FMs of Latvia, Sweden discuss priorities of Latvian presidency of EU, regional security

Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics and his Swedish counterpart Margot Wallstrom discussed the priorities of the Latvian presidency of the Council of the EU during a meeting in Riga on Friday, the local media reported.

The talks focused on the upcoming Eastern Partnership Summit, which will be held in Riga, and the 6th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, which will take place in Latvia's seaside resort Jurmala.

The foreign ministers also discussed the region's security issues and agreed on the necessity for the Baltic and Nordic countries to coordinate their response to reported flights of Russian warplanes near their borders and alleged airspace violations.

Wallstrom, who had arrived in Riga on a working visit, voiced satisfaction about the united stance of Latvia and Sweden on the EU's foreign policy.

The Swedish minister underlined the importance of close cooperation between Sweden and NATO and beefing up the EU's security.

While discussing possibilities of settling the Ukraine crisis, Rinkevics briefed his Swedish colleague on the results of his recent visit to Moscow. The ministers also exchanged opinions on the EU's further position regarding relations with Russia. Endit