Latvia formally endorsed the opening of European Union membership negotiations with Türkiye following a September 2004 meeting in Riga between Foreign Minister Artis Pabriks and his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gül. Pabriks argued that admitting Türkiye would strengthen the EU's global influence and that the country could act as a connector between Western and Eastern spheres.
Both ministers accepted that satisfying EU entry conditions would be an arduous, prolonged process. Gül pointed to Spain's eight-year accession timeline as a benchmark, suggesting Türkiye could face a decade-long road.
A European Commission assessment due on 6 October 2004 was set to inform a decision by the bloc's 25 heads of state in December on whether to open formal talks. Türkiye remained the only EU candidate country yet to begin negotiations, though observers expected the Commission's findings to be broadly positive.
On bilateral affairs, Pabriks and Gül agreed to deepen political, economic, cultural, and tourism ties. Pabriks highlighted Türkiye's historical solidarity with Latvia, noting that Ankara had never recognized the Soviet annexation of the country and had supported Latvia's entry into NATO. Latvia also announced it would open a new embassy in Ankara in November.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this AFP wire report, first published in September 2004, in its own words.