Foreign Minister of Latvia Maris Riekstins strongly welcomes the U.S.-Georgia Charter on Strategic Partnership signed January 9, 2009 in Washington, DC. The charter outlines the main direction for expanding further co-operation in the fields of economy, trade and energy between the U.S. and Georgia, Latvia's close allies and partners, as well as support to their cooperation on the issues of defence and security, thus promoting Georgia's integration in NATO. The signing of the Charter testifies to the long-term commitments by both sides for Georgia's development, which has particular significance in the context of stability in the region. The US-Baltic Charter of Partnership signed almost 11 years ago, on 16 January 1998, provided invaluable support to the course of the Baltic states towards the implementation of their goals – to become full-fledged members of the European Union and of NATO. The Charter provided considerable political and practical support to the strengthening of the independence of the Baltic states and facilitated U.S.-Baltic co-operation on political, economic and security issues.