AMBASSADOR BAILEY'S FIRST MEETING WITH PRESIDENT

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/13/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS CVIS NATO LG
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR BAILEY'S FIRST MEETING WITH PRESIDENT
ZATLERS

Classified By: Ambassador Catherine Todd Bailey. Reason: 1.4(d)


1. (C) Summary: Only three days on the job, President
Zatlers received Ambassador Bailey on July 11. The new
President stressed his desire to continue strong bilateral
relations with the US, as Latvia's strategic partner. The
Ambassador reviewed the many areas of bilateral military,
political, and economic cooperation, and the President seemed
impressed by the scope of our relations. He expressed a
desire to make an early trip to Afghanistan, which the
Ambassador pledged our support to facilitate. The President
also emphasized the importance of being as open as possible
about developments in the relationship, especially visas, so
that people had the most information possible. In a separate
one on one meeting, the Ambassador stressed the importance we
attach to transparency and urged the President to be a "moral
compass" for Latvia. She also encouraged him to develop a
strong action plan for his first 100 days in office. In
press remarks afterwards, the Ambassador expressed her
opinion that Latvia "is in good hands" with President
Zatlers. End summary.


2. (U) Ambassador Bailey had her first meeting with new
Latvian President Valdis Zatlers on July 11, just three days
in to his term of office, at Riga Castle. The Ambassador,
joined by A/DCM and DATT, met with the President, accompanied
by his Chief of Staff Edvards Stiprais, Foreign Policy
Advisor Andris Pelss, and Press Secreatry Inta Lase, for
nearly 30 minutes. The Ambassador and President then met one
on one for an additional 25 minutes. This was followed by a
joint press availability.


3. (C) The Ambassador opened the meeting by presenting
President Zatlers the congratulatory letter from President
Bush and copies of the US Constitution and Declaration of
Independence. She stressed her great pleasure at being
received so early in the President's tenure, stressed the
strong bilateral relationship, and her desire for good
relations between his office and the Embassy, noting we had
already begun to develop good relations with his advisors.
Zatlers welcomed the Ambassador's introduction and desire to
build close ties. He stressed his desire to work with the US
as Latvia's strategic partner and to build close ties to the
Embassy. He stressed that his inaugural address (which
included strong mention of the transatlantic link) was a good
statement of his policy. He added that he had chosen younger
people as his advisors because he wanted to "look to the
future" but added that he felt he had a strong team.


4. (C) The Ambassador noted that the two visits by President
Bush to Riga showed the strength of the bilateral
relationship. She stressed the President's commitment to the
Global War on Terror and praised Latvia's contributions in
both Iraq and Afghanistan, standing shoulder to shoulder with
the US in meeting these threats. The Ambassador underscored
that, despite political challenges at home, President Bush
remained committed to ensuring global security, which will be
an important part of his legacy. She noted that there have
been no attacks on American soil since 9/11.


5. (C) In this vain, she welcomed the decision by Zatlers to
pay an early visit to NATO (July 17) and meet with the
Secretary General. She also encouraged Zatlers to make an

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early visit to Afghanistan, which would be important to the
troops. She offered the Embassy's assistance in helping with
implementation of such a trip, if necessary. The DATT
stressed the appreciation and admiration for Latvia and its
military in the USG and among the US military, noting his own
positive experiences working with Latvian troops in Iraq. He
said his number one task was to help Latvia continue to
develop a military able to serve effectively in NATO, and
increased Latvian participation in ISAF was key to that. He
also reinforced the benefit for troops in the field of a
visit by their President. Zatlers confirmed he would visit
Afghanistan at soon as possible. "This is a must," he said.
Adding, "I am a man and I must serve my country. It sends an
important signal to the men of Latvia about their duty."
Noting that he had never been a military man himself, he did
recall that he went in with the Soviet third army within ten
days of the Chernobyl disaster to provide medical assistance.


6. (C) The Ambassador next reviewed our bilateral economic
relations, stressing the importance that President Bush
attached to them. After reviewing recent American
investments and Embassy trade promotion activities, she noted
the need to increase awareness of Latvia among American
investors and said this will be a key task for new Ambassador
to Washington Andrejs Pildegovics. Ambassador Bailey noted
also that the Latvian trade office in Washington needs to
lift its game. She outlined a plan to lead a large
delegation of Latvian officials to the US in October to look

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at tourism, economic development, culture and architecture.
The Ambassador also reviewed the recent successful energy
conference organized by Embassy Riga and stressed that energy
was a good area for bilateral cooperation. The Ambassador
also reviewed the state of play on efforts to expand the visa
waiver program.


7. (C) At the Ambassador's request, A/DCM reviewed recent
events in the banking sector, stressing that this was not a
USG action, but driven by commercial and regulatory concerns
of the banks and highlighting that one bank had decided to
delay a planned closure of correspondent accounts. He also
underscored that Latvia, even as a small state, had an
important voice in NATO, which operates by consensus. A/DCM
continued that Latvia's efforts at democracy promotion in
places like Georgia and Moldova were important and welcomed
in Washington. He encouraged the President to continue to
share Latvia's successful experiences with other transition
states.


8. (C) Responding both to the comments on visas and on the
banking sector, President Zatlers said that it was important
to speak openly on such things, even if they are sometimes
sensitive, to control rumors. Noting that the Latvian
government often does not do a good job of informing people
of what it is doing, he urged the Ambassador to provide more
and regular updates of issues like the visa waiver program
expansion so people understood what was going on. Describing
his own character as "decisive," Zatlers said that in the
modern world people expect instant decisions. "If you send a
letter yesterday, people expect an answer today." But, he
said, that was not always possible, especially in
bureaucracies. He added that what mattered more was what you
decide rather than when you decide.


9. (C) In the one on one meeting that followed, the
Ambassador stressed to the President the need to be "a moral
compass" for Latvia. While saying he would necessarily be
different than President Vike-Freiberga, she stressed that
the President could model certain of her traits without
copying. In that regard, she stressed our great concern with
efforts earlier this year to amend the laws on oversight of
the security institutions, and expressed great concern at the
Prime Minister's dismissal of our concerns. The President
was very interested in hearing a complete accounting of those
concerns and events. The Ambassador also underscored the
great importance we attach to transparency and efforts to
fight corruption.


10. (C) The Ambassador stressed to the President the
importance of his first 100 days in office, encouraging him
to use his background as a physician to focus on health care.
The President agreed that this was a priority for him, but
he was still considering what specific part would be the best
place for him to begin. Commenting on the scandals he faced
about receiving gratuities from patients, the President said
that he had submitted draft legislation several years ago to
regularize this practice and bring it in to the open, but the
government of the day declined to move on it. (Note: The
Danish Ambassador, Dean of the Riga Diplomatic Corps told
Ambassador Bailey that the President had made the same claim
in his introductory meeting as well. End note.)


11. (U) In the press availability that followed, the
Ambassador said that Latvia was "in good hands" with
President Zatlers and compared him to Senator Bill Frist as a
physician entering politics. Zatlers expressed his desire
for continued strong relations with the United States.
BAILEY