Lithuania help Latvia diplomats settle in Moldova

In the near future, Latvian diplomats will be able to start their mission in Moldova thanks to the support provided by the Lithuanian mission, which offered to host their colleagues in their premises in Chisinau, Info-Prim Neo learned from the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Latvian diplomat will settle in the premises of the Lithuanian Embassy in Moldova after the signing of a lease agreement. In turn, the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs offers the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to locate diplomats at the Latvian Embassy in Kazakhstan. “I am glad that we are implementing the first joint initative on sharing premises of diplomatic missions in cooperation with our closest partners. We are following the successful example set by the Nordic States. This not only demonstrates our deepening integration, but also allows us to save money,” Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis commented on the decision. The signing of the lease agreement prior to moving into the premises of the Lithuanian Embassy in Moldova is the first practical step taken in compliance with the memorandum of understanding that the Nordic and Baltic countries signed on 30 August 2011 on the posting of diplomats at each other’s missions abroad. The memorandum makes it easier for the Nordic and Baltic countries to maintain a diplomatic presence around the world by enabling flexible and cost-effective solutions. Lithuania and Latvia dedicate special attention to the Nordic-Baltic cooperation. In 2010, a Wise Men’s report on Baltic and Nordic co-operation was drafted by former Latvian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Valdis Birkavs and former Danish Minister of Defence Søren Gade. The report presents guidelines for regional cooperation and provides recommendations on economic and political cohesion in the region. This year, Lithuania is coordinating the Nordic-Baltic cooperation (Nordic Baltic Eight, NB8). This is a platform for regional cooperation which includes Sweden, Finalnd, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.