to appear before this Young Leaders Forum. I want to thank you for taking an interest in NATO and joining the Alliance's political leaders here at their Summit in Riga.

Gallery of the event

27 Nov - Address of H.E. Dr. Vaira Vike-Freiberga, President of Latvia, at the Opening Gala dinner

of the Riga Conference 2006 at the Small Guild

It is truly a pleasure for me as President of Latvia to welcome you here on this extraordinary event. Truly the NATO Summit 2006 here in Riga is a very special one for a variety of reasons, not least of which the fact that it demonstrates how the alliance from being a very defensive one holding the line of what was then the iron curtain has moved beyond the territory. I think the presence of NATO here in Latvia is another reminder how changed the world is, how fortunate we are in no longer having that division across the European Continent, how fortunate we are in so many countries beside Latvia having now regained their freedom, their opportunity to determine their own fate and their direction and live in peace, security and in democracy.

27 Nov - Remarks by NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer at the gala dinner of the Riga Conference

I think that a special word of gratitude to Craig Kennedy, Ron Asmus and the German Marshall Fund is in order here. There is simply no other major think thank that has done more to foster a strong and healthy transatlantic relationship.

For example, the Brussels Forum has become an indispensable transatlantic marketplace for ideas. And the success of the previous think tank conferences at our recent Summits has already turned this format into a cherished tradition. In addition to their political dimension, NATO Summits now also have a very strong public diplomacy dimension, and this is not least due to the strong engagement by the GMF in Istanbul and now in Riga.

27 Nov - Speech of Professor Žaneta Ozoliņa at the opening gala dinner of the Riga Conference

Riga is the centre of the international security debate for these three days. Tomorrow, the heads of 26 member states will take crucial decisions on the transformation of NATO in the XXI century. Transformation is not the final goal, but a process. A process that involves politicians, experts, academics, and NGO representatives discussing new visions, strategies and thinking. Ideas drive transformation! A Think-Tank conference has gathered the brightest minds from all over the world to offer new, innovative, provocative, challenging, and brave ideas that will contribute to a better understanding of what the international community can deliver to make the world more secure.

27 Nov, 2006 – Speech by H.E. Mr. Alexandr Vondra, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, former Government Commissioner for the NATO Summit in Prague at the Young Leaders Forum Opening –

Let me first thank you for inviting me to give opening remarks at your conference today. It is always a pleasure to share a few thoughts with bright young minds interested in international affairs - so, thank you very much.

27 Nov, 2006 – Speech by H.E. Mr. Artis Pabriks, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia at the Young Leaders Forum Opening – „Crossing the Bridge to Riga”

Video file^new

To begin with, let me thank you all for coming to Riga where - it is no secret - the NATO Summit is taking place.
It is of the utmost significance for our country that – one would say – the most important gathering of state leaders is being held in Riga right now.
However spectacular and even awesome official NATO meetings may be, it is in the very interests of NATO that alongside, there should be an alternative, fresh and even provocative think-tank or forum for discussing global security concerns and developing new solutions or critically investigating the old ones.

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