Riga - The government of Latvia spent more than 2,000 euros on improving the table manners and dance skills of President Valdis Zatlers and his staff, a report said Wednesday.

Zatlers, who was plucked from obscurity as a doctor to unexpectedly become president in July 2007, was taught to dance the polonaise by instructor Valdis Skutans at a cost of 280 euros (about
380 dollars), the Neatkariga Rita Avize (NRA) newspaper reported.

Soon after Zatlers' inauguration, professional etiquette and communications coach Irma Kalnina charged 1,950 euros for a course in table manners, business protocol, communication skills and sartorial advice, but contrary to some reports, the bill was for the presidential staff too.

"It was for his entire staff," Kalnina told Deutsche Presse- Agentur dpa. "It was supposed to be mainly for new staff because when a new president takes over he has his new staff integrating with the existing staff. I applaud that because it's the right time to get everyone on the same page."

Officials from the president's chancery told dpa that the figures quoted by NRA were accurate but declined to comment on whether the president's dancing ability had improved. (dpa)