Close Partners - Foundation Office Baltic States
The ties between Germany and Latvia have traditionally been very close and friendly. Within the framework of a State visit to Germany, Latvian President Egils Levits also visited the Konrad-Adenauer Foundation (KAS) with the view to meeting and holding conversations with the Chairman Norbert Lammert and Deputy Secretary General Gerhard Wahlers. In the conversation, President Levits reinforced his intentions to cooperate closely with Germany and the KAS. “I deeply appreciate the engagement of the KAS in supporting democratisation. The Foundation offers the citizens of Germany, Latvia and Europe a platform for discussion on political and societal issues of great importance,” underlined President Levits.
Indeed, KAS has already been very active with its local programme since Latvia regained its independence in the early 90’s. The Foundation supported the development of Latvia and its accession to the EU in 2004. “For almost thirty years the KAS has significantly contributed to the political education and the advancement of the European idea within Latvia. A great example of this support is the annual Riga Security Conference, to which I have participated regularly,” indicated President Levits. He was accompanied by the Head of the President’s Office Mr. Andris Teikmanis.
The issues discussed covered digitalisation, digital democracy, development of democratic processes at the European level, with special attention given to after the Covid pandemic. Another focus was on common standards for the judicial role within the EU member states. On Tuesday President Levits met the German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Ilmars Znotins, Kanzlei des Staatspräsidenten der Republik Lettland
President Levits personally has close links to Germany. He studied law in Hamburg. He has spent an important part of his professional career in Germany. Levits was the first ambassador of Latvia in Germany after the Restauration of Independence. Before he was elected President of the Republic of Latvia in May of 2019 he served as a judge at both the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg and then at the Court of the European Union in Luxembourg. He was also a deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice of Latvia from 1993 to 1994.
The close ties between the two countries were highlighted also by Mr Norber Lammert, “Latvia and Germany are close partners in many ways, our bonds are economic, political, as well as linguistic and cultural. We share many things in common and cooperate closely. It is also true when it comes to relations between the KAS and Latvia and especially with President Levits. He has accompanied our Foundation since the very opening of the KAS office in Riga.
The Foundation contributes to the democracy and the development of political parties within its Baltic Country Programme in Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. The focus of the KAS in Latvia is on security and foreign policy issues. In addition, another subject of great importance is the involvement of young people in political dialogue from all the Baltic Sea countries. The task of the Baltic Country Programme is to strengthen both regional as well as European cohesion.
