SECRETARY CLINTON: Hello. I’m very pleased to welcome the foreign minister from Latvia. I’m very grateful for the extraordinary support and assistance that Latvia has provided on many issues that are of importance to us mutually, and I’m delighted to receive him for the purpose of going in depth into a range of issues that are concerns to us. We are partners in NATO; we are partners in so many of the security issues. We know that Latvia is facing a very challenging economic time and we look forward to discussing ways that we can work more closely together.

FOREIGN MINISTER REIKSTINS: Thank you very much, Madame Secretary. It’s good to be back here in Washington. Thank you for inviting me for these political consultations. I think it would be fair to say that our bilateral relations have enjoyed an excellent atmosphere since August ’91, when we regained independence. And definitely, we are willing to continue this cooperation in the same spirit.

As we speak, today, our soldiers are working very hard, shoulder to shoulder, in Afghanistan and other international peacekeeping operations and missions, and we are committed to be a good ally, together working within the NATO alliance and other international organizations, and I’m looking forward to our discussions today.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you, sir.

FOREIGN MINISTER REIKSTINS: Thank you.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you all very much.