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Bilateral relations
Greek-Latvian relations are the
bilateral relations between
Greece and
Latvia . Both countries are full members of the
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe , of
NATO and the
European Union . The Latvian embassy in
Athens was established in 1998. Latvia also has two honorary consulates in
Piraeus and in
Thessaloniki . The Greek embassy in
Riga was opened in January 2005. [
citation needed ]
History
Greece recognized the State of Latvia on May 23, 1922. Relations between the two countries were disrupted by World War II, which saw Latvia occupied briefly by Germany and then for a longer period by the Soviets. Latvia's return to independence was recognized by Greece on August 27, 1991; followed by the restoration of diplomatic relations on September 2, 1991. Greece had never officially recognized the annexation of the Baltic states by the former
Soviet Union .
[1]
Bilateral visits
Embassy of Greece in
Riga
Several ministerial and state visits have occurred since 1997:
[1]
[2]
27 August 1997 to 31 August 1997;
Valdis Birkavs , the Latvian
Minister of Foreign Affairs visited Greece.
14 October 1997 to 15 October 1997;
George Papandreou , the Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs visited Latvia.
16 March 1999 to 20 March 1999;
Guntis Ulmanis , the
President of Latvia visited Greece.
[3]
19 October 1999;
Christos Rokofyllos , the Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs visited Latvia.
8 October 2000 to 11 October 2000; President
Constantinos Stephanopoulos to Latvia.
Konstantinos Stephanopoulos , the
President of Greece visited Latvia. Greece agreed to support Latvia's bid to join
NATO and the
European Union .
[4]
12 May 2001 to 22 May 2001;
Vaira Vike-Freiberga , the
President of Latvia meets with
Konstantinos Stephanopoulos , the
President of Greece in the summit titled "Towards a New Economy: the Revolution of Information" in Athens. They discuss Latvia's entry into the
European Union and
NATO .
[5]
27 March 2002 to 29 March 2002;
Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga , the
President of Latvia visited Greece and discussed the relations between the countries.
[6]
1 July 2002; Visit to Latvia by the Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece,
Anastasios Giannitsis .
May 2003;
Kostas Simitis , the
Prime Minister of Greece visited Latvia.
[7]
August 2004;
Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga , the President of Latvia visited Greece during the
2004 Summer Olympics .
Bilateral agreements
Several bilateral agreements are in place:
[1]
[8]
1998 International Carriage of Passengers and Goods by Road
1998 Protection and mutual promotion of investments
1999 Agreement on Mutual Abolition of Visa Requirements
2000 Economic and technological cooperation
2001 Cooperation in the Fields of Culture, Education and Science
2002
Avoidance of double taxation (not yet in force)
[9]
Trade
Greece's exports to Latvia in 2006 included:
chemicals (19.2% of total exports),
processed foods (18.7%), metals (18.7%), clothing (13.5%), and raw fruit and vegetables (8.2%). Greece imports from Latvia in 2006 included: timber (42% of total imports), minerals (17.3%), clothing (13.8%). Greece has a trade surplus with Latvia.
[1]
[8]
Diplomacy
Republic of Greece
Republic of Latvia
See also
References
^
a
b
c
d
"Bilateral Relations Between Greece and Latvia" .
Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Latvia in Thessaloniki . Archived from
the original on 21 July 2011. The Hellenic Republic recognized the State of Latvia on 23 May 1922, and never officially recognized the annexation of the Baltic States by the former USSR. The independence of the Republic of Latvia was recognized on 27 August 1991. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were restored on 2 September 1991.
^
"Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the relation with Latvia" .
Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs . Retrieved 2009-11-27 .
^
"Latvian president given ceremonial welcome on official visit to Greece" . Latvian Radio via the
BBC . March 17, 1999. Archived from
the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved 2009-11-27 .
^
"Greek president holds talks with Latvian counterpart, addresses business forum, dinner" .
Athens News Agency . Archived from the original on 2005-03-10. Retrieved 2009-11-27 . {{
cite news }}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (
link )
^
"Greece expresses support for Latvia's foreign policy goals; presidents meet" .
LETA . May 22, 2001. Archived from
the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved 2009-11-27 .
^
"Meeting of the State President Vaira Vike-Freiberga and the President of Greece Constantinos Stephanopoulos in the President's Palace" .
Latvia . March 27, 2002. Archived from
the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved 2009-11-27 .
^
"EU Presidency: Greek premier Simitis visits Lithuania, Latvia" .
Athens News Agency . May 8, 2003. Retrieved 2009-11-27 . [
permanent dead link ]
^
a
b
"List of bilateral treaties with Greece" .
Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs . Archived from
the original on 2011-06-05. Retrieved 2009-11-27 .
^
"Latvia and Greece sign tax and sea transportation agreements" .
Baltic News Service . March 27, 2002. Archived from
the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved 2009-11-27 .
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