Latvian parliament approves border treaty on first reading;

UNCLAS RIGA 000092 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PBTS RS LG SUBJECT: Latvian parliament approves border treaty on first reading; second on February 8 Ref: Riga 53 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Latvia's Saeima (parliament) voted 65 - 26 on February 1 to authorize the government to sign the border treaty with Russia that has been pending since 1997. This was only the first reading and the bill will have to pass again on February 8 before it is final. However, the nearly ten hours of debate, including all the leaders of the country, provide an opportunity for a full airing of views on an issue that has been neuralgic for the Latvian body politic. The second reading will allow for amendments and it is not expected that there will be as many votes in favor, but it should still pass. Whether Russia will agree to sign remains an open question, although the Latvians feel they are hearing encouraging noises from Moscow. End summary. ¶2. (U) Latvia's parliament February 1 debated legislation to authorize the government to sign the Latvia - Russia border treaty. While parliamentary authorization is not required, the government sought it to assuage Moscow that the flap over the May 2005 unilateral declaration would not be repeated (reftel). Although the debate lasted for ten hours (with plenty of breaks),most of the suspense ended with a 63 - 26 vote at the top of the debate to consider the bill under urgent procedures. This means only two readings in parliament are needed , vice the normal three, and reduces the opportunities for amendments. ¶3. (U) President Vike-Freiberga opened the debate, the first time Saeima watchers can remember a president addressing the chamber on a specific piece of legislation. PM Kalvitis, FM Pabriks and other members of the cabinet also spoke, with Kalvitis sitting through the entire debate. ¶4. (U) The debate was colorful at time, but largely covered the same ground over and over again. The ultra-nationalists accused the government of accepting the Soviet occupation of Latvia while the names Molotov-Ribbentrop, Hitler, Stalin and Brezhnev were frequently invoked. One member, perhaps the most right wing in parliament, charged that those supporting signing the treaty would be guilty of giving away Latvia's territory, which carries penalties of three - five years in prison. Main opposition party New Era said it supported the treaty but argued that constitutionally the government needed a referendum before it could formally acquiesce in the separation of the Abrene region from Latvia's territory. The government and its supporters claimed that signing the treaty would bring a range of benefits - everything from lifting the Russian ban on the importation of Latvian sprats, to reducing the lines of trucks at the Latvian/Russian border, even keeping Latvians from seeking work in Ireland (and attracting back those who have already left)! More seriously, supporters stressed that it was important to fulfill Latvia's commitment on joining the EU and NATO that it had no unresolved territorial claims and was ready to sign the treaty. ¶5. (U) One moment of drama came when the government nearly lost a vote to extend the session past the normal end time of five pm. Once that was overcome, debate extended another two and a half hours before the final vote of 65 - 26 was taken. The bill will now return for a second reading on February 8, when amendments can be offered, but debate will be much shorter. ¶6. (SBU) Comment: This was a big win for PM Kalvitis, but he is far from finished. Several members voting for the bill today, especially from ethic Russian based parties, explicitly stated they were doing so to be able to offer amendments on the second reading. Some of these are likely to be poison pills for the government, but government reps were cautiously optimistic that they could defeat the worst ones. One ethnic Russian MP told pol/econ chief that his party would have to support the bill on second reading no matter what, but they also needed to try for some amendments to remove references to the continuity of the Latvian state - a non-starter for the vast majority in parliament. The nationalists, meanwhile, can be expected to offer amendments explicitly citing the Soviet occupation, which would be anathema to Russia. The government will need to try to hold the center. If it wins the second vote, then the issue is whether Russia will agree to sign. Representatives of the MFA and PM's office at the February 1 session said they were hearing positive noises from Moscow, but cautioned of the possibility of a last minute change in position. ANTWEILER