45	a	2	2000-03-24 17:09:52+02	24.03.2000	ON THE RESULTS OF THE VISIT IN BRUSSELS	Today on the 24th of March, the Minister of Defence, Mr. Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Indulis Bērziņš, participated at the meeting of the North Atlantic Council and Latvia, led by the NATO Secretary General, Lord George Robertson. The Latvian representatives presented the Progress report on what has been accomplished and achieved in implementation of the Membership Action Plan (MAP) of Latvia for 2000. 
\
The Minister of Defence, Mr.Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis, in his speech informed ambassadors of the NATO member-countries, on what has been accomplished in the defence system of Latvia within MAP. Mr. Ģ.V.Kristovskis noted, that Latvia's activity  and full determination to participate in the process, is aimed at preparing Latvia to be ready to accept the invitation to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation at the next round of enlargement. At the same time Minister of Defence emphasised, that a lot still has to be done in improvement of the systems of procurement and military education. 
\
During the meeting it was noted that Latvia is one of the best NATO candidate - states as concerns the execution of the Membership Action Plan. It was also concluded at the session, that Membership Action Plan of Latvia for 2000 is well prepared, realistic, and financially well founded. The ambassadors of NATO member countries, acknowledged that Latvia has a systemic and purposeful approach in solving state defence related issues.  
\
Ambassadors of the NATO members states also positively evaluated Latvia's readiness to contribute to European security, more precisely - to participate by providing officers of the Latvian National Armed Forces for peace-keeping and peace - support missions in Bosnia - Hercegovina and Kosovo, as well as noting the close co-operation among the Baltic States themselves. 
\
Participants at the session also discussed the need for Latvia to enlarge her defence budget to 2% of the GDP, which is the average level of NATO countries. To this the Latvian representatives responded that the Government of Latvia has expressed the political will increasing state defence expenditures. Today at the session in Brussels, both the Minister of Defence, Ģ.V.Kristovskis, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, once more stressed Latvia's strong determination to continue the initiated process of preparation for joining NATO.