EU and NATO enlargement on the agenda of Spanish Foreign Minister's visit to Latvia

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Pique will arrive in Latvia for a one-day working visit on April 18. The Spanish official will meet with Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Prime Minister Andris Berzins, Foreign Minister Indulis Berzins and Sejm /parliament/ Speaker Janis Straume. According to the Latvian Foreign Ministry's press centre, the forthcoming talks will discuss intensification of bilateral political dialogue, including scheduling visits at the summit level. Besides, under discussion will be upgrading of an agreement basis for the development of economic ties, pressing foreign policy issues, in part, the EU and NATO enlargement, and creation of security and defence systems in Europe. The Latvian side attaches great importance to the fact that Spain will hold the EU presidency in the first six months of 2002, stressed the Latvian Foreign Ministry's press service. In an interview with the Latvian radio on Tuesday, Latvian Foreign Minister Indulis Berzins said that already this year the Spanish prime minister planned to visit Latvia. In turn, the Latvian president also intends to pay a working visit to Spain. Furthermore, a Spanish embassy is to be opened in Riga.

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