Sikorski 'envious' of Latvia's eurozone advance

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski (L) with Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics (R): photo - EPA/Valda Kalnina

“I look with a certain degree of envy on the fact that Latvia has fulfilled the economic criteria necessary to enter the eurozone,” he said at a joint press conference held with his Latvian counterpart Edgars Rinkevics, as cited by the Polish Press Agency (PAP).

“We are keeping our fingers crossed for you,” he said of Latvia's plans to adopt the euro in 2014.

“We support you and hope that you will succeed, as then our own chances of success will significantly increase as well,” Sikorski noted, adding that he hopes Poland will join “as quickly possible.”

Sikorski's one-day visit focused on bilateral relations between the two countries, taking in security and economic matters.

Echoing proposals made to Lithuania over the last week, Sikorski put forward the idea of including Latvia in a gas link with Poland, taking advantage of the emerging Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) import terminal that is being built at at Swinoujscie on Poland's stretch of the Baltic coast.

“We have launched efforts to set up a gas link between the Baltic countries and Poland, including the LNG terminal in Swinoujscie, using EU funds,” Sikorski affirmed yesterday.

Sikorski also discussed closer cooperation in the spheres of the economy, tourism, culture and education, with a specific emphasis on links with the region of Latgale, eastern Latvia.

Meanwhile, Poland's foreign minister laid a wreath at Riga's Freedom Monument, and visited visit to the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia, which chronicles the Second World War and the ensuing Soviet rule until 1991. (nh)