Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Riga Latvia
September 23, 2008
On 23 September Minister of Foreign Affairs Maris Riekstins met with the Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Volodymyr Ogryzko, to discuss the development of European Union–Ukraine and NATO-Ukraine relations, as well as current events of international politics and bilateral relations. The meeting took place during the General Assembly of the UN in New York.
At the start of the talks, Ministers Riekstins and Ogryzko welcomed development of the economic and political dialogue between Ukraine and Latvia.
Turning his attention to the Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine, Foreign Minister Riekstins emphasised that Latvia steadfastly backs the granting of a NATO accession Plan of Action to Ukraine at the meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers scheduled for December. The Foreign Minister also indicated that NATO member countries expected from Ukraine increased national unity and an active contribution in informing the public about NATO issues.
Minister Ogryzko, in turn, advised that during the past month the support of the population of Ukraine for integration of the country into NATO has increased significantly.
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister briefly described the results of the European Union and Ukraine summit in Paris on 9 September, and also the home political situation in Ukraine.
Both ministers exchanged views on current international issues, including the situation in Georgia.
From 22 to 26 September Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins is attending the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly in New York. It is planned that during the session Minister Riekstins will also attend the meeting of EU foreign ministers with the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and also the informal meeting of foreign ministers of member countries of the EuroCouncil. The agenda also anticipates a bilateral meeting with the Foreign
Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Manoucher Mottaki, at the initiative of the Iranian side.
