Courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia February 23, 2016
From 23 to 26 February, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkēvičs will visit the United States to take part in the UNDP 50th Anniversary Ministerial Meeting in New York City. In Washington D.C., the Latvian Foreign Minister will meet with senior officials from the U.S. Department of State, the Congress, the Department of Commerce, and the Department of the Treasury. Minister Rinkēvičs will also take part in discussions at U.S. think tanks on current global challenges and prospects for resolving them.
On 24 February, at the UN session in New York, Edgars Rinkēvičs is to participate in a debate on violent extremism and building of peaceful communities. The visit will also include a meeting with Jeffrey Feltman, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, and contribution to a discussion on security policy organised by the Council on Foreign Relations.
On 25 February, to take stock of preparations for NATO Warsaw Summit, including regional security policy issues and the process of Latvia’s accession to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Foreign Minister Rinkēvičs will meet with Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Meetings will also take place with Ed Royce, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Bruce Andrews, Deputy Secretary of Commerce.
Foreign Minister Rinkēvičs has also been scheduled to deliver a lecture at the National Defense University and take part in an on-the-record discussion entitled Challenges and Opportunities for Transatlantic Cooperation at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. On 26 February, the Minister will take part in a discussion organised by the Atlantic Council on Priorities in Preparation for the Warsaw NATO Summit, as well as a meeting at the Department of Treasury.
The Latvian Foreign Minister will also take the opportunity to meet with leaders of Latvian organisations and the Latvian community of Washington D.C. to exchange views on issues of current importance for the community, Latvia’s domestic policy and preparations for the celebration of Latvia’s centennial.
