OREANDA-NEWS. August 23, 2010. Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis held a meeting with Chen Ivri Apter, Ambassador of Israel to Latvia, during his farewell visit. The officials discussed current cooperation, in particular economic cooperation, regional issues concerning EU-Israel cooperation, the Middle East peace process and other matters.

The Prime Minister thanked the Ambassador of Israel for his contribution to the development of bilateral relations, organisation of high-level visits and promotion of economic cooperation. The Ambassador acknowledged State's cooperation with the Jewish community which is the biggest Jewish community in the Baltic States. Both sides also acknowledged active bilateral cultural cooperation.

During the meeting the Latvian Prime Minister emphasised the significant potential of Latvia and Israel for economic cooperation. Ambassador Chen Ivri Apter noted that both countries have developed a respective legal base for such economic cooperation. The officials discussed opportunities to organise visits of Israel's Minister of Industry, Trade and Labour  and Israel's Minister of Tourism together with a delegation of Israel business figures to Latvia. The Prime Minister stressed that such visits would intensify bilateral economic cooperation.

Both sides also discussed the current situation regarding the Middle East peace process and cooperation of Israel with the EU.