LATVIA APPRECIATES U.S. ROLE IN HAITIAN RELIEF

UNCLAS RIGA 000042 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PREF EAID ECON HA LG SUBJECT: LATVIA APPRECIATES U.S. ROLE IN HAITIAN RELIEF REF: A) SECSTATE 6918 B) RIGA 31 ¶1. (SBU) MFA Head of the Americas and Caribbean Division Dace Rutka told us the Government of Latvia appreciated the role the U.S. had played in assisting Haitian authorities and our support and collaboration with the UN to provide assistance to the people of Haiti. She appreciated receipt of ref A points, and said she expected Latvia's Finance Ministry would soon transfer Latvia's own contribution of 15,000 Euros (ref B). Latvia has undergone a severe economic contraction, losing over 20% of its GDP over the past two years. The national budget has been cut back severely, under the terms of agreements with the IMF and other international lenders. ¶2. (SBU) The has been little coverage of the Haitian earthquake and international relief efforts in Latvian media. What coverage there is has remained factual. GARBER