RIGA, July 6 (LETA) - As of today, the eastern Latvian city of Rezekne takes over the presidency of the Latvian Association of Large Cities (LLPA), the association's representative Ugis Darvins-Kozlovskis informed LETA. 

The general meeting of LLPA members on Wednesday approved the association's working plan for this year, prioritizing areas like education, energy and finance. 

The presidency of the Latvian Association of Large Cities changes annually on a rotational basis. Rezekne took over the LLPA presidency from Latvia's southwestern port city Liepaja. 

"The role of LLPA in coordinating local governments' work remains important. I see ensuring stable energy supply to municipalities to protect local residents from adverse effects of energy crises as the most important task of the presidency,"  Rezekne Mayor Aleksandrs Bartasevics (Harmony) said as he assumed the powers of the LLPA presidency. 

He also indicated that to ensure municipalities' development they need financial stability. These have to be transparent and scheduled allocations and not compensations from special funds, Bartasevics said. Local governments have to be able to plan their work in the long term, not just within a framework of one year, the Rezekne mayor said.