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On 7-8 October, State Secretary of the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Evaldas Ignatavičius participated in the Baltic Development Forum (BDF) Conference in Riga and met with Latvian Government members, Latvian Foreign Ministry officials and Lithuanian businessmen working in the country. At the BDF Conference, MFA State Secretary Ignatavičius presented Lithuania’s attitude towards the perspectives of cooperation with the Kaliningrad region of the Russian Federation in the context of the European Union (EU) enlargement. A special session of the Conference was devoted to the development of the Kaliningrad region and discussions on the long-term objectives and priorities of the Russian-EU cooperation in this region. The role of Lithuania in the successful settlement of the transit issue to and from the Kaliningrad region was mentioned by participants of the event from Denmark, Russia and Germany. The BDF, established in 1999, organises annual conferences, aimed at discussions on the newest business possibilities and regional strategies. On 8 October, MFA State Secretary Ignatavičius met with Latvian MFA State Secretary Maris Riekstiņš, MFA Secretary Andris Teikmanis and the Latvian Prime Minister’s Foreign Policy Adviser Solveiga Silkalna. At the meetings, the countries’ integration into the EU, preparation of the EU Constitutional Treaty and coordination of European affairs were discussed. The officials also shared information on participation in Iraq’s restoration and military missions in the country. The Lithuanian MFA State Secretary and the Latvian officials also discussed topical bilateral issues, functioning of the common Baltic States’ structures and preparation to the meetings planned between the countries’ Prime Ministers. Relations with the neighbouring Russia and Belarus with a view to the EU enlargement and the EU new neighbour initiatives were also touched upon. MFA State Secretary Ignatavičius informed the Latvian officials on the border crossing issues, customs regulations and other changes of the business environment, which are of concern to Lithuanian businessmen working in the country. At the meeting with President of the Lithuanian Chamber of Commerce in Latvia Valdemaras Valkiūnas and the Chambers’ Director Silvija Bradelytė, the Lithuanian MFA State Secretary discussed the input of this organisation into the development of Lithuanian business interests in Latvia.