On June 26 by the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Edward Nalbandian arrived in Riga.
On the same day a meeting with the Speaker of Latvia’s Saeima Solvita Aboltina took place.
Welcoming the Foreign Minister of Armenia, the Head of the Latvian Parliament noted that Armenia is an important partner of Latvia in South Caucasus, and that an open and constructive political dialogue, and the willingness to develop the relations feature the relations between two states. Solvita Aboltina stressed, that the Inter-Parliamentary Friendship group of Armenia’s National Assembly with the Latvian Parliament is the largest one. She attached significance to the establishment of cooperation between the Committees of the Parliaments of two states.
Expressing gratitude for the reception, Edward Nalbandian mentioned that Armenia attaches importance to the parliamentary diplomacy as an important framework of interaction of countries and peoples.
Both sides expressed satisfaction with the active Armenian-Latvian interaction on the parliamentary level and mutual visits, which considerably supports the development of interstate relations. The establishment of the Intergovernmental commission on trade cooperation 2 years ago and the efficient holding of its first session were highlighted.
The Speaker of Latvia’s Saeima and the Foreign Minister of Armenia exchanged detailed views on the steps to develop cooperation in various areas, in particular, giving an importance to the seeking of the ways to develop trade and economic cooperation.
During the meeting, the sides touched upon Armenia-European Union relations, priorities of Latvia during its Presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 2015.
The sides also exchanged thoughts over the Ukrainian crisis and ways of its settlement.
The meeting with Ivan Klementiev, the Head of Saeima Inter-parliamentary Friendship Group Latvia-Armenia, and the members of above mentioned group was on the agenda of Minister Nalbandian.
During the meeting with the parliamentarians the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia presented the main directions of Armenia’s foreign policy, discussed the Armenian-Latvian relations, issues of further development of bilateral cooperation in different fields.
On June 27 Edward Nalbandian met his Latvian counterpart Edgars Rinkēvičs.
Welcoming Armenia’s Foreign Minister the Foreign Minister of Latvia noted, that he recalled with warmth his visit to Yerevan and that the arrangements reached then are being implemented.
During the conversation the Ministers Nalbandian and Rinkēvičs commended that relations between Armenia and Latvia are being developed dynamically recently – mutual visits by the Presidents and Foreign Ministers of the two states were paid during the last years, a number of meetings were organized within the international conferences.
Edward Nalbandian and Edgars Rinkēvičs touched upon the organization of high-level mutual visits, anticipated steps on the development of cooperation in political, economic, cultural areas and that of education, the expansion of legal framework.
The Ministers highlighted that periodic consultations conducted between the Ministries lay sound grounds for further development of the collaboration.
Cooperation and the support of each other’s candidacies in the framework of international organizations were on the agenda of the talks.
Both sides mentioned that the legal framework of Armenia and Latvia expanded recently and that the agreements on deepening of interaction in the fields of education, science and culture should be supplemented to it.
In the context of Latvia’s Presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 2015, the sides discussed Armenia-EU cooperation.
Issues of further strengthening and expansion of trade and economic cooperation were on the agenda of the ministerial meeting. On that matter the importance of organization of business-forums was stressed.
Edward Nalbandian presented to his Latvian counterpart the efforts exerted by Armenia and the OSCE Minsk Group towards the peaceful settlement of Karabakh issue.
The sides exchanged views on current regional issues – the Ukrainian crisis, situation in Syria, developments in Iraq, talks on nuclear program of Iran.
Edward Nalbandian invited his Latvian counterpart to visit Armenia.
Ministerial meeting was followed by a joint press conference.
Edward Nalbandian visited Saint Gregory the Illuminator Church in Riga, where he met the representatives of the Armenian community of Latvia.
