Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
April 21 2005
Latvia Supports Turkey’s EU Membership
* Latvian Supports Turkey’s EU Membership
Latvia, which became a member of the European Union in the last
enlargement wave in May of 2004, is ready to share its accession
experiences with Turkey.
* Latvian President argues that Turkey’s EU membership will show that
countries with different religions can co-exist.
ANKARA – The President of Latvia, Vaire Vike-Freiberga, and her
husband, Imants Freibergs, were hosted at a dinner in their honor at
Cankaya Palace in Ankara last night. At the dinner, President of the
Turkish Republic, Ahmet Sezer, thanked President Vike-Freiberga for
the support she had expressed for Turkey’s accession to EU
membership.
Preceding the start of the dinner, to which Turkish PM Erdogan came a
bit later, glasses were raised to the friendship between Turkey and
Latvia.
Earlier in the day, President Sezer and his wife Semra Sezer had
greeted the Latvian President and her husband when they first arrived
at Cankaya with an official ceremony. In clear Turkish, President
Vike-Freiberga saluted the military detachment present, saying
“Merhaba asker,” or “Hello, soldiers.” Protocols binding the two
Turkey and Latvia to cooperation in education, science, cultural
events, and sporting events were signed.
An agreement on educational, scientific, cultural and sportive
cooperation was signed between Turkey and Latvia yesterday. After
signing of the agreement, Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said
that they discussed bilateral relations, regional and international
matters and expressed their willingness to enhance cooperation
between Turkey and Latvia. Sezer said, ”the fact that Vike-Freiberga
will open Latvia’s Embassy in Ankara and that Turkey’s Embassy in
Riga is planned to be opened in fall are the signs of our
determination to further improve our bilateral relations.”
Sezer welcomed Latvia’s support for Turkey’s EU membership bid and
stressed that the countries should step up efforts to boost bilateral
trade and economic cooperation.
DIRECT FLIGHTS BETWEEN TURKEY AND LATVIA BEGIN
Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga also visited Turkish
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc in Ankara. Arinc congratulated
Vike-Freiberga as he was elected President for the second time. Arinc
said, “there is no problem in relations between our two countries.
Our relations will be better through the activities of Turkish and
Latvian parliamentary friendship groups.“
Meanwhile, Transportation Minister Ainars Slesers of Latvia said that
they would start direct flights between Riga and Istanbul to
consolidate the bilateral relations.
LATVIA BACKS TURKISH CALL TO ARMENIA
Vike-Freiberga also gave a clear support to Turkish PM Erdogan’s call
to establish a joint commission to discuss the historical disputes
with the Armenians. Vike-Freiberga defended that the past should be
discussed by the Turks and Armenians.
JTW, 21 April 2005
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress