Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06RIGA653
2006-08-16 15:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Riga
Cable title:
LEBANON/LATVIA/UNIFIL: POLITICALLY TOUGH, VERY
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHRA #0653 2281502 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 161502Z AUG 06 FM AMEMBASSY RIGA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3249 INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0032 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO IMMEDIATE 2131
C O N F I D E N T I A L RIGA 000653
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/16/2011
TAGS: MOPS MARR PREL UN LE LG
SUBJECT: LEBANON/LATVIA/UNIFIL: POLITICALLY TOUGH, VERY
MODEST AT BEST
REF: STATE 134133
Classified By: CDA Phillip L. Antweiler. Reason: 1.4 (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L RIGA 000653
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/16/2011
TAGS: MOPS MARR PREL UN LE LG
SUBJECT: LEBANON/LATVIA/UNIFIL: POLITICALLY TOUGH, VERY
MODEST AT BEST
REF: STATE 134133
Classified By: CDA Phillip L. Antweiler. Reason: 1.4 (D)
1. (C) Pol/econ chief and DATT delivered reftel points to
Kaspars Ozolins, MFA A/S equivalent for security policy, and
Signe Jansone, MFA A/S equivalent for the Middle East, on
August 16. Ozolins, while noting Latvia's support for UNSCR
1701, stressed that Latvia's military forces are currently
thinly stretched between deployments in Iraq, Afghanistan,
and Kosovo, and those in Latvia are preparing for the
security requirements associated with the NATO Summit in
November. He also noted that Latvia has never participated
in a UN PKO and has heard nothing from DPKO about what would
be needed. He also pointed out that MOD Slkateris gave a
radio interview August 15 in which he said that he did not
foresee the deployment of Latvian troops to Lebanon.
2. (C) Pol/econ chief also spoke to Petris Ustubs, the PM's
Foreign Policy Advisor, who stressed that while Slakteris was
not articulating a specific GOL decision not to deploy
troops, any such action would require a decision by the
cabinet and approval by the Parliament. Ustubs cautioned
that in the run up to parliamentary elections October 7, the
possibility to use Lebanon to play politics on Iraq might
appeal to some political factions in Latvia.
3. (C) DATT also spoke with CHOD BG Maklakovs, who said he
had no political guidance, but would examine whether it would
be militarily possible to send one or two individuals to
UNIFIL without negatively impacting current operations and
summit security.
4. (C) Comment: Latvia will be a very hard sell and we
caution against pushing too hard. The simple fact is that
they do not have the available military forces to make a
significant contribution to UNIFIL. At best they could send
one or two individuals as a political show of support, but we
need to carefully consider the cost. Latvia has never
participated in a UN-led mission (only NATO missions or
U.S.-led coalitions) and a parliamentary decision so close to
elections provides opportunities for mischief making and may
result in unintended consequences. If such a very modest
contribution remains desirable, we recommend a direct
approach by UN/DPKO to the GOL.
Antweiler
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/16/2011
TAGS: MOPS MARR PREL UN LE LG
SUBJECT: LEBANON/LATVIA/UNIFIL: POLITICALLY TOUGH, VERY
MODEST AT BEST
REF: STATE 134133
Classified By: CDA Phillip L. Antweiler. Reason: 1.4 (D)
1. (C) Pol/econ chief and DATT delivered reftel points to
Kaspars Ozolins, MFA A/S equivalent for security policy, and
Signe Jansone, MFA A/S equivalent for the Middle East, on
August 16. Ozolins, while noting Latvia's support for UNSCR
1701, stressed that Latvia's military forces are currently
thinly stretched between deployments in Iraq, Afghanistan,
and Kosovo, and those in Latvia are preparing for the
security requirements associated with the NATO Summit in
November. He also noted that Latvia has never participated
in a UN PKO and has heard nothing from DPKO about what would
be needed. He also pointed out that MOD Slkateris gave a
radio interview August 15 in which he said that he did not
foresee the deployment of Latvian troops to Lebanon.
2. (C) Pol/econ chief also spoke to Petris Ustubs, the PM's
Foreign Policy Advisor, who stressed that while Slakteris was
not articulating a specific GOL decision not to deploy
troops, any such action would require a decision by the
cabinet and approval by the Parliament. Ustubs cautioned
that in the run up to parliamentary elections October 7, the
possibility to use Lebanon to play politics on Iraq might
appeal to some political factions in Latvia.
3. (C) DATT also spoke with CHOD BG Maklakovs, who said he
had no political guidance, but would examine whether it would
be militarily possible to send one or two individuals to
UNIFIL without negatively impacting current operations and
summit security.
4. (C) Comment: Latvia will be a very hard sell and we
caution against pushing too hard. The simple fact is that
they do not have the available military forces to make a
significant contribution to UNIFIL. At best they could send
one or two individuals as a political show of support, but we
need to carefully consider the cost. Latvia has never
participated in a UN-led mission (only NATO missions or
U.S.-led coalitions) and a parliamentary decision so close to
elections provides opportunities for mischief making and may
result in unintended consequences. If such a very modest
contribution remains desirable, we recommend a direct
approach by UN/DPKO to the GOL.
Antweiler