RIGA, August 28 (RIA Novosti) - Latvian President Valdis Zatlers said on Friday he was still ready to make an official visit to Russia if Moscow puts forward precise proposals on the program and dates.
Zatlers was invited to visit Russia soon after he was elected president in 2007. His predecessor, Vaira Vike-Freiberga, who served two four-year terms, never received an invitation.
"Although the invitation to make an official visit to Russia was received back in 2007, Russia has not so far proposed either a date or a program for the visit," Zatlers said in an interview with RIA Novosti, adding that he was still open to a visit.
Russia's ambassador to Latvia, Alexander Veshnyakov, previously told journalists that the only reason a visit had not happened was Latvia's position on the August 2008 conflict between Russia and Georgia over South Ossetia, which the Baltic state condemned.
Zatlers said Riga was seeking to maintain good ties with Moscow as its major economic partner.
"We are neighbors with Russia, and Latvia has always been interested in good, neighborly relations with the country," the Latvian president said, adding that bilateral trade between the two countries had substantially increased over the past years.
Zalters described relations with Moscow as "pragmatic and constructive," and said cultural exchanges between the two countries were actively developing.
Trade between Latvia and Russia reached a record high of more than $8.5 billion last year, almost double the 2007 figure. However, experts forecast that bilateral trade will dwindle in 2009 amid the global economic crisis.
Latvia's GDP fell by 19.6% in the second quarter of 2009, with many companies declaring bankruptcy. The unemployment rate is 12% in the country.
