LATVIA IN NATO. A Dream Fulfilled!

LATVIA IN NATO. A Dream Fulfilled!

On March 29 2004 during the ceremony in Washington, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Latvia Indulis Emsis handed in Accession instruments of the North Atlantic Treaty to the U.S. Secretary of State Collin Powell. This marks the completion of legal formalities of Latvia-s accession process to NATO and Latvia-s full membership in the North Atlantic Alliance.

Latvia-s national flag has been raised at NATO Headquarters in Brussels

On April 2, 2004, a flag - raising ceremony was held at NATO Headquarters in Brussels to celebrate the accession of Latvia and other new member states to the North Atlantic Organization (NATO). Latvia was represented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Rihards Pīks and his delegation consisting of representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defense. A special meeting of North Atlantic Council and an informal working meeting of 26 NATO Foreign ministers were held after the flag-raising ceremony. 

• A Dream Fulfilled" Address by H.E. Rihards Piks Foreign Minister of the Republic of Latvia at the Ceremonial Session of the North Atlantic Council on the Occasion of the Accession of Seven New Members to the Alliance
  
• PHOTOS - Flag - raising ceremony of  seven new NATO member states in Brussels