Riga

No plan to ask for extra billion euros, says Latvian prime minister

Latvia Prime Minister Valdis DombrovskisRiga  - Latvian Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis said Monday his government did not intend to approach international lenders for an additional 1 billion euros (1.35 billion dollars) on top of an existing 7.5-billion assistance package, as reported by some media.

"Is Latvia's government requesting an additional billion? The answer is no," he said during a press briefing.

However, Dombrovskis stopped short of ruling out such action in future.

Latvia's Parex Bank lives on after striking deal with lenders

Latvia's Parex Bank lives on after striking deal with lenders Riga  - Troubled Latvian bank Parex got a boost on Thursday when it confirmed it had agreed terms with creditors to pay back around 775 million euros (1 billion dollars) in syndicated loans.

Failure to reach a compromise deal would have seen a group of 60 lenders, including Germany's Commerzbank, demanding immediate payment, effectively forcing Parex out of business.

EBRD confirms interest in Latvia's Parex bank

EBRD confirms interest in Latvia's Parex bank Riga - A senior official of the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) confirmed Wednesday that the bank was interested in taking a stake in Latvia's troubled Parex Bank.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Latvian Prime Miinster Valdis Dombrovskis, the EBRD's Varel Freeman said the bank would confirm the exact nature of its investment in coming weeks.

Billions wasted on Latvia's landmark bridge, report reveals

Billions wasted on Latvia's landmark bridge, report reveals Riga - A landmark bridge project in the Latvia's capital Riga wasted billions of dollars in taxpayers' money, according to an official government report Wednesday.

The 800-metre-long Dienvidu Tilts or "Southern Bridge" was the biggest construction project in the Baltic states for 25 years and opened in November 2008 -but has been beset by controversy and rumours about its true cost.

Latvia's controversial Waffen-SS commemoration passes peacefully

LatviaRiga - The new Latvian government of Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis successfully negotiated its first serious test Monday when a controversial event to commemorate Latvians who served in the Nazi German Waffen-SS during World War II passed without major incident.

Interior Minister Linda Murniece, in place only since the government took office on March 12, praised police efforts to prevent the outbreaks of violence which have marred previous years' events and which rocked the Latvian capital, Riga, in January.

ROUNDUP: Latvia's government-to-be agrees budget cuts

 Latvia's government-to-be agrees budget cutsRiga  - Latvia's prime minister-designate Valdis Dombrovskis announced on Wednesday that his centre-right coalition had agreed on its legislative programme, including big spending cuts.

Riga's government collapsed last month under the pressure of the economic meltdown.

The new government's priorities will include the promotion of entrepreneurship, a reduction in bureaucracy and the efficient use of EU funds - but also controversial cutbacks in public service salaries.

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