Finnish FM visits Riga to discuss EU presidency's climate priorities

Source: Xinhua| 2019-07-30 21:40:15|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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Latvia's Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics (R) and his Finnish counterpart Pekka Haavisto arrive to give a press conference after their meeting in Riga, Latvia, July 30, 2019. Finland's Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto visited Riga on Tuesday for discussions with Latvian officials, particularly on the climate change priorities set forth by the Finnish Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU). Haavisto's meeting with Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics focused on the close regional cooperation between the Nordic and Baltic countries. (Photo by Edijs Palens/Xinhua)

RIGA, July 30 (Xinhua) -- Finland's Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto visited Riga on Tuesday for discussions with Latvian officials, particularly on the climate change priorities set forth by the Finnish Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU).

During a meeting with the Finnish foreign minister, Latvian President Egils Levits pledged Latvia's support for the Finnish presidency's priorities aimed at curbing climate change.

Levits stressed in the conversation with Haavisto that Latvia and Finland have been friends not only in the past but are and will remain friends also in the future, according to the spokespeople at the Latvian president's office.

Finland can count on Latvia's support for its priorities on the Council of the EU, including those concerning the fight against climate change, the president said, noting that Latvia was one of the eight EU member states that came up with the initiative to acheve climate neutrality by 2050.

"Our country will be active on these issues, and this is also my personal position," Levits said.

Haavisto noted that the Rail Baltica railway project, on which the Baltic countries are working together with Finland, will be a valuable investment in the countries' sustainability and greener life.

Haavisto's meeting with Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics focused on the close regional cooperation between the Nordic and Baltic countries. The Finnish minister noted that his country is paying especially close attention to the Baltic Sea environment and countries' cooperation in dealing with environmental issues.

Another topic Haavisto discussed with Levits and Rinkevics was the assistance Finnish diplomats are providing to Latvia in its efforts to secure the release of a Latvian national who is a crewmember of the British-flagged tanker Stena Impero which has been seized by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz. Since Latvia does not have an embassy in Tehran, Finland is helping Latvia to negotiate the release of the detained Latvian.