Relations between Russia and Latvia have shown progress lately, which will result in several intergovernmental agreements to be signed soon, Latvian Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis has said.
"We see that the intensity of contacts between Latvia and Russia has increased. [Our] relations have become more constructive," he said.
"We hope to sign a number of agreements with Russia. Among them are agreements on avoiding double taxation, on cooperation in the tourism sector, and on fighting organized crime," Dombrovskis said. He said the agreements could be signed during Latvian President Valdis Zatlers's visit to Russia.
During a short visit to Latvia on July 9, the head of the Russian presidential administration, Sergei Naryshkin, invited Zatlers to visit Russia on behalf of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. The date of the visit is now being discussed.
Dombrovskis said developing economic cooperation with Russia was also "in our interests."
Russia has long been at odds with the Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia over perceived attempts to rewrite the history of World War II and diminish the Soviet role in the defeat of Nazi Germany.
While Russia maintains that the Red Army liberated the Baltic states from German invaders, many residents of the republics put the two "occupations" on a par.
RIGA, July 14 (RIA Novosti)
