Paris, 14 December 2000.- The President of the WEU Assembly/the interim ESDA, Mr Klaus BÜHLER MdB, called on the Speaker of the Latvian Parliament, Mr Janis STRAUME and leading representatives of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and European Affairs Committees to discuss the future role of EU applicant countries as regards the CESDP and its parliamentary dimension in Riga yesterday.
Latvian Parliamentarians expressed their serious concern that the country may be sidelined if no proper parliamentary forum is established to allow non-EU member countries to participate in the European security and defence dialogue. The Secretary of State in the Ministry of Defence, Mr Edgars RINKEVICS, declared that there was a continuing need for WEU ministers to meet regularly at 28. Recalling the accession of six new members to WEAG at the WEU summit in Marseilles on 13 November this year, he announced that Latvia was preparing to apply for membership of this WEU armaments cooperation group and was hoping to be joined by other WEU associate partners.