Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06RIGA832
2006-10-12 14:04:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Riga
Cable title:  

LATVIAN VIEWS ON GAERC - FOCUSED ON GEORGIA

Tags:  PREL MASS EUN GG RU LE LG 
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VZCZCXRO7133
RR RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHRA #0832 2851404
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 121404Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY RIGA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3425
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L RIGA 000832 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2011
TAGS: PREL MASS EUN GG RU LE LG
SUBJECT: LATVIAN VIEWS ON GAERC - FOCUSED ON GEORGIA

REF: STATE 170214

Classified By: DCM Phillip L. Antweiler. Reason: 1.4 (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L RIGA 000832

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2011
TAGS: PREL MASS EUN GG RU LE LG
SUBJECT: LATVIAN VIEWS ON GAERC - FOCUSED ON GEORGIA

REF: STATE 170214

Classified By: DCM Phillip L. Antweiler. Reason: 1.4 (D)


1. (C) Pol/econ chief delivered reftel demarche to Veronika
Erte, A/S-level official responsible for EU issues at the
MFA, on October 12. The GOL adopted its GAERC positions in
cabinet on October 10. Latvia will be represented at the
GAERC by its Ambassador to the EU.


2. (C) Georgia - Although not in our points, this is an
important issue for Latvia. Latvia believes that recent
tensions between Russia and Georgia should be resolved by
peaceful means. Latvia believes that the frozen conflicts in
South Ossetia and Abkhazia are at the root of the problem and
current mechanisms to address the conflicts are not
effective. Latvia hopes that the EU will begin a discussion
of how it can better contribute to the effective resolution
of these conflicts. Erte said the GOL supports a statement
that charecterizes Russian actions in response to the
Georgian arrests of the Russian officers as
"disproportionate" and which calls on the Russians to stop
these actions. Latvia believes that Russian-Georgian
relations should be on the agenda for all high level
Russia-EU talks, including the October 20 informal dinner
with President Putin.


3. (C) Sudan - Latvia supports the draft council conclusions,
including extension of EU support to AMIS through the end of
the year.


4. (C) Balkans - On Kosovo, Latvia continues to look for a
sustainable solution that promotes regional stability by the
end of the year and supports Ahtisaari's efforts in this
regard. Erte said that they hope that the BiH elections will
result in a stable government that can tackle tough reforms
of the constitution and restructuring of the police. Latvia
welcomes and supports the Solana/Rehn report on the future EU
role in BiH after the closure of OHR.


5. (C) Enlargement - Latvia will support the commission
recommendation to have Romania and Bulgaria join the EU on
January 1, although it will call on Bulgaria to make further
progress on JHA issues, especially transparency in the
judiciary. They hope that the two will move quickly to
nominate commissioners.


6. (C) Iran - Latvia feels that Iran has failed to fulfill
its obligations under UNSCR 1696, but hopes the issue can be
resolved through peaceful means. The ball is in Iran's
court, Erte said. It is impossible to ignore the threat
posed by Iran's nuclear program. If it fails to cease
reprocessing and other activities, the issue should return to
the UNSC for action.


7. (C) MEPP/Lebanon - Latvia supports full implementation of
UNSCR 1701 as an important part of achieving peace in the
region. All parties should refrain from unilateral action
and return to the roadmap. Latvia believes that the
kidnapped Israeli soldiers should be returned and Israel
should release the PA ministers and legislators that it
arrested. Latvia hopes Israel will make full use of the TIM
to get money to the PA and believes all border crossings to
Gaza should be open, something for which active EU engagement
would be useful.


8. (C) Lebanon (cont.) - Erte said that Latvia is ready to
contribute to the identification and restoration of damaged
cultural sites in the city of Tyre. The Latvian culture
minister has written to the government of Lebanon to extend
this offer. Latvia is also ready to make its EOD team
available to train Lebanese deminers if the Lebanese would
like, although Erte said this offer had not yet been formally
extended.


9. (C) North Korea/UNSC/Zimbabwe - Erte said that the draft
GAERC language on North Korea was not yet ready, but Latvia
strongly condemns the DPRK test and will look for a strong
statement from the GAERC. Erte reaffirmed Latvia's strong
support for Guatemala over Venezuela in the UNSC, but said
Latvia lacked the diplomatic presence in the Middle East or
Africa to lobby on this issue. Erte concluded by saying that
Latvia would support continued EU efforts to support AU and
SADC activities to improve the humanitarian and social
conditions in Zimbabwe.
BAILEY