TALLINN, Feb 4 (LETA--BNS) - Estonian Minister of the Interior Taro and his Latvian counterpart, Rihards Kozlovskis, are set to meet in the twin border towns of Valga, Estonia and Valka, Latvia on Wednesday.

They will visit the rescue depots in both towns, initiating discussions on crisis preparedness, civil protection, and cross-border security. Taro and Kozlovskis will also discuss adding Russian former combatants who fought against Ukraine to the Schengen area's "blacklist" and the joint anti-drug operations of Estonian and Latvian police authorities.

"We are neighbors and good colleagues. We share a common security space and the exact same security concern - an aggressive Russia - as well as similar criminal issues, such as drug crime or burglaries and thefts in border towns and villages," Taro said. "It is very good that Minister Kozlovskis and I meet from time to time; it keeps both of us extra vigilant."

Minister of the Interior Taro is in Valga for a field work week from February 2 to 4 to familiarize himself with all the agencies under his ministry's jurisdiction. He is scheduled to meet with municipal leaders and crisis committees in Otepaa, Torva, and Valga, visit professional and volunteer rescue depots, and discuss amendments to the Weapons Act with the Valga County Hunters' Society. His itinerary also includes a visit to the military museum in Valga, which showcases the history and present day of the Estonian Border Guard, Defense Forces, Defense League, Internal Security Service, and police.

"As Minister of the Interior, I want to gain the best possible overview of Valga County, with an emphasis on crisis preparedness, cooperation between municipalities and police and rescue agencies, and the activities of volunteers," Taro explained. "From the perspective of internal security, no Estonian county can be left on the periphery. Every region is important to us and must be protected."

Accompanying the minister in Valga County are the leadership of the Ministry of the Interior and the heads of the Police and Border Guard Board, the Rescue Board, the Emergency Response Center, the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences, the ministry's IT and Development Center, and the Internal Security Service. The mid-week meeting for the heads of the agencies within the Ministry of the Interior's purview will take place at the Valga police station following the meeting between Taro and Kozlovskis.

This marks the fourth such regional visit to a county, aimed at working outside the capital to gain a detailed understanding of the local internal security situation. Taro has previously made similar visits to Polva, Ida-Viru, and Laane counties.