Minister Dion concludes successful visit to Latvia

News Release

July 13, 2016 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Stéphane Dion, Minister of Foreign Affairs, has concluded a successful visit to Riga, Latvia.

During his visit, Minister Dion met with Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs, his counterpart, and with Minister of Defence Raimonds Bergmanis. The Minister also held meetings at NATO’s Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence and met with the former President of Latvia, Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, a Latvian-Canadian who returned to Latvia following its independence from the Soviet Union.

The ministers’ meetings focused on the recent announcement, made during the NATO Summit, that Canada will lead a robust multinational NATO battlegroup in Latvia, becoming one of four Framework Nations, (alongside the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany) as part of the alliance’s enhanced Forward Presence in Eastern Europe.

Minister Dion also reiterated the importance Canada attaches to the swift signing and implementation of the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).

Minister Dion also participated in a ceremony during which he planted a maple tree to mark the 25th anniversary of the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between Canada and Latvia.

Quotes

Associated links

• Prime Minister attends NATO Summit in Warsaw
• Canada makes commitment to NATO defence and deterrence measures
• Address by Minister Dion on the occasion of a tree-planting ceremony in Latvia

Contacts

Chantal Gagnon
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
343-203-1851
chantal.gagnon@international.gc.ca

Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca
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Hon. Stéphane Dion Global Affairs Canada Government and Politics