Opinions & Interviews

Ambassador: Latvia is interested in Belarus-EU cooperation

Einars Semanis. An archive photo

VITEBSK, 29 November (BelTA) – Latvia shows great interest in further cooperation between Belarus and the European Union, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Latvia to Belarus Einars Semanis told the media after his meeting in the Vitebsk Oblast Executive Committee on 29 November.

According to the diplomat, Aleksandr Lukashenko’s visit to Latvia is viewed one of the main events for the two countries in 2020. “This will be an important event both for the bilateral relations of the states and for the European Union in general. Latvia would like to see the cooperation between Belarus and the EU to develop further. We are also looking forward to the signing of the agreement on visa facilitation between your country and the European Union and also an agreement on readmission,” Einars Semanis said.

The ambassador also mentioned bilateral cooperation in other sectors. They include economy, security in the region, transport and logistics. “Vitebsk Oblast is a big industrial hub with transit roads and logistics that secures international trade. We need to work here together,” he stressed and cited an example of a project to develop an industrial park and a logistics center at the Grigorovshchina-Paternieki border checkpoint (Verkhnedvinsk District).

The diplomat praised a good level of cooperation between the two countries and emphasized the importance of relations between the two nations. “Vitebsk Oblast maintains strong ties with Latvia’s Latgale, Kraslava, Daugavpils and Rezekne,” Einars Semanis said.

Vitebsk Oblast Vice Governor Vladimir Penin said the potential of cooperation between Vitebsk Oblast and Latvian regions is still hugely untapped and it is important to move forward.

Einars Semanis is expected to take part in the opening of an exhibition of Belarusian-Latvian artists on 29 November. He is also set to pay a visit to the Vitebsk Free Economic Zone. On 30 November, the ambassador will attend a concert in the Vitebsk Concert Hall to mark the 101st anniversary of the country’s independence.

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