ANKARA - ''Latvia is ready to support and contribute to Turkey's EU (European Union) accession process and share its experiences'', Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga said on Tuesday.
Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and his guest Latvian President Vike-Freiberga had a tete-a-tete meeting at the Presidential Palace in Ankara and co-chaired a meeting between delegations of the two countries. Later, an agreement on educational, scientific, cultural and sportive cooperation was signed between Turkey and Latvia.
After signing of the agreement, President Sezer said that they discussed bilateral relations, regional and international matters and expressed their willingness to enhance cooperation between Turkey and Latvia.
Sezer said, ''the fact that Vike-Freiberga will open Latvia's Embassy in Ankara and that Turkey's Embassy in Riga is planned to be opened in fall are the signs of our determination to further improve our bilateral relations.''
Stating that Turkey shared common strategic views with Latvia, Sezer said, ''Turkey is pleased to see that Latvia, as EU and NATO member, has taken the place it deserves among countries bound to universal values as freedom, democracy and rule of law. We are also pleased that Vike-Freiberga has reiterated his country's support to our (EU) membership negotiations.''
Sezer also expressed his belief that Vike-Freiberga's visit would bear fruit and open a new era in bilateral relations.
On the other hand, Latvian President Vike-Freiberga stressed that Turkey's big and strategic role in NATO could not be ignored and said that Turkey's contribution to settlement and safeguard of stability and peace in Europe was known.
''We also want to improve our relations within NATO'', said Vike-Freiberga. He also stressed that it would be beneficial to the two countries to improve their relations in areas such as defense policies and strategies.
Vike-Freiberga underlined importance of Turkey's getting a negotiation date from the EU, and noted that a good picture would be drawn when the rich cultural heritage of Turkey intermingled with Europe's cultural heritage.
Noting that Turkey was one of the most experienced countries which took the earliest action in secularism, freedom and democracy in Europe, Vike-Freiberga said that Turkey was a country which did not intervene in rights and freedoms of its citizens and enable its citizens to fulfil the requirements of their beliefs.
Vike-Freiberga said that it would be a great opportunity to show that co-existence of Europe, coming from a Christian background, and Turkey, having an Islam heritage, was likely.
Turkey's EU full membership would indicate that all people, irrespective of what their beliefs were, could live within the framework of freedom, democracy and human rights, Vike-Freiberga said.
Noting that he was charged by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan for the UN reform program, Vike-Freiberga said that they needed Turkey's support to this program and expressed pleasure to share similar views with Sezer who attached importance to this reform package.
Earlier today, Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga was welcomed with full military honors at the Presidential Palace.
Vike-Freiberga also attended luncheon hosted in his honor by Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul.