ADAZI, Latvia -- In a brief ceremony here, Latvian Minister of Defense Raimonds Vejonis, along with Lt. General Raimonds Graube, the nation's Chief of Defense, thanked members of Norway's Telemark Battalion for their participation in Operation Atlantic Resolve.
Telemark Battalion, a part of Task Force Viking, is a fully professional combat unit and consists only of enlisted troops. In Norway, most units consist of conscripts.
Graube presented Maj. Otto Lovland, commanding officer to Task Force Viking, with a certificate of appreciation on behalf of the Latvian army.
"Norway has helped us to develop our armed forces," Vejonis said while also stating that Norway and Latvia have formed a great partnership as NATO allies and have become great friends with the common goal of security in Europe.
"Latvia says thank you." Garube said as he shook Lovland's hand. "We will continue to build our interoperability."
"Cooperation is a foundation of the NATO alliance," said Lovland. "We have accomplished this."
Norway sent 160 soldiers from Telemark Battalion to participate in Operation Atlantic Resolve at Adazi.
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