19 Nov. 2004

NATO Secretary General receives top Latvian honor News 18/11/2004 - NATO NATO Secretary General to visit Latvia Multimedia High resolution photos NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer travelled to Riga on 19 November to receive the Order of Three Stars, Latvia's highest civilian honor. The Order was presented to the Secretary General by President Vaira Vike-Freiberga at a special ceremony at the Riga Castle, the president's official residence. "I am very honoured and happy to accept the Order of Three Stars from the Latvian government – I am proud personally, but also as the Secretary General of NATO," Mr. De Hoop Scheffer told the President. The Secretary General praised Latvia as a "faithful and reliable Ally", and said the country had adapted very well to its new responsibilities of NATO membership. Iraq on the agenda During the visit, the Secretary General also met with Prime Minister Indulis Emsis and Defence Minister Atis Slakteris to discuss the key issues on the Alliance's agenda. This included Iraq, where the Alliance is preparing to establish a NATO-supported Iraqi Training, Education and Doctrine Centre to help train Iraqi security forces. The Secretary General said that he was calling on all NATO countries to contribute the personnel necessary to get the Centre up and running before the end of the year. This was the first visit to Latvia by the Secretary General following its accession to NATO on 29 March this year.