Prepared Remarks by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) snd Latvian President Valdis Zatlers Before Their Meeting

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SPEAKER PELOSI: Good afternoon. It's an absolutely delightful pleasure and privilege to welcome the President of Latvia, President Zatlers, to the Capitol of the United States.

Mr. President, I had the privilege in 1997 of going to a meeting in Paris as part of a delegation accompanying President Clinton when the accords were signed for the expansion of NATO.

As you know, in America, including Latvia in NATO was a very popular initiative. So I was very pleased to work with my colleagues to do our share from our side here to promote that.

I look forward today to hearing from you about international security issues, about the economy, and also about energy and how that relates to our economy. Of some certain interest in terms of international security will be the situation in Afghanistan. I look forward to hearing from you and relaying to my colleagues your views on the subject.

I'm so pleased that you'll be making an important address to the Baltic States Gala that is being held and I feel honored to have the opportunity to hear your views on these important subjects.

I'm pleased to invite you to speak.

PRESIDENT ZATLERS: Thank you very much. It is really an honor to be here in the Capitol building and to be back in Washington D.C.

Latvia and the United States have been allies since Latvia gained independence. Latvia and the United States will be allies for the future - very strong allies.

U.S. and Latvia relations are excellent, and an alliance like NATO stands strong behind the common values and we hope that we'll succeed in the mission in Afghanistan. We will succeed to overcome the global economic crisis and we'll succeed in any task we have in the future.

SPEAKER PELOSI: Thank you very much Mr. President. Welcome to the Capitol.

END.

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