RIGA, April 13 (RIA Novosti) - Latvian Foreign
Minister Maris Riekstins said on Monday he hoped that the
country's President Valdis Zatlers will be able to visit Russia
later in 2009.
Zalters was due to visit Russia in 2008 but canceled the
trip following the Russia-Georgia conflict in South Ossetia,
which the Baltic state condemned. His predecessor, Vaira
Vike-Freiberga, who was president for over eight years, never
received an invitation.
"The Latvian president has never made an official visit to
Russia, with the two heads of state only meeting during
international events in third countries. We think this is not
normal. I would like the Latvian president to visit Russia in
2009," Riekstins said in an interview with RIA Novosti.
The diplomat said Latvia was expecting to receive from
Russia a proposal on possible dates and an agenda for the trip.
"We have drafted some agreements for signing, including
one on tourism. And I think we could finally consider the issue
of cooperation in emergency situations soon. I would also like
issues related to our common and very difficult history to be
raised during the visit," Riekstins said.
Russia deployed troops to South Ossetia, following
Georgia's attack on its former republic in August 2008. Moscow
recognized South Ossetia and another Georgian breakaway region,
Abkhazia, as independent two weeks after the attack.
News
