Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07RIGA102
2007-02-09 14:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Riga
Cable title:
LATVIAN VIEWS ON FEB 12-13 GAERC
how-toVZCZCXRO3333 OO RUEHAG RUEHROV DE RUEHRA #0102 0401456 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 091456Z FEB 07 FM AMEMBASSY RIGA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3755 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L RIGA 000102
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/08/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV ETRD EUN LG
SUBJECT: LATVIAN VIEWS ON FEB 12-13 GAERC
REF: STATE 13840
Classified By: Ambassador Catherine Todd Bailey, for Reasons 1.4 (b) an
d (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L RIGA 000102
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/08/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV ETRD EUN LG
SUBJECT: LATVIAN VIEWS ON FEB 12-13 GAERC
REF: STATE 13840
Classified By: Ambassador Catherine Todd Bailey, for Reasons 1.4 (b) an
d (d)
1. (C) Pol/Econ Off delivered points in reftel to Veronika
Erte, MFA A/S-level official responsible for EU affairs, on
February 7. Latvia's GAERC positions had already been set,
but Erte welcomed the US points. Latvian positions are very
close to US views on the issues discussed.
Kosovo and Serbia
--------------
2. (C) Erte said that Latvia is in agreement with the US
position on Kosovo and does not support waiting until a new
government is formed in Serbia in order to resume
negotiations. She said that Latvian does encourage the
formation of a reform-oriented, pro-Western government in
Serbia and the GOL will continue to support Special Envoy
Ahtisaari's efforts to convince the Serbians to pursue their
EU integration aspirations.
Albania
--------------
3. (C) Erte agreed that Albania needs improvement in the
areas of democracy, rule of law and corruption, and that the
Feb. 18 elections would be very important for any decisions
next year on the future of Albanian NATO membership.
Israel-Palestine, Iran
--------------
4. (C) Latvia maintains its policies on Israeli-Palestinian
issues, stated Erte, and the GOL hopes that the current
PA-Hamas talks in Saudi Arabia conclude well. On Iran, Erte
had no specific comment on our request to take action against
Banks Saderat and Sepah, but said that the GOL supports full
implementation of UNSCR 1737 and allowing EU member states to
interpret the resolution broadly. She commented that Latvia
supports efforts to promote democracy in Iran and believes
that peaceful, internal change in Iran would be ideal. She
noted our request that EU states halt export credits to Iran,
but had no immediate response.
Afghanistan
--------------
5. (C) Erte said that the GOL strongly backs the EU mission
to train police in Afghanistan and plans to have Latvian
police participate, though they have not reached a decision
on how many police Latvia might send.
Sudan/Darfur and Somalia
--------------
6. (C) Latvia supports African Union efforts in both Darfur
and Somalia, according to Erte, and would like to see both
aided by the voluntary contributions of individual EU member
states. On the subject of parallel US-EU sanctions against
Sudanese officials should progress not occur on Darfur, she
said that she had heard no mention of sanctions among EU
members.
WTO/Doha Round
--------------
7. (C) Erte said that the GOL supports efforts to revive the
Doha Round, but that French positions on agricultural policy
make such efforts challenging.
BAILEY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/08/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV ETRD EUN LG
SUBJECT: LATVIAN VIEWS ON FEB 12-13 GAERC
REF: STATE 13840
Classified By: Ambassador Catherine Todd Bailey, for Reasons 1.4 (b) an
d (d)
1. (C) Pol/Econ Off delivered points in reftel to Veronika
Erte, MFA A/S-level official responsible for EU affairs, on
February 7. Latvia's GAERC positions had already been set,
but Erte welcomed the US points. Latvian positions are very
close to US views on the issues discussed.
Kosovo and Serbia
--------------
2. (C) Erte said that Latvia is in agreement with the US
position on Kosovo and does not support waiting until a new
government is formed in Serbia in order to resume
negotiations. She said that Latvian does encourage the
formation of a reform-oriented, pro-Western government in
Serbia and the GOL will continue to support Special Envoy
Ahtisaari's efforts to convince the Serbians to pursue their
EU integration aspirations.
Albania
--------------
3. (C) Erte agreed that Albania needs improvement in the
areas of democracy, rule of law and corruption, and that the
Feb. 18 elections would be very important for any decisions
next year on the future of Albanian NATO membership.
Israel-Palestine, Iran
--------------
4. (C) Latvia maintains its policies on Israeli-Palestinian
issues, stated Erte, and the GOL hopes that the current
PA-Hamas talks in Saudi Arabia conclude well. On Iran, Erte
had no specific comment on our request to take action against
Banks Saderat and Sepah, but said that the GOL supports full
implementation of UNSCR 1737 and allowing EU member states to
interpret the resolution broadly. She commented that Latvia
supports efforts to promote democracy in Iran and believes
that peaceful, internal change in Iran would be ideal. She
noted our request that EU states halt export credits to Iran,
but had no immediate response.
Afghanistan
--------------
5. (C) Erte said that the GOL strongly backs the EU mission
to train police in Afghanistan and plans to have Latvian
police participate, though they have not reached a decision
on how many police Latvia might send.
Sudan/Darfur and Somalia
--------------
6. (C) Latvia supports African Union efforts in both Darfur
and Somalia, according to Erte, and would like to see both
aided by the voluntary contributions of individual EU member
states. On the subject of parallel US-EU sanctions against
Sudanese officials should progress not occur on Darfur, she
said that she had heard no mention of sanctions among EU
members.
WTO/Doha Round
--------------
7. (C) Erte said that the GOL supports efforts to revive the
Doha Round, but that French positions on agricultural policy
make such efforts challenging.
BAILEY