(7 May 2005)
1. Photo opportunity with Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga seated next to US President George W. Bush and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice UPSOUND: (English) Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Latvian President: "Its truly a great pleasure to see these wonderful journalists coming to my country and having a look around and Mr. President I think that you have something to do with that."
UPSOUND: (English) George W. Bush, US President: "Thank you for having us Madame President. Its been a trip I've really been anxious to fulfil. I admire your leadership and your country's courage. I love the fact that you are a free nation and willing to speak out so clearly for freedom. So thanks for the hospitality."
2. Presidential motorcade departs Riga Castle
3. Vike-Freiberga and Bush are presented with flowers
4. U.S. and Latvian officials observing
5. Various of Vike-Freiberga and Bush laying flowers at freedom monument
6. Various of Vike-Freiberga and Bush walking pass cheering crowd
7. Leaders standing in straight line
8. Bush, Laura Bush and Rice salute U.S. flag during US national anthem
9. Band playing
10. Various of leaders standing for Latvian anthem
11. Bush with crowd
12. Solider standing near crowd, many of whom are waving flags
STORYLINE:
U.S. President George W. Bush highlighted the need for democracy in the ex-Soviet republic of Latvia on Saturday where he met with President Vaira Vike-Freiberga.
Vike-Freiberga and Bush laid flowers at Freedom Monument in the city centre as the bands played the US and Latvian Anthems.
Earlier, Vike-Freiberga presented Bush with the country's highest award, the Order of Three Stars.
Bush was greeted at Riga Castle by an honour guard and the playing of both countries' national anthems.
He told the Latvian president: "I admire your leadership and your country's courage. I love the fact that you are a free nation and willing to speak out so clearly for freedom. So thanks for the hospitality."
Later on Saturday he is expected to make a keynote speech on democracy and pay homage to Latvia's struggle for independence.
Bush wants to highlight democratic reform in this ex-Soviet republic, but does not want to alienate Moscow, which sees Bush's stop here as a sign of meddling in its neighbourhood.
On the one hand, Bush wants Latvia to give a greater role in society to its Russian residents. On the other, he is nudging Moscow to acknowledge the pain that decades of Soviet occupation caused Latvia and its neighbours, Estonia and Lithuania.
Bush's joint meeting Saturday with the leaders of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia underscores still-simmering anger at the Soviet Union's annexation of their countries during World War II - resulting in an oppressive occupation that lasted 50 years.
The Baltic leaders have pressed the Russians to denounce the occupation.
Russia has rebuffed the request, insisting the countries willingly joined the Soviet Union in 1940.
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