On March 26-29, 2008 LATO in the framework of the project „Latvia – EU and NATO member state” organised a visit of mass media representatives from Ukraine, which was aimed to promote the relationship between Latvia and Ukraine as a possible future member state of NATO and the EU, introducing leading Ukrainian journalists with Latvia’s Euro-Atlantic experience.

Twelve mass media representatives from five Ukrainian TV companies, (three national and two regional), one weekly and one daily newspaper participated in the project and visited Latvia. The importance of the visit was due to the upcoming NATO summit in Bucharest on April 2-4, with the aim to broadcast on TV during prime-time reportages about Latvia as a successful and active NATO and EU member state, thus providing Ukrainian society with the unbiased information about Latvia and benefits of the EU and NATO membership.

During the visit, journalists paid visits to the LATO office, met with Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs Māris Riekstiņš and Undersecretary of State for Defence Planning of the Ministry of Defence Jānis Sārts, visited leading and one of the oldest enterprises in the field of manufacturing of perfumery and biocosmetics JSC “Dzintars” and one of the largest and financially most stable fish processing companies in the Baltics JSC “Brīvais vilnis” as well as Secretariat of Special Assignments Minister for Electronic Government Affairs , Rīga Free port authority and a military base of Latvian National Armed Forces in Ādaži. Results of the project: 17 broadcasted reportages about Latvia as well as 10 published articles.

In order to facilitate the development of democratic values and civil society in the countries of the EU and NATO Eastern neighbourhood – Belarus, Russia, Ukraine and Georgia – as well as to promote Latvia’s image abroad and good neighbourhood relations in political, economic and social spheres between our countries, LATO with the support of Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Latvian Ministry of Defence and Konrad Adenauer Foundation implements a project “Latvia – EU and NATO member state”. The aim of this project is to promote interstate relationship, introducing leading journalists with Latvia’s experience, which is gained through Euro-Atlantic integration process, paying attention to the importance of the state’s economical and political development in previous years. In the framework of this project LATO organises 3-4 day visits of mass media representatives to Latvia from the EU and NATO Eastern neighbourhood countries, introducing them with the work of Latvian NGO, media and private sector as well as with the work of state institutions and Latvian National Armed Forces, paying due attention to the effects and results of the Euro-Atlantic integration.

More photos from the visit you can find here

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