Latvian Government Approves Draft Agreement On Cooperation Between Russia And Latvia

The Latvian government has approved a cooperation agreement drafted by the Russian and Latvian culture ministries, initiated by the Russian side. Latvian culture minister Karina Petersone said Friday that she would soon leave for Moscow to sign this document. The ties between our nations should be developing not only due to the individual initiatives but within a serious program backed by the governments, she said. This will be another agreement on cooperation between the Russian and Latvian ministries. The first one was concluded in 1996 for five years. At the present time, the Russo-Latvian cultural ties are being built on the basis of a two-year cooperation programme signed in May 2001 during a working visit by Russian culture minister Mikhail Shvydkoi to Riga. The new draft agreement provides for a cultural exchange between the two countries in the areas of music, theatre, film industry, art, library and museum, preserving cultural and historic heritage. It also envisages holding Days of Russian and Latvian Culture.