Political Breakfast with Valdis Zatlers

Berlin, January 22, 2008

Valdis Zatlers, President of the Republic of Latvia and patron of the Körber Foundation-sponsored "EUSTORY" history competition in Latvia, spoke to Bundestag deputies, government representatives and selected experts on the international role of the EU and the challenges facing European foreign policy, particularly in regard to Europe's eastern neighbours. He addressed the issue of bilateral relations towards the Russian Federation, the future status of Kosovo and the significance of Georgia's membership in NATO. He also spoke about the future of NATO and the EU as well as the deployment of German and Latvian troops in Afghanistan.

The Political Breakfast with Valdis Zatlers continued the Körber Foundation's dialogue regarding European foreign policy and EU policy toward the Union's eastern neighbours. This series includes among others the Bergedorf Round Table in Lemberg, Ukraine ( 2004), Potsdam (2005 ) and Odessa ( 2006) as well as the Background Discussion with Toomas Hendrik Ilves , President of the Republic of Estonia and Gela Bezhuashvili , Foreign Minister of the Republic of Georgia.

The Körber Foundation regularly invites a small circle within Berlin's foreign policy community to its Background Discussions. As in the larger Bergedorf Round Tables, the discussions take place shielded from the public, so as to enable a confidential, frank, and constructive exchange.