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On 28 June, Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs met with the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who had arrived in Latvia for a bilateral visit.

During the meeting the topics of strategic partnership between Latvia and the U.S. were discussed, including NATO agenda, the prospects for Latvia’s accession to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, development processes in the EU Eastern neighbourhood, Latvia’s role in the functioning of the Northern Distribution Network and the potential for its commercialisation. Two memoranda of understanding were signed: on cooperation in the implementation of the Fulbright Academic Exchange Programme and regarding assistance in Moldova in the field of justice sector reform.

Latvian Foreign Minister and the U.S. Secretary of State confirmed the historic bond that linked both countries and manifested itself in U.S. support for Latvia’s independence during the years of Soviet occupation, regaining independence and the processes of integration into the Euro-Atlantic space. The parties expressed confidence in their common vision on the fundamental values both countries shared and future cooperation. The importance of the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation was accentuated for the strengthening of academic and educational links between Latvia and the U.S.

While speaking about security policy matters, the Latvian side confirmed its commitments within the NATO collective security and to the target of bringing back the defence funding to the level of 2% of the GDP. Participation in NATO  international missions and the Baltic air-policing was discussed. Minister Rinkevičs and Secretary of State Clinton agreed that the involvement in Afghanistan should be maintained  after 2014 and confirmed readiness to provide support for the development of the Afghan Security Forces, as well as exploring possibilities to cooperate in projects of civilian nature in Afghanistan and other countries of the region.

Secretary Clinton recognised that Latvia could be a role model not only for putting in place structural reforms and overcoming economic crisis, but also for carrying out its obligations as a NATO member country. She unequivocally reiterated the pledge by the U.S. to comply with Article 5 of the NATO treaty.

In the conclusion of the U.S. Secretary of State visit, in the U.S. Embassy, the heads of foreign services of both countries took part in the ceremony for the dedication of Sumner Welles Street. Secretary Clinton noted that the continued Latvia-U.S. diplomatic relations over 90 years is testament for the continuity of strategic partnership between both states that even the long years of Soviet occupation could not break.

During her bilateral visit, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also met with the President of Latvia Andris Bērziņš, Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis, as well as taking part in a discussion with Latvian youth representatives.

Audio record from press conference

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