Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MOSCOW2434
2007-05-24 13:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Moscow
Cable title:  

LATVIAN BORDER TREATY: DUMA RATIFICATION SLOW BUT

Tags:  PREL PBTS PGOV LG RS 
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PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHMO #2434 1441304
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 241304Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0570
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS MOSCOW 002434 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PBTS PGOV LG RS
SUBJECT: LATVIAN BORDER TREATY: DUMA RATIFICATION SLOW BUT
COMING

REF: MOSCOW 1314

UNCLAS MOSCOW 002434

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PBTS PGOV LG RS
SUBJECT: LATVIAN BORDER TREATY: DUMA RATIFICATION SLOW BUT
COMING

REF: MOSCOW 1314


1. (SBU) The GOR has begun the process of ratifying the
border treaty with Latvia, which was signed March 27 by the
two countries' prime ministers and ratified May 17 by the
Latvian Parliament. We understand from the MFA that although
there are a number of required bureaucratic steps that will
slow ratification, the GOR is committed to moving forward,
with likely completion somewhere between late June and early
fall.


2. (SBU) Andrey Skachkov, Head of the MFA's Latvia Desk,
underlined that the complexity of the GOR ratification
process is the only culprit behind the delay. While the
treaty was reviewed in the interagency before signature, the
treaty needs to be reviewed again by involved agencies,
including the Finance Ministry, before transmittal by
President Putin to the State Duma with a presidential
directive. After Duma approval, the treaty will move to the
Federation Council, which, after its approval, will send the
treaty back to the President, who will issue a final
implementing decree. According to Skachkov, the procedure is
purely bureaucratic and he expects no political problems.
Beyond a few grumbles among Duma members, neither a
long-standing bilateral irritant -- Latvia's treatment of the
Russian minority -- nor the recent Estonian turmoil is
expected to affect the ratification process.


3. (SBU) Skachkov offered late June as an optimistic
assessment and early fall as a more realistic prediction for
ratification. He assured us that the Russian leadership
appreciated the prompt Latvian ratification and that the GOR
was poised to move the process forward.


4. (SBU) Janis Zlamets of the Latvian Embassy told us that
President Vike-Freiberga will promulgate the ratified treaty
on Monday May 28. With the already-agreed border currently
functioning well, Zlamets did not expect any major problem
with Russian ratification. One "minor" wrinkle: the issue of
the Russian minority in Latvia will surely appear in Duma
discussions while many Duma members, not making distinctions
among the three Baltic countries, will apply their
displeasure with Estonia to Latvia. Zlamets noted that the
GOR's rhetoric vis-a-vis Latvia has softened over time and
the earlier tough line had faded.
BURNS