Merkel: Lithuania and Latvia are important for eastern cooperation

Sep 4, 2010, 11:00 GMT

Berlin - German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Saturday that Lithuania and Latvia played an important role for European Union and NATO relations with Eastern Europe, ahead of a two-day visit to the region.

'In terms of size they are relatively small, but not to be underestimated in their importance,' Merkel said of the two states in her weekly video podcast.

'We want good relations to our eastern neighbours - whether this be the Ukraine, the Central Asian republics, Belarus or with Russia,' Merkel said, adding that the latter would be a focus of her talks in the Baltics.

Merkel said closer security cooperation with Russia was an important topic, which she would discuss 'with our Baltic friends.' The chancellor has previously mediated on key issues between the Baltic states and Russia.

The chancellor is to meet the leaders of Lithuania and Latvia, during her visit on Monday and Tuesday. Discussion topics are to include the upcoming EU and NATO summits, as well as the global economic crisis.

Latvia received a multi-billion-dollar loan from the International Monetary Fund, after its economy shrank 18 per cent in 2009 - the world's largest recession. Lithuania's economy contracted by 15 per cent as the global financial crisis hit.

Merkel referred to Germany's long history in the Baltics, dating back to trade links in the 13th century and including the end of their independence under the Hitler-Stalin pact in World War II.

Merkel also plans to visit a school in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius where pupils learn German as a foreign language.

'It is German foreign policy to promote the future of the German language as a foreign language,' she said.

Merkel had to postpone the trip, originally planned for May, due to the unexpected resignation of Germany's president at the time, Horst Koehler.