German involvement in Baltics guarantee for regional security: Latvian PM

Germany's involvement in the Baltic states is a guarantee for the whole region's security, Latvian Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis said Thursday after a meeting with visiting German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Steinmeier arrived here Thursday for a two-day visit as part of his Baltic tour to discuss regional security and EU-related topics.

During his meeting with the German minister, Kucinskis told Steinmeier about the reforms Latvia has been implementing to improve its business environment. "I am confident that preconditions have been created for even more successful economic cooperation between our countries," the Latvian leader said.

He added Latvia is interested in a sufficiently large allied presence on its soil that would ensure credible deterrence, in context of NATO's upcoming summit in Warsaw.

During a joint conference with Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics, Steinmeier said that Latvia can look forward to the Warsaw summit with confidence as Germany is ready to provide its contribution to boosting the Baltic region's security.

"During the past two years we have clearly demonstrated that we not only notice changes in the security situation, but also respond to them," Steinmeier said.

The German minister, however, could not comment on how exactly Germany would strengthen Baltic security "as these decisions have yet to be finalized." Enditem