Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08RIGA405
2008-07-10 13:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Riga
Cable title:
LATVIA OFFICIALLY PULLS OUT OF SAC
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHRA #0405 1921306 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 101306Z JUL 08 FM AMEMBASSY RIGA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5082 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE INFO RUEHXP/ALL NATO POST COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L RIGA 000405
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2018
TAGS: MARR MOPS PREL PGOV NATO LG
SUBJECT: LATVIA OFFICIALLY PULLS OUT OF SAC
REF: A) RIGA 401 B) RIGA 391 C) POST/STATE/OSD/USNATO
E-MAILS
Classified By: Ambassador Charles W. Larson, Jr.
Reason: 1.4 (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L RIGA 000405
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2018
TAGS: MARR MOPS PREL PGOV NATO LG
SUBJECT: LATVIA OFFICIALLY PULLS OUT OF SAC
REF: A) RIGA 401 B) RIGA 391 C) POST/STATE/OSD/USNATO
E-MAILS
Classified By: Ambassador Charles W. Larson, Jr.
Reason: 1.4 (d)
1. (C) PM Godmanis called Ambassador Larson July 9 to inform
him that the government had decided at its meeting on July 8
that it could not afford participation in NATO's Strategic
Airlift Capability (SAC) Consortium. Godmanis stressed that
Latvia supported the project in principle, but simply could
not justify the cost in the tight 2008 budget. He said that
Latvia would remain open to joining the consortium at a
future date if the budgetary situation improves.
2. (U) On July 9, we understand that the Latvian del to NATO
delivered notification of this decision at NATO HQ and
reaffirmed Latvia's willingness to rejoin the program in
future.
3. (U) As we understand the process here, the removal of the
costs for the SAC from the 2008 budget will be submitted to
parliament for a vote on July 17, in a package along with all
other amendments to the budget. We don't believe that there
is any chance of reversing the decision as regards the 2008
budget.
LARSON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2018
TAGS: MARR MOPS PREL PGOV NATO LG
SUBJECT: LATVIA OFFICIALLY PULLS OUT OF SAC
REF: A) RIGA 401 B) RIGA 391 C) POST/STATE/OSD/USNATO
E-MAILS
Classified By: Ambassador Charles W. Larson, Jr.
Reason: 1.4 (d)
1. (C) PM Godmanis called Ambassador Larson July 9 to inform
him that the government had decided at its meeting on July 8
that it could not afford participation in NATO's Strategic
Airlift Capability (SAC) Consortium. Godmanis stressed that
Latvia supported the project in principle, but simply could
not justify the cost in the tight 2008 budget. He said that
Latvia would remain open to joining the consortium at a
future date if the budgetary situation improves.
2. (U) On July 9, we understand that the Latvian del to NATO
delivered notification of this decision at NATO HQ and
reaffirmed Latvia's willingness to rejoin the program in
future.
3. (U) As we understand the process here, the removal of the
costs for the SAC from the 2008 budget will be submitted to
parliament for a vote on July 17, in a package along with all
other amendments to the budget. We don't believe that there
is any chance of reversing the decision as regards the 2008
budget.
LARSON