Polish, Latvian presidents discuss EU, relations

Polish President Lech Kaczynski and his Latvian counterpart Valdis Zatlers said in Warsaw on Thursday that Poland and Latvia should cooperate for shaping the EU future.

Kaczynski stressed that the EU should be "a union of states which have influence on the EU policy." Zatlers said that Poland and Latvia should be "a driving force for a better EU."

The Polish president said that close relations between Poland and Latvia were a natural thing because of their NATO membership and geographical position.

Poland wants to consolidate relations with Latvia, and also with Lithuania and Estonia. And such meetings serve this goal very well, Kaczynski was quoted as saying by Polish news agency PAP.

Zatlers, who is in Poland for a two-day visit, said he appreciated good relations with Poland. He stressed the two countries were partners in the EU.

The Lisbon Treaty should be seen as a framework of sorts. It must be filled with contents and each country must make its contribution to shaping Europe's future, he added.

For the first time in history Europe can start building its own foreign policy. But this policy must be approved by all EU members, Zatlers said.

On Friday the Latvian president will go to Lublin to receive a honoris causa doctorate of the Catholic Lublin University.

Source: Xinhua