U.S. CONGRATULATES PEOPLE OF LATVIA ON THEIR INDEPENDENCE DAY

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT 
Statement on the Occasion of Latvia's National Day
Press Statement
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
November 14, 2013

On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of Latvia on the 95th anniversary of your independence on November 18.

The remarkable progress the Latvian people have made since the end of the Cold War is a testament to your democratic ideals, entrepreneurial spirit, and love of freedom.

We celebrate our deep bonds of friendship and strong commitment to democracy, human rights, and shared prosperity. Our partnership is grounded in our common commitments to European security and common defense as members of the NATO Alliance.

Now that Latvia is on the path to OECD accession and the euro, we look forward to continuing to strengthen our partnership through increased economic cooperation, expanded people-to-people ties, and close cooperation to address global challenges.

On this special day, I send heartfelt wishes to all the people of Latvia as we continue to work together to create a better future for our peoples.