“The project of European Union must be further developed and improved. Europe must be a value-based union where freedom, democracy, and the rule of law reign also in the future,” said Raimonds Vējonis. He noted that the visit of the President of Germany took place on a symbolic day, August 23, that was historically linked both with the division of Europe and the “Baltic Way” as a symbol of the unity of Europe.
The President of Latvia emphasised that Germany was a strategic partner of Latvia in several key areas by closely cooperating in the European Union, NATO, as well as in other regional and international fora and initiatives. “The most important issue in the Baltic States is the forthcoming military exercise ZAPAD 2017 organized by Russia and Belarus. Latvia highly appreciates Germany’s support for strengthening the security of the Baltic region by launching its troops to Lithuania to establish a NATO combat group, participating in the NATO air policing mission in the Baltic airspace, and sending experts to work in the NATO institutions in Riga,” stated Raimonds Vējonis.
He outlined that Germany was the second most important foreign trade partner of Latvia, as the volume of mutual trade continued to grow, and the interest among German investors about Latvia increased as well.
Latvia and Germany traditionally have close links in education and culture. “I am pleased that mastering the German experience in dual vocational education takes place successfully in Latvia and that more and more students from Germany are studying at higher education institutions in Latvia, appreciating the quality of higher education in Latvia. There is successful cooperation in strengthening of media environment, social integration, and youth education,” said the President of Latvia.