Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics, who is on a visit to the United States, has discussed with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden the security situation in Europe and eastern Ukraine in particular, and the ways to recover the Ukrainian economy.
During the meeting, Biden expressed appreciation for the decisions by the EU Foreign Affairs Council taken on Jan. 29 amid the deteriorating situation in the eastern Ukraine, Latvian Foreign Ministry told BNS agency on Jan. 30.
Both the Latvian foreign minister and the U.S. vice president concurred that EU member states should pursue a common approach on vital issues, including their position in relations with Russia, given recent developments in the east of Ukraine.
According to them, close coordination between the EU and the U.S. will be required to normalize the situation in Europe.
Rinkevics and Biden were also agreed that Ukraine must forward with structural reforms to facilitate the development of the country. At the same time, the international community should establish a financial support programme that can stimulate Ukraine’s economic recovery, the agency quotes the politicians.
Rinkevics gave thanks for the U.S. support provided within the NATO framework and the presence of the U.S. troops in Latvia that the U.S. will maintain also in future.
The minister presented Latvia’s perspectives on the upcoming Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga with a special attention to the countries which have signed Association Agreement with the EU, namely, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine.
Latvia believes that the EU should put in place a programme for practical assistance that supports implementation of these agreements.
Other matters discussed included the cooperation between the United States and the EU in the energy sector and the status of negotiations on the EU-U.S. free trade agreement.
