Deepening the U.S. Partnership With Northern Europe
On May 16, Finnish Ambassador Ritva Koukku-Ronde welcomed me and the Nordic-Baltic (NB) Ambassadors to her home on Embassy Row for a candid discussion on some of the most pressing global challenges we face today. Over a traditional Scandinavian breakfast, we exchanged views on a wide-range of issues, from the DPRK to ending the bloodshed in Syria to climate change in the Arctic. I very much appreciated hearing from our close friends. MORE
Travel Diary: Secretary Clinton in Latvia
![U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks after signing the Supporting Justice Sector Reform in Moldova and Renewed U.S. - Latvia Fulbright Academic Exchange Program Agreement with Latvian Foreign Minister Edgar Rinkevics, June 28, 2012, in Riga, Latvia. [AP Photo]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2012_0628_clinton_latvia_m.jpg)
More: Trip Page | Interactive Travel Map
Today, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is in Riga, Latvia, the hundredth country she has visited as U.S. Secretary of State. In her present capacity, she has traveled more than 830,000 miles to date. Secretary Clinton told an audience of Latvian youths, “I’m very happy that my 100th country was Latvia, because I have such a great admiration and incredible sense of friendship and solidarity with your country, and so it’s a perfect time to be here.”
In Riga, Secretary Clinton also… more »
RT @Statedept As #SecState, #SecClinton has traveled more than 830,000 miles. You can follow all of her trips on our interactive map:
http://go.usa.gov/wqc.
RT @StateDept Today, #SecClinton arrived in #Latvia, the 100th country she has visited as #SecState.
http://go.usa.gov/vhJ
Remarks at Top of Meeting with Latvian Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis
Remarks
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Council of Ministers
Riga, Latvia
June 28, 2012
Well, Prime Minister, thank you very much for those warm words of solidarity and partnership. Certainly, the United States highly values our relationship with Latvia. We were proud never to have wavered in supporting the independence of Latvia and the Latvian people, and we are proud now to be a partner of a free Latvia. And I want to commend you and your government for the very difficult decisions that you took in terribly challenging economic circumstances to chart a path forward that will provide a stable, prosperous future for the people of this country. We also highly value our relationship in our alliance of NATO and commend Latvia for your participation in Afghanistan and the central role that you play in the Northern Distribution Network.
We were proud in Chicago to endorse for the future the Baltic Air Policing Mission that demonstrates tangibly the commitment that the United States and NATO has to the defense of Latvia. We think there is a great deal of work that we can do together to further the prosperity and energy security of Latvia. There will be a U.S. business mission coming to Latvia, a U.S. congressional delegation coming to Latvia in the next few weeks which demonstrates, in a very personal way, our commitment to you. MORE.
Travel Diary: Secretary Clinton Travels to Finland, Latvia, and Russia
![Secretary Clinton boards plane in Beirut, Lebanon, April 26, 2009. [State Department Photo]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2009_0716_clinton_departs_m.jpg)
More: Trip Page | Interactive Travel Map
Secretary Clinton is on travel to Finland, Latvia, and Russia from June 27-June 30. In Helsinki, Finland, Secretary Clinton will hold bilateral meetings with senior Finnish officials to discuss a number of shared foreign policy priorities, including the European economy, Syria, Iran and climate change. She will highlight Finland’s commitment and leadership in Afghanistan, specifically on development and women’s issues. She will also meet with leaders in innovation, entrepreneurship and civil society.
On June 28, the Secretary will travel to Riga, Latvia, where she will meet with senior Latvian officials to discuss a range of issues including… more »
RT @USEmbassyRiga SecState Clinton will have a townhall meeting with Latvian youth on June 28. You can also ask your question via twitter using #ClintonRiga.
Commemoration of 20th Anniversary of Re-establishment of Baltic Independence
![Secretary Clinton, Parliament Speaker Degutien during ceremony in Vilnius, July 1, 2011. [AP]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2011_0701_clinton_commemoration_m.jpg)
Trip Page | Photos
On July 1, 2011, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton joined Lithuania’s Parliament Speaker Irena Degutien to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the re-establishment of Baltic independence. Secretary Clinton said:
“At today’s wreath-laying ceremony at the Lithuanian Parliament, the United States joined Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Baltic States’ re-establishment of their independence from the Soviet Union, and honored the brave men and women who sacrificed for their countries’ freedom.
“In January 1991, thousands of ordinary Lithuanian citizens surrounded the Lithuanian Parliament… more »
