Latvian President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga has scheduled a two-day state visit to the Netherlands

Latvian President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga has scheduled a two-day state visit to the Netherlands, the president's press office has announced. The Jan. 18-19 visit, at the invitation of Queen Beatrix, will be the first official visit in the Netherlands from any of the Baltic states, the press office said. The president is expected to meet with the queen and Prime Minister J.P.Balkenende, as well to speak at the University of Leyden and to the Dutch parliament. Another highlight will be the unveiling of Latvian poet Nora Kalna’s work “Jūra, tu drīksti” on a wall of Huize Rapenburg in Leyden. The city has collected poetry from a number of nations for display on the wall. Accompanying the president will be her husband, Imants Freibergs, as well as about 60 government officials and business people. The president is expected to return to Rīga on Jan. 19.