Latvia prepared to share experience of reforms with Azerbaijan: FM

"We are ready and willing to share our lessons learned if it might be useful for our Eastern partners," Riekstins said in his interview with Trend News prior to his visit to Baku in mid-April.

Just five years ago Latvia was still on the doorstep of joining the EU and NATO. We know very well the hard job of implementing reforms and fulfilling the necessary criteria, the minister said.

Latvia and Azerbaijan cooperate successfully regarding implementing reforms. This positive trend must be used to enhance bilateral relations, Riekstins said.

There are great examples of practical cooperation, for instance, the consultations between our Ministries of Foreign Affairs at the end of last year on the issues regarding the Eastern Partnership which covers Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Belarus, he said.

"Latvia welcomes the means by which the Eastern Partnership can serve as a useful tool to promote and deepen EU relations with the partnership countries, including with Azerbaijan," Riekstins said.
Member states will hold talks to ease visa regime, create free trade zone and sign strategic agreements as a part of the program. Projects on exchange of students, protection of environment, energy supply and additional financing will be implemented. Unlike Neighborhood Policy, politicians will regularly meet under the Eastern Partnership. The program will be officially announced at the EU meeting in Prague or Brussels on May 7.

Azerbaijan cooperates with Latvia in the fishing as well, Riekstins said. Latvia's Food and Veterinary Service together with its colleagues from Netherlands share their experience with Azerbaijan in the sphere of fishery through the EU Twinning project, he said.
Furthermore, at the beginning of this year Latvian experts organized consultations with experts from Azerbaijan on issues regarding joining the WTO, he said.

Azerbaijan has been observer in the World Trade Organization since 1997. According to estimations by the Central Asian Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC), program's member states will be admitted to the WTO by 2013. Three CAREC members - China, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia have already been admitted to the organization.

During official visit to Baku on April 16-17, Latvian Foreign Minister will discuss bilateral economic cooperation, agenda of the inter-governmental commission and Latvian President Valdis Zatlers' visit to Azerbaijan which is set for the first half of 2009, Latvian ambassador to Azerbaijan Mikhails Popkovs said earlier.

/Trend News/