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| Identifier | Subject | Date | Office | Classification | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06RIGA1006 |
(C) LATVIA INFORMED OF RESULTS FROM 2006 [...] No summary [...] |
2006-12-08 13:00:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | MTCRE PARM PREL MNUC ETTC KSCA TSPA LG |
| 06RIGA1040 |
LATVIA'S 2007 BUDGET [...] Summary: In a relatively swift approval process, Latvia's parliament adopted its 2007 budget on December 19. The budget, featuring a 26 percent increase in expenditures (mostly growing public sector salaries and increased government investment), a projected 23 percent increase in revenues, and [...] |
2006-12-22 14:10:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON PGOV EFIN ETRD LG |
| 06RIGA1056 |
TWO LATVIAN SOLDIERS KILLED IN IRAQ, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS [...] SUMMARY. The deaths of two Latvian soldiers in Iraq December 27 has topped all news in Latvia in the aftermath. Despite nearly 80 percent public opposition to the mission, senior officials have clearly stated that Latvia will remain in Iraq. Opposition political leaders, and even some membe [...] |
2006-12-29 15:38:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV MOPS PREL IZ LG |
| 06RIGA202 |
LATVIA'S RULING COALITION IN DEADLOCK OVER [...] (U) SUMMARY. Since Transport Minister Ainars Slesers's March 15 dismissal for his alleged involvement in a vote- buying scandal in the city of Jurmala (reftel), Latvia's governing coalition has been unable to appoint a successor due to the tough stance taken by the coalition's senior member, [...] |
2006-03-24 15:31:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PHUM LG |
| 06RIGA246 |
LATVIA TO CONTINUE WITH MINORITY GOVERNMENT AS [...] (SBU) Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis now leads a minority government. The New Era party, the governing coalition's largest, left the government April 7 in the culmination of a three-week government crisis characterized by competing claims of corruption and government malfeasance. New Era lef [...] |
2006-04-07 15:41:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL LG |
| 06RIGA496 |
(C) LATVIAN REQUEST FOR U.S. AIR SECURITY [...] (U) This is a request for guidance from Washington agencies. See para 3. 2. (C/NOFORN) In a letter to Ambassador Bailey, the GOL has presented a request for USG assistance with air security for the period of the NATO Summit in Riga, November 28-29, 2006 (see para 4 below). In making this [...] |
2006-06-26 10:49:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL MOPS ASEC NATO LG |
| 06RIGA518 |
LATVIA ON WTO GENEVA MEETING [...] (C) Pol/Econ Chief delivered reftel points to Maija Manika, MFA U/S for Economic Issues June 28. Manika will accompany Economics Minister Stokenbergs to Geneva. Manika said that Latvia was among the EU member states urging a more flexible approach by the commission, but acknowledged that lar [...] |
2006-07-03 07:28:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD PREL EUN WTO LG |
| 06RIGA519 |
AMBASSADOR BAILEY'S MEETING WITH RUSSIAN [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a June 29 meeting, Ambassador Bailey and Russian Ambassador Kalyuzhny discussed the security situation in Iraq; energy security; Latvian-Russian bilateral relations; the NATO Summit; the recent visit of Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga to the U.S.; and Russia's desire to [...] |
2006-07-03 07:28:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ETRD ENRG ECON WTO RS LG |
| 06RIGA523 |
LATVIAN POLITICAL DIRECTOR ON NATO, IRAN, UN AND [...] (C) Summary: In a tour d'horizon with pol/econ chief, Latvian PolDir Klava talked about Latvia's goals for the Riga summit, Iran, UN and OSCE issues. Latvia strongly supports NATO opening an intensified dialogue with Georgia, and closer NATO relations with Georgia and Ukraine will be an import [...] |
2006-07-05 14:43:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL PHUM NATO UN OSCE IR LG |
| 06RIGA524 |
LATVIAN DEFMIN REASSURED ON ROTATAION OF LATVIAN [...] (C) Summary: As flagged by Embassy Baghdad, the Government of Latvia has been very concerned in recent days about what they believed to be a delay in the return home of their contingent rotating out of service in MNF-I. Thanks to quick coordination, we have been able to allay GOL concerns an [...] |
2006-07-05 14:47:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | MOPS PREL PGOV IZ LG |
| 06RIGA526 |
LATVIA LOOKS TO MAJOR INCREASE IN DEVELOPMENT [...] (C) SUMMARY Latvia is shifting from being a recipient of foreign aid to being a donor. Their recently published development cooperation policy plan for 2007, envisions a roughly four-fold increase in development assistance, focused on Georgia and Moldova, with additional assistance to Ukrain [...] |
2006-07-06 07:54:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | EAID ECON PREL PGOV GG MD LG |
| 06RIGA527 |
PM'S CHIEF OF STAFF ON LATVIAN POLITICAL SCENE [...] (C) Summary: Latvia's October elections should produce a politial alignment similar to the coalition currently in office, although the nationalist Fatherland and Freedom could significantly increase its seats, according to the PM's chief of staff, Jurgis Liepnieks. Liepnieks, a consummate po [...] |
2006-07-06 07:55:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR LG |
| 06RIGA533 |
LATVIAN PRESIDENT VETOS CONTROVERSIAL LABOR LAW [...] SUMMARY. Latvian president Vaira Vike-Freiberga returned to the Saeima (parliament) a bill to amend the Labor Law, which did not include sexual orientation as one of the protected categories in employment. The language of the law appears to violate an EU directive that Latvia must incorporat [...] |
2006-07-07 11:18:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL PHUM EUN LG |
| 06RIGA534 |
Latvian response to North Korean Missile Launch [...] Pol/econ chief delivered ref A points to Signe Jansone, A/S-level official at the MFA responsible for Asia. Jansone said that Japanese charge had been in just prior to make similar points. Latvia shares our concern on the launches and fully supports the NATO (ref B) and EU statements on the [...] |
2006-07-07 13:48:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PARM KNNP KN LG |
| 06RIGA535 |
Afghanistan PRT Conference: Latvia [...] (U) Ambassador Bailey and Canadian Ambassador Poulin jointly delivered ref A invitation to Latvian MOD Slakteris July 5. Slakteris pledged to send a representative to the conference in Budapest, but given the minister's trip to Washington the following week, it might be at a rather low level. [...] |
2006-07-07 13:49:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL MOPS AF LG |
| 06RIGA552 |
AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH PM ON 311 DESIGNATIONS [...] (C) Summary: Latvian Prime Minister Kalvitis greatly appreciated an advance briefing by Ambassador Bailey July 12 on U.S. Treasury decisions to sanction one Latvian bank for taking insufficient measures to combat money laundering and to lift the threat of sanctions on a second bank, bringing [...] |
2006-07-13 14:32:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN PREL ETRD PHUM KCRM LG |
| 06RIGA561 |
Afghanistan PRT Conference: Latvia - updated [...] (U) Latvia will send the following individuals to the PRT conference in Budapest: Mr. Edgars Rinkevics, State Secretary, Ministry of Defense Ms. Zane Vasule, Snr. Desk Officer, International Operations and Crisis Management Division, Security Policy Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs [...] |
2006-07-17 13:34:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL MOPS AF LG |
| 06RIGA566 |
AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH MINISTER OF ECONOMICS [...] (C) Summary: In a July 17 meeting, Ambassador Bailey and Economics Minister Stokenbergs discussed outstanding trade issues Liepajas Metallurgs and Coca-Cola, building bilateral trade links, and Latvia's relations with Russia. While we had little to offer on Liepajas Metallurgs, Stokenbergs wa [...] |
2006-07-18 14:38:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ETRD PREL PINR OFPD RS LG |
| 06RIGA573 |
LATVIA IN AGREEMENT IN OPPOSITION TO [...] (C) Pol/Econ chief delivered reftel demarche July 19 to Vilmers Henins, A/S-level equivalent in the MFA for Russia and the former Soviet states. Latvia has "absolutely the same position" on this issue, he said, and agrees that Moscow is the key to resolving this. Henins expressed concern, ho [...] |
2006-07-20 08:15:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PBTS PREL OSCE MD RS LG |
| 06RIGA577 |
NAZERBAYEV'S VISIT TO LATVIA [...] (C) Summary: The visit to Latvia by Kazakh President Nazerbayev was mainly focused on building economic ties between the two countries. The Kazakhs already have a heavy investment in a grain port in Latvia and would like to use the oil terminal at Ventspils to ship their oil. The two countri [...] |
2006-07-21 08:44:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ENRG ECON OSCE RU KZ LG |
| 06RIGA584 |
PEOPLE'S PARTY EMBROILED IN THIRD-PARTY CAMPAIGN AD [...] SUMMARY. The People's Party, the senior partner in Latvia's minority coalition government, has come under the scrutiny of the press and the Anti-Corruption Bureau (KNAB) over a series of TV commercials that praise the party's cabinet ministers. The clips do not make reference to the elections [...] |
2006-07-24 06:22:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV KDEM LG |
| 06RIGA619 |
DAS KRAMER TALKS BELARUS, MOLDOVA AND RUSSIA WITH [...] (C) Summary: In a productive series of meetings in Riga July 24, DAS David Kramer discussed Belarus, Moldova and Russia with key Latvian officials. Latvia is closely watching Belarus' relations with Russia and trying to improve people to people contacts. NGO representatives who work with Be [...] |
2006-08-02 11:59:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL PGOV EAID RS MD BO LG |
| 06RIGA628 |
LATVIA ON DRAFT LEBANON UNSCR [...] No summary [...] |
2006-08-07 13:20:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER MOPS UNSC LG |
| 06RIGA633 |
SEX, LIES AND VIDEOTAPE: LATVIAN MFA,S REACTION TO [...] (C) Summary: Latvia believes that the recent incident alleging that one of its diplomats in Minsk was distributing pornography was a set up meant to retaliate against Latvian support for Belarusian NGO's and Belarusian opposition forces, notably while Latvia was the EU presidency representa [...] |
2006-08-08 09:02:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM KDEM PINR EUN BO LG |
| 06RIGA653 |
LEBANON/LATVIA/UNIFIL: POLITICALLY TOUGH, VERY [...] (C) Pol/econ chief and DATT delivered reftel points to Kaspars Ozolins, MFA A/S equivalent for security policy, and Signe Jansone, MFA A/S equivalent for the Middle East, on August 16. Ozolins, while noting Latvia's support for UNSCR 1701, stressed that Latvia's military forces are currently [...] |
2006-08-16 15:02:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | MOPS MARR PREL UN LE LG |
| 06RIGA656 |
RUSSIA URGES ROBUST OSCE OBERSERVATION OF OCTOBER [...] (SBU) Summary: An ODIHR election assessment team visited Latvia August 3-4 to assess the overall state of Latvia's election system prior to October parliamentary elections in order to make recommendations on an OSCE election observation mission. As part of this assessment, the team met with re [...] |
2006-08-18 04:20:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM OSCE RU LG |
| 06RIGA657 |
RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES VISITS LATVIA [...] SUMMARY. At the invitation of Ambassador Bailey, a three-person team from Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) visited Latvia July 24-28. The team visited a number of hospitals and orphanages to assess the quality of care and look for possible areas of cooperation. They also met with repr [...] |
2006-08-18 05:42:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | SOCI OPRC LG |
| 06RIGA662 |
COCA-COLA STILL FIGHTING LATVIAN MINISTRY OF HEALTH OVER [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. DURING THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS, COCA-COLA HAS MET WITH GOL OFFICIALS AT BOTH THE HEALTH AND EDUCATION MINISTRIES TO PRESS THE GOVERNMENT TO WITHDRAW PROPOSED REGULATIONS ON SOFT DRINK SALES IN SCHOOLS. ON AUGUST 2, POST ARRANGED FOR THE MINISTER OF ECONOMICS TO VISIT COCA-COLA'S [...] |
2006-08-18 14:47:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD EINV BEXP PREL LG |
| 06RIGA680 |
LATVIA LOOKS TO COMMISSION CONSENSUS ON CHINA IPR [...] (SBU) Pol/econ off met with Zaiga Liepina, Ministry of Economics Deputy State Secretary, on August 22 to request support in the possible WTO dispute with China on IPR. Liepina stated that Latvian business has a very small representation in China, so Chinese IPR practices do not have much of a [...] |
2006-08-25 06:16:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD AORC KIPR EURM WTRO USTR CH LG |
| 06RIGA686 |
LATVIA: NO NEW AID AT LEBANON DONOR CONFERENCE [...] (SBU) Pol/econ off met on August 25 with Signe Jansone, MFA A/S-level official responsible for the Middle East to deliver demarche on Latvian attendance and financial commitments at the August 31 Stockholm Donor Conference on Lebanon. She said that the Latvian delegation will be headed by Maij [...] |
2006-08-28 04:17:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAID PREL LE LG |
| 06RIGA690 |
LATVIA IN TUNE WITH BASIC PRINCIPLES ON KOSOVO [...] (C) Pol/econ chief drew from reftel points to brief Latvian PolDir Ilgvars Klava on our current thinking on Kosovo August 28. Klava said that Latvia was fully in agreement with the basic principles outlined by the USG and strongly supported Ahtisaari's mission. He underscored that Kosovo nee [...] |
2006-08-29 05:57:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MOPS UNSC YI LG |
| 06RIGA691 |
LATVIA: BLUE LANTERN END-USE CHECK ANNUAL UPDATE [...] Post has designated Thomas (Les) Johnston, Pol/Econ Officer, as the contact responsible for oversight of the Blue Lantern program in-country. 2. Contact information: Thomas (Les) Johnston Phone: 371-703-6287 Fax: 371-782-0047 [...] |
2006-08-29 10:15:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | KOMC ETTC JM |
| 06RIGA698 |
LATVIAN VIEWS ON POSSIBILITY OF EU/RUSSIA [...] (C) In a meeting with pol/econ chief August 28 on other issues, Latvian MFA PolDir Ilgvars Klava raised the topic of ongoing discussions in the EU on potential joint peacekeeping efforts with Russia. According to Klava, this topic would be discussed at the September 1 - 2 Gymnich. Klava said [...] |
2006-08-31 06:15:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MOPS EUN RU LG |
| 06RIGA699 |
BORIS YELTSIN'S VISIT TO LATVIA [...] (C) Summary: Boris Yeltsin's visit to Latvia to mark 15 years since the restoration of independence is viewed by GOL officials as another positive sign in relations with Moscow. Originally a private visit, both Latvian and Russian sources agree that it was upgraded at the request of President P [...] |
2006-08-31 10:39:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV RU LG |
| 06RIGA719 |
LATVIA FIRM ON NEED FOR FULL SERBIAN COOPERATION [...] No summary [...] |
2006-09-11 05:10:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM KAWC SR LG |
| 06RIGA732 |
(C) SECOND REQUEST ON LATVIAN REQUEST FOR U.S. AIR [...] (U) This is an action request. See para 4. 2. (C/NOFORN) Ref A relayed request from Latvian MOD Slakteris, on behalf of GOL, for USG to provide air security assistance for the NATO Summit to be held in Riga November 28 - 29. To date, post has received no formal response from Washington. [...] |
2006-09-12 14:14:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | MOPS PREL ASEC KTIA NATO LG |
| 06RIGA733 |
LATVIA: MAINTAINING THE MOMENTUM ON LEBANON [...] (C) Pol/Econ Off met on September 11 with Signe Jansone, MFA A/S-level official responsible for the Middle East, to deliver demarche on maintaining momentum in Lebanon. Jansone agreed that it is very important not to return to the pre-conflict status quo in Lebanon. She said that it remains [...] |
2006-09-12 14:15:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EAID PTER LE LG |
| 06RIGA734 |
POLICING HATE CRIMES - LATVIAN NGO HOSTS SEMINAR [...] Summary. On August 28, the Latvian Center for Human Rights (a local NGO) hosted a seminar titled Policing Hate Crime. Approximately 20 police officers and 20 representatives from the Latvian government and NGOs attended. The daylong event covered a range of issues, but the most valuable we [...] |
2006-09-12 14:21:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV ASEC EUN LG |
| 06RIGA736 |
LATVIA WILL SUPPORT U.S. CANDIDATE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL [...] No summary [...] |
2006-09-13 12:59:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL AORC UNGA LG |
| 06RIGA738 |
LATVIAN VIEWS ON GAERC [...] (C) Pol/econ chief delivered points in refs a and b to Veronika Erte, MFA A/S-level official responsible EU affairs September 13. Erte noted that the Latvian cabinet had approved Latvia's GAERC positions at a cabinet meeting on September 12, but nevertheless welcomed hearing USG views. There [...] |
2006-09-13 15:03:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EU LG |
| 06RIGA743 |
LATVIA ON SYRIA [...] No summary [...] |
2006-09-14 15:07:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SY LG |
| 06RIGA761 |
The rules for Latvia's October 7 parliamentary elections [...] Summary. Latvia will hold its fifth post-Soviet elections to the Saeima, the 100-member parliament, on Saturday, October 7. The country uses a modified proportional representation system and any party that collects at least five percent of votes cast nationally wins seats in the Saeima. Out [...] |
2006-09-21 04:16:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM LG |
| 06RIGA762 |
The players in Latvia's parliamentary elections [...] SUMMARY. Latvia enters the 2006 Saeima (parliament) election race with a minority government led by Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis (People's Party) that includes the center-right People's Party, centrist Greens and Farmers Union and conservative First Party. The country will likely emerge fro [...] |
2006-09-21 04:17:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL PHUM LG |
| 06RIGA775 |
LATVIA TO SUPPORT US CANDIDATE FOR IMSO DIRECTOR [...] Pol/Econ Off spoke with Aigars Krastins, Head of the Maritime Department in the Latvian Ministry of Transportation, on September 22 regarding our candidate for Director of the International Mobile Satellite Organization, Steven Lett. Krastins stated that he had received copies of the diplomati [...] |
2006-09-25 05:14:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | AORC ECPS EU EWWT IMO INMARSAT KHLS LG |
| 06RIGA780 |
LATVIA ON HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL [...] (C) Pol/econ chief delivered ref A points to Latvian MFA PolDir Ilgvars Klava on September 25. Klava, noting that Latvia was not a member of the HRC, took copious notes and nodded his head vigorously at several points, but did not give a formal indication of the GOL's position. He did, howev [...] |
2006-09-25 15:03:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL UN LG |
| 06RIGA792 |
WHAT'S AT STAKE IN LATVIA'S ELECTIONS? [...] (C) Summary: While Latvia's parliamentary elections October 7 are unlikely to bring about a major near term change in foreign policy, the elections merit USG attention for two reasons. First, they will give us indication of whether Latvia will continue to press forward on efforts to strengt [...] |
2006-09-29 05:45:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM PREL LG |
| 06RIGA799 |
SCENSETTER FOR VISIT OF SECRETARY OF LABOR ELAINE CHAO [...] Madam Secretary, we are extremely honored that you will visit Riga October 10 - 13. Latvia today is a very different place than it was when you helped establish the Peace Corps program here after Latvia regained it's independence in 1991. Over two years into NATO and European Union membership [...] |
2006-10-02 14:09:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB PGOV PREL OVIP CHAO ELAINE LG |
| 06RIGA802 |
CENTER-RIGHT PARTIES LEAD IN RUN UP TO LATVIA'S [...] Summary: Latest opinion polls conducted just days before Latvia's October 7 parliamentary elections suggest that center-right parties are likely to retain power with increasing discussion that current Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis will remain at the helm of the next government. However, due t [...] |
2006-10-04 10:37:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV LG |
| 06RIGA820 |
LATVIA AND RUSSIA TO SIGN COOPERATION AGREEMENTS [...] (C/NF) Summary: Latvian Economics Minister Stokenbergs will travel to Moscow October 13 to sign bilateral agreements on economic cooperation and establishing an intergovernmental commission to manage the bilateral relationship. The signing of these agreements represents the end of several mont [...] |
2006-10-10 07:18:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL ECON GE RU LG |
| 06RIGA822 |
LATVIA EXTENDS AFGHANISTAN MANDATE [...] No summary [...] |
2006-10-10 11:02:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | MOPS PREL PGOV NATO AF LG |
| 06RIGA823 |
LATVIA'S ELECTIONS: LITTLE CHANGE BUT SOME SURPRISES [...] Summary: Latvia's October 7 parliamentary elections provided an endorsement for the current minority government of PM Aigars Kalvitis. The three parties in the current coalition won 51 seats in the 100 seat Saeima (parliament), although they will likely invite in a fourth party to add to the [...] |
2006-10-10 11:05:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL KDEM LG |
| 06RIGA832 |
LATVIAN VIEWS ON GAERC - FOCUSED ON GEORGIA [...] (C) Pol/econ chief delivered reftel demarche to Veronika Erte, A/S-level official responsible for EU issues at the MFA, on October 12. The GOL adopted its GAERC positions in cabinet on October 10. Latvia will be represented at the GAERC by its Ambassador to the EU. 2. (C) Georgia - Althou [...] |
2006-10-12 14:04:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MASS EUN GG RU LE LG |
| 06RIGA836 |
SECRETARY CHAO'S MEETINGS WITH GOL OFFICIALS [...] (SBU) Summary: Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao's visit to Latvia provided an opportunity to discuss economic growth and job creation, relations with Russia and the recent Latvian elections with senior governmental officials. All interlocutors noted the challenge for Latvia of the out migra [...] |
2006-10-13 14:10:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV ELAB ECON MARR CVIS OVIP CHAO ELAINE RU |
| 06RIGA847 |
LATVIAN MFA ON BELARUS AND GEORGIA [...] (C) Summary: Belarus has dropped the charges against the Latvian diplomat accused in July of distribution of pornography and transferred the evidence to Latvia under the bilateral mutual legal assistance treaty. While this should allow some stabilization in the bilateral relationship, includ [...] |
2006-10-17 11:09:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EAID BO GG RU LG |
| 06RIGA848 |
LATVIAN VIEWS ON LEBANON/SYRIA [...] No summary [...] |
2006-10-17 11:10:00 | Embassy Riga | SECRET | PREL PINR LE SY LG |
| 06RIGA849 |
LATVIA SUPPORTS FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF UNSCR 1718 [...] No summary [...] |
2006-10-17 11:10:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC KN LG |
| 06RIGA852 |
LATVIA/RUSSIA: POSITIVE ATMOSPHERE AT AGREEMENT [...] (C) Summary: The Latvian visit to Moscow October 13 to sign two bilateral agreements went well and the GOL was encouraged by the positive reception by Econ/trade minister Gref. Absent was the usual Russian complaints on treatment of ethnic Russians in Latvia. The Russians expressed a desire [...] |
2006-10-18 07:58:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON ENRG GE RS LG |
| 06RIGA855 |
Remaining state shares in Ventspils Nafta sold to Vitol [...] On October 5, the Latvian government sold its entire 38.62% stake in Ventspils Nafta (VN), a large holding company known mainly for its oil terminal and extremely convoluted shareholding structure. Besides the oil transit business, VN owns a number of real estate businesses, several printing a [...] |
2006-10-18 14:03:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | EPET ETRD PGOV LG |
| 06RIGA857 |
Special 301 Out-of-Cycle Review Recommendation: Latvia [...] (SBU) Summary: Latvia's performance since April 2006 on IPR-related issues shows continued improvement in the number of police raids conducted, amount of goods seized or destroyed, and IPR cases brought to prosecution. However, Latvia has not shown improvement in a number of areas that were hi [...] |
2006-10-19 14:25:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD KIPR ECON LG |
| 06RIGA859 |
LATVIA'S ELECTIONS: MODERATE HARMONY CENTER BEATS HARDLINE [...] Summary. One of the major upsets in Latvia's October 7 parliamentary elections was the poor showing of hard-line For Human Rights in a United Latvia (PCTVL) list versus its main rivals in the race for the votes of the Russian-speaking electorate, the moderate Harmony Center (SC) ticket. Even t [...] |
2006-10-20 05:48:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PHUM SOCI LG |
| 06RIGA870 |
TRUTH TO POWER: KALVITIS SPEAKS BLUNTLY TO PUTIN [...] (C/NF) Summary: According to the Latvians, PM Kalvitis got to the heart of the matter with Russian President Putin at the EU dinner in Lahti on October 20, asking why, if energy was not a political tool, there is no Russian oil in the Latvian port of Ventspils and the Lithuanian facility of Ma [...] |
2006-10-23 15:09:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL ENRG RS LG |
| 06RIGA885 |
LATVIA BANS DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT ON THE BASIS OF [...] Summary: Latvian President Vike-Freiberga has signed amendments to Latvia's Labor law adding sexual orientation to the categories of people protected from employment discrimination and the law takes effect October 25. The President had vetoed an earlier version of the law that omitted this gr [...] |
2006-10-25 13:54:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV ELAB EUN LG |
| 06RIGA913 |
LATVIANS TO TOW EU LINE AT ITU [...] Pol-Econ Off met with Guntis Macs, Deputy State Secretary with the Ministry of Transportation, to deliver copies of the diplomatic notes and demarche on the US candidacy for the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Council and the US candidate for the ITU's Radio Regulations Board, Jul [...] |
2006-11-02 11:14:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | AORC ECPS ITU LG |
| 06RIGA923 |
SCENESETTER FOR BILATERAL BETWEEN PRESIDENT BUSH [...] (C) Mr. President, we are extremely honored that you will visit us November 28-29. Over two years into NATO and European Union membership, Latvia has emerged as a significant international player, despite its modest population and resource base. Latvia stands out as a successful post-Soviet [...] |
2006-11-06 16:04:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL OVIP PRESIDENT LG |
| 06RIGA924 |
LATVIA: JEWISH PROPERTY RESTITUTION MOVING FORWARD [...] Our lobbying efforts of recent weeks appear to have helped unblock stalled progress on Jewish property restitution (reftel). On November 6, the Latvian cabinet approved the draft legislation for Jewish Property Restitution for heirless properties. The legislation will now be moved to the Saei [...] |
2006-11-07 12:49:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PREL SOCI LG |
| 06RIGA927 |
LATVIA: 2006-2007 INCSR SUBMISSION, PART I - DRUGS [...] The following is Embassy Riga's submittal for the 2006-2007 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), Part I, Drugs and Chemical Control: 2. I. Summary. Drug use in Latvia is characterized by continued prevalence of synthetics. Ecstasy is the most common narcotic in Latvia, [...] |
2006-11-07 15:33:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR LG |
| 06RIGA933 |
LATVIA TO SUPPORT US CANDIDACIES AT ITU [...] (U) Embassy received on November 6 diplomatic notes from the MFA stating that the GOL will support the USG candidacy at the Council of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and will also support the US candidate for the ITU's Radio Regulations Board, Julie Zoller. BAILEY [...] |
2006-11-09 08:46:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | AORC ECPS ITU LG |
| 06RIGA938 |
LATVIAN PARLIAMENT INSTALLS NEW CENTER-RIGHT MAJORITY [...] SUMMARY. The Saeima (Latvian parliament) voted 58-41 on November 7 to approve a new center-right government led by Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis of the People's Party. The new government took office immediately after the vote. The four-party coalition consisting of the People's Party (TP), [...] |
2006-11-13 15:04:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL PHUM PINR LG |
| 06RIGA939 |
LATVIA AND WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT [...] PolEconOff met with Agnese Gaile, Head of the Gender Equality Unit in Latvia's Ministry of Welfare and with Elina Celmina, Deputy Head, on November 9 to share the fact sheet on the September Women's Empowerment Working Session per reftel. Embassy has also provided the fact sheet to three NGOs [...] |
2006-11-13 15:05:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | KWMN PHUM PREL UNGA LG |
| 06RIGA945 |
SCENESETTER FOR SECRETARY RICE'S PARTICIPATION IN [...] (C) Madame Secretary, we are extremely honored that you will visit us November 28-29. Over two years into NATO and European Union membership, Latvia has emerged as a significant international player, despite its modest population and resource base. Latvia stands out as a successful post-Sovi [...] |
2006-11-20 09:07:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL OVIP SECRETARY RICE LG |
| 06RIGA959 |
LATVIA: PARLIAMENT PUNTS ON NEXT PHASE OF JEWISH [...] Summary: The Saeima (Latvian parliament) on November 23 rejected a draft bill that would have provided financial assistance to the local Jewish community to compensate the losses suffered during the Holocaust and the Soviet occupation of Latvia. The government's bill failed because abstention [...] |
2006-11-24 15:02:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PREL SOCI LG |
| 06RIGA993 |
LATVIA SUPPORTS WORKING THROUGH ICAO ON AVIATION EMISSIONS [...] (U) Pol/Econ Off met with Arnis Muiznieks, Latvian Transportation Ministry's Aviation Department Director, on December 4 to deliver reftel's non-paper. Muiznieks stated that the GOL was still finalizing its position regarding the EU Commission's proposal to include aviation emissions from non- [...] |
2006-12-05 15:21:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | EAIR ECON SENV LG |
| 07RIGA100 |
LATVIAN PARLIAMENT APPROVES SIGNING BORDER TREATY [...] (C/NF) Summary: Latvia's parliament voted 69-26 on February 8 to authorize the government to sign the Latvia-Russia border treaty. The legislation should become effective on March 5 and the Latvians have proposed a signing ceremony in Moscow March 6-7. Following the February 5-6 visit to Lat [...] |
2007-02-08 15:31:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL PBTS PGOV RS LG |
| 07RIGA102 |
LATVIAN VIEWS ON FEB 12-13 GAERC [...] (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 S [...] |
2007-02-09 14:56:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ETRD EUN LG |
| 07RIGA106 |
LATVIA: UNSCR 1737 POINTS ON FREEZING ASSETS OF [...] (C) PolEconOff delivered reftel nonpaper February 13 to Liga Rozeniece, Head of International Organizations Division at the MFA. Rozeniece responded that Latvia has no significant economic ties with Iran. She added that she will forward the nonpaper to other interested GOL officials, includi [...] |
2007-02-13 11:22:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL KNNP EFIN ETTC IR LG |
| 07RIGA107 |
SWINGING FOR THE FENCES: LATVIA'S ANTI-CORRUPTION [...] (C) Summary: At its annual briefing to the Riga diplomatic corps, Latvia's anti-corruption bureau (KNAB) highlighted 2006 as a year where it made great strides in tacking corruption. Overall, the KNAB's successful completion of the cases for formal prosecution has dramatically increased fro [...] |
2007-02-13 15:01:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | EAID KCRM LG PGOV |
| 07RIGA110 |
RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR: RELATIONS WITH LATVIA GOOD, [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a February 14 meeting, Ambassador Bailey and Russian Ambassador Kalyuzhny discussed the possibility of inclusion of non-citizens in the Visa Waiver Program; Kalyuzhny's view that there was a potential for significant transit cargo growth at the Freeport of Riga if the Latvians [...] |
2007-02-15 11:42:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON CVIS ETRD PINR RS LG |
| 07RIGA140 |
LATVIA RESPONDS TO ADDITIONAL DESIGNATIONS OF [...] (SBU) PolOff delivered reftel talking points to Rudolfs Bremanis, Latvian Foreign Ministry US Desk Officer, and Agnese Vilde of the International Operations and Crisis Management Division Security Policy Department. Vilde said that there should be no problem with Latvia freezing any and all a [...] |
2007-02-23 15:49:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KNNP KN PARM LG |
| 07RIGA141 |
2007 Special 301 Review: Latvia [...] Summary: Post judges that removing Latvia from the Special 301 list (if not already the case once a decision on the 2006 Special 301 OCR has been taken) would have the greatest impact on spurring the GOL to continue to fight IPR violations. The Watch List has served as a motivator in the pas [...] |
2007-02-23 15:56:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETRD KIPR LG |
| 07RIGA143 |
LATVIA SEES NO PROBLEMS WITH BOSNIA AND SLOVENIA [...] (C) Latvian political director Klava told Pol/econ chief February 23 that he foresaw no difficulties in Latvian supporting Bosnia and Slovenia for the Eastern European seats on the Human Rights Committee. Latvia certainly would not support Belarus, he said, and he agreed that Bosnia raised fe [...] |
2007-02-27 07:31:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL UNHRC LG |
| 07RIGA144 |
LATVIA ISSUES STRONG STATEMENT ON MISSILE DEFENSE, [...] (C) Pol/econ chief delivered reftel points on missile defense to Latvian Political Director Ilgavrs Klava February 23. As Latvian FM Pabriks had just received a call from his Lithuanian counterpart on this issue, Klava was grateful for our points. He said Latvia would look to issue a stateme [...] |
2007-02-27 07:33:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM MARR PREL RS EUN LG |
| 07RIGA147 |
OIL EXEC OUTLINES CORRUPTION AND COERCION AT RIGA [...] (C/NF) SUMMARY: Managing Director of Latvia's branch of Statoil Baiba Rubess outlined to emboffs a Riga Freeport and Riga International Airport (RIX) that lack transparency, are dominated by the interests of the political elite, but that ultimately will be developed significantly and profitab [...] |
2007-02-28 12:13:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV PINR ECON ENRG ETRD KCRM LG |
| 07RIGA148 |
PM KALVITIS ON BORDER, RESTITUTION, ECONOMY, AND [...] (C/NF) Summary: Latvian PM Kalvitis hopes to sign the border treaty with Russia March 26 - 27, and plans for speedy ratification, he told the Ambassador in a February 27 meeting. He suggested that there was a possibility of movement on restitution of Holocaust-era Jewish communal property, b [...] |
2007-02-28 13:55:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV ECON PINR PREL SOCI CVIS KIPR LG |
| 07RIGA165 |
LATVIAN PLANS ON IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN [...] (C) Summary: Recent decisions by the UK and Denmark to draw down their troops in Iraq, and suggestions that Lithuania may do the same, have had little impact in Latvia. The GOL continues with its plan, developed last fall and extensively briefed to partners, to make the current rotation of com [...] |
2007-03-06 12:05:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | MOPS PREL EAID NATO IZ AF LG |
| 07RIGA166 |
LATVIA: DEVALUATION UNLIKELY BUT INVESTORS NERVOUS [...] (U) Summary. Three weeks of debate on whether Latvia will need to devalue its currency has left investors nervous. While key players agree that the risk of devaluation remains remote, they also agree that serious concerns exist regarding Latvia's macroeconomic situation. Talk of devaluation a [...] |
2007-03-06 12:09:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EINV EFIN PGOV LG |
| 07RIGA167 |
LATVIA TO CONSIDER REQUEST TO JOIN GLOBAL [...] No summary [...] |
2007-03-06 12:41:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER KNNP MCAP PINR PINS PARM PREL LG |
| 07RIGA168 |
NEW ERA PARTY IN DISARRAY; PONDERS LEADERSHIP CHANGE [...] Summary. Following the removal of Riga mayor Aivars Aksenoks on February 19, the New Era party has lost all of its positions of political influence and may face the threat of disintegration. The party's declining fortunes have prompted its board to call an emergency congress on March 31 for a [...] |
2007-03-06 12:41:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL PINR LG |
| 07RIGA179 |
Latvian concerns on proposed bill on tax havens [...] No summary [...] |
2007-03-09 05:13:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON KCRM PREL LG |
| 07RIGA186 |
LATVIAN MEDIA: TWO SEPARATE WORLDS [...] (U) SUMMARY: Latvian media exists in two parallel spheres, based on language, which media experts refer to as the "two information spaces". This media segmentation tends to reinforce existing ethnic-based differences in Latvian public opinion, and creates some challenges for Latvia's leadershi [...] |
2007-03-09 14:15:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | SCUL PGOV LG |
| 07RIGA192 |
LATVIAN PRESIDENT DELAYS IMPLEMENTATION OF [...] (C) Summary: President Vike-Freiberga invoked a heretofore never used constitutional provision to delay for two months controversial amendments to the laws on the oversight of Latvia's security services. She said it was clear that the government had unduly rushed the legislation adding that a [...] |
2007-03-12 12:45:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PINR ASEC PGOV KCRM PREL NATO LG |
| 07RIGA193 |
Latvian cabinet authorizes signing of border treaty; still [...] On March 6, the Latvian cabinet granted PM Aigars Kalvitis the authority to sign the border treaty with Russia, pursuant to legislation adopted by the parliament in February (reftel). In its decision, the cabinet made reference to "respecting the OSCE principle of not changing accepted borders" [...] |
2007-03-12 15:49:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PBTS PGOV RS LG |
| 07RIGA200 |
SHOW ME THE MONEY - LATVIA TACKLES CASH COURIERS [...] (U) Summary: Per reftel, PolOff delivered background notes on Cash Couriers to Viesturs Burkans, head of Latvia's Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and Agnese Vilde of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Legal Department. In response, Vilde and Burkans outlined the key provision of Latvia's new [...] |
2007-03-15 15:17:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KCRM SNAR LG |
| 07RIGA201 |
LEMBERGS ARRESTED FOR BRIBERY AND MONEY LAUNDERING [...] (C) Summary: Aivars Lembergs, mayor of Ventspils, was arrested Wednesday morning by the Corruption Prevention Bureau (KNAB) and ordered held in custody without bail. The Prosecutor General's Office (PG) has charged Lembergs with bribe taking, blackmail, money laundering, failure to declare [...] |
2007-03-15 15:20:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV KCRM KJUS ECON PREL LG |
| 07RIGA208 |
LATVIA GENERALLY SYMPATHETIC TO US VIEWS ON [...] (C) PolEconOff delivered reftels A and B points March 19 to Liga Rozeniece, Head of International Organizations Division at the MFA. Rozeniece responded that the GOL is aware of the situation in Zimbabwe and that the Latvian delegation in Geneva will discuss the issue today. Rozeniece stated [...] |
2007-03-20 09:03:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | UNHCR PHUM PREL ZI EUN LG |
| 07RIGA215 |
LATVIA CONSIDERS RESOLUTION ON EXTENSION OF THE [...] No summary [...] |
2007-03-22 14:52:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNHRC PHUM LG |
| 07RIGA227 |
LATVIA SUPPORTS UN KOSOVO PROPOSALS [...] No summary [...] |
2007-03-27 14:58:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV UNMIK UN YI EU LG |
| 07RIGA228 |
LATVIA: IMPORTANCE OF SWIFT IMPLEMENTATION OF [...] No summary [...] |
2007-03-27 14:59:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | KNNP IR PARM EFIN KTFN ETTC LG |
| 07RIGA229 |
LATVIA: INFORMATION REGARDING UNSCR 1747 AND [...] No summary [...] |
2007-03-27 15:00:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | KNNP EFIN IR IAEA PARM MNUC TRGY OARC UNSC LG |
| 07RIGA262 |
REQUEST TO RESETTLE PROTECTED MIGRANTS FROM GITMO: [...] No summary [...] |
2007-04-11 12:54:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF SMIG LG |
| 07RIGA266 |
LATVIA'S RESPONSE TO DESIGNATION OF IRAN'S DEFENSE [...] No summary [...] |
2007-04-11 15:00:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | IR KN KNNP PARM PREL LG |
| 07RIGA275 |
LEMBERGS AND THE SECURITY AMENDMENTS LINKED [...] (C) Summary: Regional Legal Attach and PolOff met with the Latvian Prosecutor General Maizetis (PG) to discuss upcoming USG sponsored training events which will involve Maizetis' office. During the course of the meeting, the PG discussed the events surrounding the introduction, and eventual wi [...] |
2007-04-13 15:04:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV KCRM KJUS ECON PREL PINR ASEC NATO LG |
| 07RIGA290 |
SCENESETTER FOR LATVIAN PRESIDENT VIKE-FREIBERGA'S [...] (C) Summary: Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga will make her final official visit to Washington the week of April 30. In her eight years in office she has been a leader in securing democratic values in Latvia and bringing it into the EU and NATO, and a force in supporting others who wish [...] |
2007-04-23 15:19:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV CVIS MOPS LG |
| 07RIGA295 |
LATVIAN WILLINGNESS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE NEW WAY [...] (C) The Latvians remain committed to the mission in Iraq and support the new way forward. However, they cannot extend their combat troops beyond their planned departure this summer but are willing to respond to our existing requests to provide headquarters, PRT, and training support. They hop [...] |
2007-04-25 08:36:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | MOPS MARR PREL IZ LG |
| 07RIGA300 |
LATVIAN PLANS FOR NPT PREPCOM [...] (C) PolEconOff delivered reftel points April 25 to Andris Pelss, Head of Nonproliferation and Arms Control Division at the MFA, and Sanita Krumina, who works in the same division. Pelss responded that the GOL's current representation in Vienna will attend the first session of the Preparatory C [...] |
2007-04-26 08:24:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG KNNP MNUC PARM PREL NPT LG |
| 07RIGA309 |
LATVIAN POL DIR ON MD, CFE, AFGHANISTAN AND KOSOVO [...] (C/NF) Summary: In a May 2 meeting with Charge, Latvian MFA political director Ilgvars Klava wanted to ensure that his comments at the recent NATO ministerial were clear - Latvia supports our efforts at building a missile defense system, but believes that European nations should be ashamed at [...] |
2007-05-03 14:14:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL MARR MOPS PARM RS YI AF LG |
| 07RIGA310 |
MLAT and Extradition treaties with Latvia - Update [...] Summary: Though Latvia quickly ratified the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT), the Extradition Treaty remains before Parliament for a vote on ratification. Post was informed May 3 that the treaty will be considered by Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee on May 11. The Extradition Tre [...] |
2007-05-03 14:17:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | CJAN KTIA LG |
| 07RIGA322 |
Latvian Parliament passes law to regulate Presidential [...] Summary: On May 3, two months before the July 7 expiration of the term of office of President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, the Saeima (parliament) unanimously passed the Presidential Election Law initiated by the serving President. The new law, apart from expanding the eligibility criteria provided by [...] |
2007-05-09 08:30:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV LG |
| 07RIGA326 |
LATVIA WILL VOTE AGAINST BELARUS [...] (C) I am comfortable that Latvia will not vote for Belarus for election to the Human Rights Council. The government has already made that decision. If Bosnia announces its candidacy, there should not be any difficulty in getting Latvia to vote for them along with Slovenia. 2. (C) A/DCM an [...] |
2007-05-10 13:47:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PHUM PREL AORC UNHRC BO LG |
| 07RIGA328 |
LATVIA WILL VOTE AGAINST BELARUS [...] (C) I am comfortable that Latvia will not vote for Belarus for election to the Human Rights Council. The government has already made that decision. If Bosnia announces its candidacy, there should not be any difficulty in getting Latvia to vote for them along with Slovenia. 2. (C) A/DCM an [...] |
2007-05-10 13:47:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PHUM PREL AORC UNHRC BO LG |
| 07RIGA335 |
LATVIA TO ATTEND JUNE AUSTRALIA GROUP PLENARY IN [...] PolEconOff delivered reftel talking points May 2 to Inga Marcinkevica, Head of Export Control of Strategic Goods Division at the MFA. Marcinkevica had no immediate reaction but stated that the MFA's Girts Krumins, Deputy Head of Division for Export Control of Strategic Goods, will attend the [...] |
2007-05-11 12:45:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PARM PREL CBW LG |
| 07RIGA337 |
NEWS CORPORATION PURCHASES TWO TV STATIONS IN LATVIA [...] (SBU) On May 11, Ambassador Bailey met with three executives of U.S.-based News Corporation to discuss the company's purchase this week of two Latvian television stations. The company bought LNT (a leading Latvian language station) and TV5 (a prominent Russian-language station). During the me [...] |
2007-05-11 13:30:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD EINV BEXP LG |
| 07RIGA339 |
LATVIAN RESPONSE TO CITES COP 14 PROPOSALS [...] (U) Post contacted Gunta Gabrane, Deputy Director of the Latvian Nature Protection Board to deliver reftel demarche. Gabrane stated that the GOL would follow the EU consensus, and after checking on what the consensus positions were, gave us the following information. 2. (U) The GOL, she st [...] |
2007-05-11 15:31:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV KSCA ETRD LG |
| 07RIGA341 |
LATVIAN RESPONSE TO WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY DEMARCHE [...] (U) Pol/Econ Off spoke with Iveta Cikute, deputy to the MFA International Organizations Division head, on May 11 to deliver reftel demarche. Cikute stated that while she could not speak to Latvia's stance at the Assembly related to the points provided, she would pass our talking points to the [...] |
2007-05-11 15:33:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | TBIO AORC PREL KFLU WHO LG |
| 07RIGA344 |
Latvia to hold July 7 referendum on security laws [...] Summary: Latvia's Central Election Commission (CEC) has announced that the necessary signatures in support of holding the referendum on amendments to national security laws were collected and the referendum will be held on 7 July 2007, the day President Vaira Vike-Freiberga's term of office exp [...] |
2007-05-14 13:31:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV ASEC PREL LG |
| 07RIGA345 |
LATVIA SUPPORTS PROPOSED ARMS TRADE TRADE TREATY [...] (C) PolEconOff delivered reftel points May 11 to Inga Marcinkevica, Head of Export Control of Strategic Goods Division at the MFA. Marcinkevica responded that, while the GOL agrees with the USG that effective export controls and universal support for such controls are needed, the GOL supports [...] |
2007-05-15 08:27:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | ETTC KOMC UNDC PARM LG |
| 07RIGA349 |
LATVIAN GOVERNMENT STUMBLES OVER ESTONIA [...] (C) Summary: When the Latvian parliament rejected a resolution of support for Estonia on May 3, it soon became clear that the governing coalition had mishandled its response, either out of political pettiness, an effort to avoid violence here, a desire to maintain good relations with Moscow, o [...] |
2007-05-15 12:06:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EN LG |
| 07RIGA358 |
DAS DAVID KRAMER'S MAY 10 VISIT TO RIGA [...] (C) Summary: EUR DAS David Kramer paid a one day visit to Riga, mainly focused on Moldova. In a bilateral meeting at the MFA, the Latvians reviewed their efforts to provide assistance in Moldova and their hope to find ways to provide training to mid-level Belarusian officials. MFA State Secr [...] |
2007-05-16 07:42:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EAID BO MD RS LG |
| 07RIGA365 |
CLUSTER MUNITIONS - LIMA TEXT: LATVIA OPPOSES [...] (C) PolEconOff delivered ref A points May 17 to Andris Pelss, Head of Nonproliferation and Arms Control Division at the MFA. Pelss acknowledged that he had not yet seen the draft Lima Text. However, he stated that the GOL "is not looking for a complete ban" on cluster munitions (CM), and tha [...] |
2007-05-17 14:32:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | MOPS NATO PARM PREL LG |
| 07RIGA366 |
LATVIA SUPPORTS UNSCR 1267 CT OBJECTIVES, WILL [...] (C) PolEconOff delivered reftel points May 16 to Liga Rozeniece, Head of International Organizations Division at the MFA. Rozeniece responded that the GOL agrees that both UNSCR 1267 and UNSCR 1735 are important and effective counter-terrorism instruments. She added that the cover sheet prov [...] |
2007-05-17 14:46:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN KTFN PTER UNSC LG |
| 07RIGA371 |
BROADWAY IN RIGA - A PUBLIC DILPOMACY SMASH! [...] SUMMARY: BROADWAY COMPOSER AND LYRICIST STEPHEN SCHWARTZ VISITED RIGA MAY 7-11, 2007, TO PROMOTE AMERICAN MUSICAL THEATER AS A UNIQUELY AMERICAN ART FORM. SCHWARTZ WAS ACCOMPANIED BY TONY AWARD WINNING ACTRESS DEBBIE GRAVITTE AND BROADWAY PERFORMER SCOTT COULTER, WHO TAUGHT A SERIES OF MASTER C [...] |
2007-05-21 04:34:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | SCUL KPAO PREL LG |
| 07RIGA373 |
Latvian parliament approves Russian border treaty [...] Summary: Latvia's Saeima (parliament) voted 70-25 on May 17 to ratify the Latvia-Russia Border Treaty signed by both prime ministers on March 27. Although the two main opponents of ratification of the treaty - the coalition party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK (TB/LNNK) and the opposition part [...] |
2007-05-21 10:39:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PBTS PGOV RS LG |
| 07RIGA378 |
LATVIA: POINTS ON UNSCR 1747 DELIVERED [...] (SBU) PolEconOff delivered reftel points May 21 to Liga Rozeniece, Head of International Organizations Division at the MFA, and stressed the importance of a broad interpretation of UNSCR 1747's instructions. PolEconOff also highlighted the May 24 due date for states to submit UNSCR 1737 report [...] |
2007-05-21 12:11:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PARM ETTC UNSC IR LG |
| 07RIGA379 |
MOLDOVAN PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO RIGA [...] (C) Summary: On May 18, Charge met with Latvian MFA U/S for bilateral affairs Edgars Skuja and MFA staff to discuss the recent visit of Moldovan PM Tarlev and Deputy PM Osterlap to Latvia. Skuja stated the visit was highly successful and expressed appreciation for EUR DAS Kramer's recent meeti [...] |
2007-05-21 12:17:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EAID EUN MD LG |
| 07RIGA382 |
RUSSIAN DRAFT OSCE "CHARTER": LATVIA SYMPATHETIC [...] (C) PolEconOff delivered reftel points May 22 to Liga Rozeniece, Head of International Organizations Division at the MFA. Rozeniece responded that the GOL mission in Vienna is well aware of the Russian proposal for an OSCE "charter" and of Russian FM Lavrov's planned intervention at the May 23 [...] |
2007-05-22 14:05:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | OSCE PREL KTIA PGOV LG |
| 07RIGA391 |
The 99-member Saeima [...] (U) As Latvia approaches Presidential elections on May 31, it is worth noting that the Saeima (parliament) is missing one member, and is working with only 99 members, rather than the usual 100. Juris Boldans, (Fatherland and Freedom (TB)/LNNK), is not currently entitled to take part or cast vot [...] |
2007-05-25 05:04:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV LG |
| 07RIGA392 |
Coalition nominates Valdis Zatlers for President [...] Summary: On May 22, the ruling coalition announced that they were not able to reach agreement on either of the two presidential candidates - Karina Petersone (Latvia's First Party/Latvia's Way) and Maris Riekstins (People's Party) - and nominated a new presidential candidate - Valdis Zatlers. [...] |
2007-05-25 05:47:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PINR PREL LG |
| 07RIGA4 |
No surprises in Latvian gas deal for 2007 [...] Latvijas Gaze (Latvian Gas - LG) announced December 29 an agreement with Gazprom on 2007 natural gas prices. According to LG, the wholesale price per 1000 cubic meters (tcm) of gas will increase by 50 percent starting January 1, 2007 to USD215 per tcm. LG expects another price increase in 2008 [...] |
2007-01-03 13:54:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | ENRG PGOV PREL RS LG |
| 07RIGA402 |
Opposition nominates Aivars Endzins for President in last [...] (U) Summary: On May 24, the last day allowed for the nomination of presidential candidates, opposition party "Harmony Centre" (Saskanas Centrs, SC) unexpectedly nominated as its presidential candidate Aivars Endzins, former Chair of the Constitutional Court. Though his name has been surfacing a [...] |
2007-05-25 15:44:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PINR PREL LG |
| 07RIGA408 |
LATVIAN PARLIAMENT APPROVES EXTRADITION TREATY [...] No summary [...] |
2007-05-29 15:08:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | CJAN PREL PGOV KTIA LG |
| 07RIGA409 |
LATVIA WILL NOT PROVIDE UNAMI MIDDLE RING SECURITY [...] No summary [...] |
2007-05-29 15:16:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | MOPS MARR KPKO UN IZ LG |
| 07RIGA410 |
LATVIA HAS STRONG INTEREST IN ISAF OMLT [...] No summary [...] |
2007-05-29 15:35:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | MOPS PREL MARR NATO AF LG |
| 07RIGA411 |
LATVIA'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION - A TRAGIC-COMEDY [...] (C/NF) Summary: Latvia's Saeima (parliament) will vote May 31 for a new President to replace Vaira Vike-Freiberga as she completes eight years in office. The outcome remains unclear. The coalition candidate, Valdis Zatlers, has no political experience, has been underwhelming in press and pu [...] |
2007-05-29 16:03:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV PREL KDEM PINR LG |
| 07RIGA415 |
LATVIAN PRESIDENT CRITICIZES ENDZINS CANDIDACY [...] (U) Summary: Indirectly, but quite clearly, criticizing the presidential candidacy of Aivars Endzins, President Vaira Vike-Freiberga stated in an interview on Latvian State Radio May 30 that she is critical of the possibility that the next president might be a person who had worked in the Comm [...] |
2007-05-31 05:14:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PINR PREL LG |
| 07RIGA416 |
Latvia elects its new president: Valdis Zatlers [...] (U) On May 31, after an hour-long debate, the Saeima (Latvian parliament) elected Latvia's new president - Valdis Zatlers, candidate of the coalition parties, with 58 votes. 39 lawmakers voted for the opposition's candidate, Aivars Endzins, one member voted for neither candidate and two members [...] |
2007-05-31 11:54:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PINR PREL LG |
| 07RIGA417 |
LATVIA'S FIU ANNOUNCES TWO OF ITS BIGGEST CASES [...] (C) Summary: It was recently announced that Latvia's Financial Investigations Unit (FIU) handed over two of their largest cases to the Prosecutor General's office since 1998. These two cases involved over 160 people and companies from all over Latvia and well over four million USD in illegal f [...] |
2007-05-31 12:36:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | SNAR EFIN PGOV KCRM LG |
| 07RIGA418 |
LATVIA WILLING TO SHARE IRAN EXPORT DENIAL [...] (C) PolEconOff delivered reftel non papers on (ref a) NSG open-ended seminar to discuss UNSCR 1737 and 1747 implementation, (ref b) proposal to share Iran export denial information, and (ref c) follow up Q and A points to Liga Rozeniece, Head of International Organizations Division at the MFA, [...] |
2007-05-31 14:56:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | KNNP MNUC IR LG |
| 07RIGA422 |
LATVIA'S FIU REPORTS HISTORIC SUCCESS FOR 2006 [...] (U) Summary: Over the past nine years, the Latvian Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has grown both in size and experience and is considered on of the most sophisticated in the region. The number of suspicious activity reports turned over to the FIU from looking forward has nearly doubled [...] |
2007-06-01 13:10:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | SNAR EFIN PGOV PTER KCRM LG |
| 07RIGA426 |
(S/NF) RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR CRITICAL OF RUSSIAN [...] (S/NF) Ambassador Bailey met for 40 minutes on June 4 with Russian Ambassador Viktor Kaluzhny at his Embassy, joined only by interpreters. Kaluzhny seemed more fatigued than in previous meetings and admitted that he was tiring of his diplomatic posting. Kaluzhny, though, said several things [...] |
2007-06-04 15:33:00 | Embassy Riga | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL PINR PGOV RS LG |
| 07RIGA427 |
LATVIA STILL LOOKING AT SUDAN SANCTIONS [...] No summary [...] |
2007-06-04 15:34:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ETTC ETRD EUN SU LG |
| 07RIGA430 |
LATVIA: SCENESETTER FOR USG PARTICIPANTS AT THE [...] (U) Summary: Your visit to the June 11-13 Baltic Regional Energy Forum provides an excellent opportunity to view first hand both the challenges and opportunities that Latvia (and the other Baltic States) faces as it strives to craft an energy policy that: enhances security, ensures a stable en [...] |
2007-06-05 15:23:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG ECON LG |
| 07RIGA432 |
LATVIA SUPPORTS CFE REVIEW GOALS; DOESN'T WANT TO [...] (C) A/DCM delivered ref a points and ref b background to Latvian MFA PolDir Ilgvars Klave on June 6. Klava took detailed notes throughout the conversation. Although Latvia will not participate in the review conference (it is not party to the CFE treaty), it would actively engage at the HLTF [...] |
2007-06-06 14:49:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM KCFE PREL NATO LG |
| 07RIGA463 |
Public and press reaction to Zatlers' election [...] (U) Summary: The reaction of the media and general public to Valdis Zatlers' election as president has been predominantly negative and rather emotional, though some commentators have remained neutral and called on others to give the new president time to prove his independence and skills. The r [...] |
2007-06-18 14:58:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PINR PREL LG |
| 07RIGA476 |
President promulgates controversial amendments to Conflict [...] Summary: On June 18, outgoing President Vaira Vike-Freiberga (whose term in office expires July 7) announced that she will promulgate controversial amendments to the "Law on Preventing Conflict of Interests among Public Officials," which were adopted by the Parliament on June 7. The amendments [...] |
2007-06-22 14:52:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV LG |
| 07RIGA486 |
LATVIA: ACCEPTS IRANIAN DESIGNATIONS AND [...] (C) Acting Pol-Econ Chief delivered reftel demarches to Reinis Kalnins, MFA Senior Desk Officer for the Middle East and Africa Division, on June 28. Kalnins stated that the MFA would review the reftel A additions to the list of designated Iranian entities and individuals subject to E.O. 13382. [...] |
2007-06-28 15:32:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PARM KNNP EFIN UNSC EUN IR LG |
| 07RIGA497 |
LATVIA: HARD SELL FOR GOVERNMENT ANTI-INFLATION [...] (C) Summary. The government's anti-inflation plan has been received skeptically, as evidenced by the downgrading of Latvia's credit rating by Standard and Poor's in May. A research group's June recommendation that Latvia devalue its currency to help fight inflation and restore export competi [...] |
2007-07-06 08:35:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN EINV PGOV LG |
| 07RIGA500 |
LATVIA NO RESPONSE ON UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL 5TH [...] (C) PolEconOff delivered reftel points July 6 to Aiga Liepina, Director of International Organizations and Human Rights at the MFA. Liepina was unfamiliar with the exact details of the UN Human Rights Council 5th Session and reserved comment on the specific events that occurred in June. Howe [...] |
2007-07-06 12:52:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM EUN UNHRC LG |
| 07RIGA502 |
Action request: Latvian dip note on extradition treaty [...] This is an action request. The Latvian MFA on June 28 sent post a diplomatic note with the text in para 2. Action requested: Please provide post with language to respond to this note. Given that the Senate has not yet voted on the treaty, we believe language updating on the treaty's status w [...] |
2007-07-09 10:33:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL KTIA CJAN LG |
| 07RIGA506 |
ZATLERS TAKES OFFICE AS NEW LATVIAN PRESIDENT [...] (U) New Latvian President Valdis Zatlers was inaugurated July 8, taking over the presidency from Vaira Vike-Freiberga who had served for eight years. A surgeon and head of the National Trauma Hospital, Zatlers was put forward as the candidate of Latvia's ruling centre-right coalition and elect [...] |
2007-07-10 12:26:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL LG |
| 07RIGA507 |
LATVIA BACKPEDALING ON JEWISH PROPERTY RESTITUTION [...] (C/NF) Summary. We recently met with members of the Latvian Jewish Community as well as the Government of Latvia to gauge progress on Jewish property restitution legislation. Local Jewish community leaders stated that they have reached a dead end and are now turning to the international commu [...] |
2007-07-10 13:04:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL SOCI LG |
| 07RIGA51 |
LATVIA'S PROPOSED AMBASSADOR TO WASHINGTON - [...] (C/NF) Summary: Latvia has nominated Andrejs Pildegovics, currently President Vike-Freiberga's Chief of Staff, as its next Ambassador to Washington and Mexico City. We have had a long and productive relationship with Pildegovics and have always found him accessible. While his academic and car [...] |
2007-01-18 12:46:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PINR PREL PGOV LG |
| 07RIGA510 |
LATVIA SYMPATHETIC BUT NONCOMMITTAL TO USG POINTS [...] (C) PolEconOff delivered reftel points July 10 to Evita Cikute of the International Organizations and Human Rights Division at the MFA. Cikute stated that the GOL will take USG views into account when considering whom to support for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Director [...] |
2007-07-10 14:21:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | AORC EUN PREF PREL SMIG LG |
| 07RIGA515 |
REFERENDUM ON SECURITY LAWS FAILS TO RECEIVE NEEDED TURNOUT [...] The national referendum held July 7 on two controversial amendments to Latvia's security laws failed to receive the required voter turnout and will not be valid, though legally this was a mute point. The vote was set in motion when President Vaira Vike-Freiberga suspended promulgation of two [...] |
2007-07-11 05:11:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV LG |
| 07RIGA518 |
LEMBERGS OUT OF PRISON AND ON HOUSE ARREST [...] No summary [...] |
2007-07-12 14:37:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL KCRM LG |
| 07RIGA519 |
LATVIAN PROSECUTORS RECEIVE TRAINING FROM USG [...] (U)Summary: In conjunction with the Department of Justice's Overseas Prosecutorial Development and Assistance Training Division (OPDAT), US Embassy Riga conducted a three-day training program with Latvian Prosecutors and police. The training primarily focused on public corruption, financial c [...] |
2007-07-12 16:14:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KCRM EAID CJAN ECON LG |
| 07RIGA520 |
RIGA JUDICIAL CONFERENCE: A MODEL RULE OF LAW [...] (U) Summary: Embassy Riga, in cooperation with the Latvian Supreme Court and the Latvian Ministry of Justice, hosted an international conference entitled Judicial Reform, Ethics, and Transparency July 2nd - 3rd. At Ambassador Bailey's invitation, US Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito came to [...] |
2007-07-13 07:11:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV KJUS EAID LG |
| 07RIGA521 |
AMBASSADOR BAILEY'S FIRST MEETING WITH PRESIDENT [...] (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, [...] |
2007-07-13 13:20:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MOPS CVIS NATO LG |
| 07RIGA525 |
US SUPREME COURT JUSTICE MEETS WITH LATVIAN LEADERS [...] (U) Summary: At Ambassador Bailey's invitation, US Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito visited Riga to participate as the keynote speaker at Embassy Riga's conference on Judicial Ethics, Transparency and Reform. During his stay, Alito met with President Vaira Vike-Freiberga and Prime Minister A [...] |
2007-07-13 17:12:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV KJUS PREL LG |
| 07RIGA53 |
GOL DECIDES TO TRY AGAIN ON LATVIA-RUSSIA BORDER [...] (C/NF) Summary: Latvian Prime Minster Kalvitis has decided to renew discussion of the Latvia-Russia border treaty, with an aim to sign the document in the first half of 2007. He believes the political calendars in Russia and Latvia provide a unique window of opportunity. In order to avoid [...] |
2007-01-18 14:21:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL PBTS PGOV RS LG |
| 07RIGA533 |
LATVIAN REACTION TO RUSSIAN CFE MOVES - PLANS, [...] (C) Summary: Putin's July 13 decree on CFE did not surprise Latvia, which expected a move like this after the escalating rhetoric of recent months. But Latvian officials are using it as a reminder that Latvia's border with Russia is a key reason Latvia wanted to join NATO. Public rhetoric ha [...] |
2007-07-18 14:57:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL PARM KCFE MARR RS LG |
| 07RIGA55 |
LATVIAN VIEWS ON AFGHANISTAN AND KOSOVO [...] (C) Ambassador met Foreign Minister Pabriks January 18 to discuss points in reftels on Afghanistan and Kosovo. Pabriks asserted that Latvia remained committed to sending additional troops to ISAF, although the Ministry of Defense was still working on when it would be possible to get additional [...] |
2007-01-22 06:54:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | MOPS PREL NATO YI AF LG |
| 07RIGA56 |
LATVIA IN 2007, KEEPING THE RELATIONSHIP STRONG [...] (C) Summary: As we begin 2007, Latvia is in a different place than last year. The NATO summit, which kept Riga on allies' lips for a year, is over and President Vike-Freiberga, who almost single-handedly put Latvia back on the world map, is leaving office in July. Yet, the US maintains impor [...] |
2007-01-22 06:55:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KCRM ECON KPAO CVIS LG |
| 07RIGA561 |
Are politicians trying to control the public media in [...] Summary: Recent developments in the news service of Latvian National Television (LTV), in particular the downgrading of the director of a weekly analytical and investigative news program "De Facto" to a lower-responsibility position, raise concern about seeming desire of some politicians to cen [...] |
2007-07-27 15:20:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PHUM LG |
| 07RIGA565 |
Latvian attendance at 62nd UNGA [...] No summary [...] |
2007-07-30 10:31:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL OVIP UNGA LG |
| 07RIGA572 |
LATVIA WELCOMES INFORMATION ON 123 AGREEMENT WITH [...] (C) A/DCM delivered reftel message and non-paper to Kaspars Ozolins, A/S-level official in charge of security policy at the MFA. Ozolins welcomed the information and consultation with NSG members. He said that Latvia understood India's "legitimate energy needs," but stressed that the key to [...] |
2007-07-30 14:27:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KNNP ENRG KTIA IN LG |
| 07RIGA578 |
LATVIA: POINTS ON US CANDIDATE FOR STANDING COMMISSION OF [...] PolEconOff delivered reftel points July 31 to Liga Rozeniece, Head of the MFA's International Organizations Division, and urged the GOL to look favorably on Steve Carr's candidacy for the Standing Commission of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Rozeniece responded that the [...] |
2007-07-31 14:37:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PREF PREL PHUM ICRC LG |
| 07RIGA579 |
Poll: Latvians feel secure; support national defense [...] (SBU) Summary: An annual opinion poll commissioned by the Ministry of Defense (MoD) in December 2006/January 2007 confirms the tendency shown by previous polls commissioned by the MoD since 2000: the majority of Latvian residents consider Latvia a safe country and in general support the governm [...] |
2007-07-31 14:38:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PINR PREL MARR LG |
| 07RIGA584 |
POST SUPPORTS USAREUR G2 1206 PROPOSAL FOR [...] No summary [...] |
2007-08-02 11:09:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | MASS MOPS PREL PTER LG |
| 07RIGA585 |
LATVIAN FIRST LADY WILL BE IN NEW YORK SEPTEMBER 24 [...] (SBU) On July 30, post delivered ref A points on Mrs. Bush's Literacy and Health event in New York City to Latvian President Zatlers' office. The President and his wife, Lilita Zatlere, plan to be in New York City September 22 - 27 (ref B); the President's office expressed interest in the Liter [...] |
2007-08-02 14:37:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL SOCI TSPL UNGA LG |
| 07RIGA588 |
GOVERNMENT OF LATVIA TO SELL FINAL STAKES IN LATTELECOM AND [...] On June 12, the GOL approved the sale of its shares in fixed line telecommunications operator Lattelecom and mobile operator LMT. Currently the Latvian state owns 51 percent of Lattelecom, while 49 percent is owned by Nordic telecommunications group TeliaSonera. The GOL agreed to buy back the [...] |
2007-08-03 14:20:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | ECPS ECON ETRD LG |
| 07RIGA59 |
LATVIA: NAMES OF INFLUENTIAL WOMEN [...] No summary [...] |
2007-01-22 11:20:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | KWMN PREL PHUM LG |
| 07RIGA590 |
LATVIA ALSO CONCERNED WITH DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN [...] No summary [...] |
2007-08-03 14:36:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM KDEM EUN AJ LG |
| 07RIGA591 |
LATVIA/RUSSIA: LAVROV TO RIGA? AND [...] (C) Summary: Russian FM Lavrov has proposed coming to Riga September 17 to exchange instruments of ratification on the Latvia-Russia border treaty. The GOL is cautiously agreeing to this, although it could lead to public protests if the constitutional court has not yet ruled on the treaty's v [...] |
2007-08-03 14:46:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PBTS RS LG |
| 07RIGA593 |
LATVIA OPEN BUT NONCOMMITAL ON UNESCO HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE [...] PolEconOff delivered reftel points August 2 to the MFA's Gints Jegermanis, Head of Policy Planning Unit and Ambassador at large, and Aiga Liepina, Director of the Department of International Organizations and Human Rights. Both responded that the GOL is open to the reftel resolution to explore [...] |
2007-08-03 15:56:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL UNESCO LG |
| 07RIGA609 |
LATVIA/KOSOVO: THE END IS CLEAR; THE PATH IS NOT [...] (C) Pol/Econ chief delivered reftel points to Latvian MFA political director Ilgvars Klava August 10. Klava greatly appreciated the update, as well as the recent briefing to Washington Embassies. He said that the Latvian position remained unchanged - they understood the process would lead to [...] |
2007-08-10 11:59:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL KV LG |
| 07RIGA61 |
HELPING LATVIA DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY [...] (U) This is an action request. See para 4. 2. (C) Ref A requests a full court press for Allied contributions to Afghanistan in advance of the January 26 ministerial. We are concerned that providing the Latvians a laundry list of initiatives where they might help will simply overwhelm them [...] |
2007-01-23 10:27:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | MOPS PREL EAID NATO AF LG |
| 07RIGA610 |
LATVIA STANDING UP FOR GEORGIA [...] (C) Summary: Latvia is concerned about the missile impact in Georgia and frustrated by the weak reaction of the Portuguese presidency of the EU. While urging NATO support for Georgia through a NAC briefing and possible NAC visit to Georgia, Latvia will send a person to participate in the inte [...] |
2007-08-10 12:02:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL NATO GG LG |
| 07RIGA611 |
LATVIA/AFGHANISTAN: CN PLAN AND TROUBLES WITH [...] No summary [...] |
2007-08-10 12:04:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SNAR MOPS AF LG |
| 07RIGA617 |
The Latvian Court System: A Primer [...] (U) Summary: Latvia's civil law judicial system is a three tier structure consisting of district or city courts, regional courts, and headed by a Supreme Court. All civil and criminal matters go through these courts. The Constitutional Court is a fully independent body whose mandate is to int [...] |
2007-08-14 13:52:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV KJUS PHUM LG |
| 07RIGA619 |
LATVIA: POINTS ON US CANDIDATE FOR UN COMMITTEE AGAINST [...] PolEconOff delivered reftel diplomatic note and talking points August 14 to Liga Rozeniece, Head of the MFA's International Organizations Division, and urged the GOL to look favorably on Felice Gaer's candidacy for the United Nations Committee Against Torture. Rozeniece responded that the GOL [...] |
2007-08-15 14:16:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PREL UNGA LG |
| 07RIGA627 |
LATVIA SUPPORTS PROPOSED IMPLEMENTATION OF PLAN TO [...] (C) On August 14, PolEconOff delivered ref A points and draft letters to Girts Krumins, Deputy Head of Strategic Goods Export Control Division at the Latvian MFA. Krumins expressed Latvian support for the overall initiative to share nuclear-related export denial information on Iran at the IAEA [...] |
2007-08-21 07:32:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM KNNP IR LG |
| 07RIGA628 |
LATVIA: INFLATION TICKS UP TO 9.5 PERCENT IN JULY [...] (U) According to Latvia's Central Statistical Bureau (LCSB), inflation in July increased 1.2 percent since June, bringing annual inflation up 9.5 percent year-on-year. Latvia's inflation rate is again the highest in the EU, according to the EU's Eurostat. LCSB reported higher prices for tobacco [...] |
2007-08-21 08:08:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN EINV PGOV LG |
| 07RIGA629 |
LATVIA REMAINS CAUTIOUS ON PLANS FOR A/CFE [...] (S/NF) Summary: Latvia continues to be wary of any plan to move forward on ratification of A/CFE that might leave them behind. They welcomed hearing more detail on our action for action plan and will have more thoughts in upcoming US/Baltic consultations on CFE. The Latvians are looking to ge [...] |
2007-08-21 11:29:00 | Embassy Riga | SECRET//NOFORN | PARM KCFE MARR PREL PINR RS LG |
| 07RIGA635 |
LATVIA SUPPORTS RE-ELECTION OF U.S. TO ICAO COUNCIL [...] PolEconOff delivered reftel talking points on August 21 to Arnis Muiznieks, Director of the Ministry of Transport's Aviation Department, and urged the GOL to support the re-election of the United States to the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), membership category [...] |
2007-08-22 15:04:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL EAIR AORC ICAO LG |
| 07RIGA636 |
LATVIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ANA HELD UP BY RUSSIAN DELAYS [...] The Latvian MOD has informed us that a number of items that Latvia has pledged to the Afghan National Army are delayed due to a nearly year long effort to get retransfer authority from Moscow. With President Zatlers hoping to visit Afghanistan in September, the Latvians would welcome any assist [...] |
2007-08-23 08:08:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | MASS PARM MARR AF RS LG |
| 07RIGA64 |
(C) CLUSTER MUNITIONS: LATVIA CONSIDERS CCW BEST [...] (C) PolEconOff delivered reftel points January 23 to Andris Pelss, Head of Nonproliferation and Arms Control Division at the MFA, and Sanita Krumina, who works in the same division. Pelss responded that the GOL shares the USG's humanitarian concerns and also agrees that cluster munitions (CM) [...] |
2007-01-23 13:09:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | MOPS PARM PREL NATO LG |
| 07RIGA647 |
LATVIA/RUSSIA: BORDER TREATY SEEMINGLY DELAYED, [...] (C) Summary: Earlier reports of a September 17 Lavrov trip to Riga to exchange instruments of ratification on the Latvian-Russian border treaty appear unlikely. Moscow has told the Latvians of challenges in the sequencing of events mean they would not be ready for action on the treaty by Sept [...] |
2007-08-29 14:43:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PBTS PGOV RS LG |
| 07RIGA648 |
LAVROV VISIT TO RIGA OFF FOR SEPTEMBER 17 [...] No summary [...] |
2007-08-30 08:21:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PBTS RS LG |
| 07RIGA649 |
AMBITIOUS PLANS FOR RIGA AIRPORT; AMERICAN INVESTMENT [...] Summary: Riga airport has an ambitious plan to expand to handle as many as 15 million passengers a year by 2020. The head of Riga airport is seriously interested in having American firms bid on many of the projects related to the airport's expansion. There are also plans to increase the numbe [...] |
2007-08-30 08:22:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | EAIR BTIO ECON LG |
| 07RIGA650 |
LATVIA TO ATTEND OPEN-ENDED TECHNICAL SEMINAR ON [...] (SBU) PolEconOff delivered reftel points August 28 to Inga Marcinkevica, Head of the Export Control and Strategic Goods Division at the MFA. Marcinkevica responded August 30 that the GOL is very interested in the September 26 Open-Ended Technical Seminar on UNSCR 1737 Implementation that will [...] |
2007-08-31 07:18:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | MNUC PARM KNNP IR LG |
| 07RIGA651 |
LATVIAN SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT EMSIS' $10,000 [...] (C) Summary: Parliament Speaker Indulis Emsis may be on the verge of being charged with corruption for receiving a USD 10,000 cash payment in fall 2006. He and his office allege no wrongdoing and have been eager to get their version of events to us. If the transaction was clean, it demonstra [...] |
2007-08-31 14:28:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV KCOR LG |
| 07RIGA654 |
Saeima Speaker Emsis will not step down for now [...] After meeting with the Board of the Union of the Greens and Farmers (ZZS) and Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis (People's Party - TP) on September 3, Saeima (parliament) Speaker Indulis Emsis announced that he will retain in his position. Emsis added that further decisions will depend on activiti [...] |
2007-09-04 15:08:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV LG |
| 07RIGA658 |
LATVIA LIKLEY TO ENGAGE ON GEORGIA AT SEP. 6 PC [...] (C) Pol/econ chief spoke with MFA Pol Dir Ilgvars Klava to encourage Latvia to speak at the September 6 OSCE PC in support of the report by independent experts in which Latvia participated. Klava said that he hadn't focused on the event yet, but agreed that Latvia and other contributors to the [...] |
2007-09-05 14:38:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MOPS OSCE GG RS LG |
| 07RIGA661 |
GYMNICH POINTS DELIVERED TO LATVIA'S MFA [...] PolEconOff delivered reftel talking points on September 5 to Anda Orchard, Deputy Director, EU Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Orchard did not have any substantive response, but said that she would forward the points to Latvia's Minister of Foreign Affairs and to the MFA's Politi [...] |
2007-09-06 07:30:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV YI RS CH IN LG |
| 07RIGA665 |
LATVIA SUPPORTS NAC VISIT TO GEORGIA [...] No summary [...] |
2007-09-07 07:11:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL NATO GG LG |
| 07RIGA669 |
IAEA GENERAL CONFERENCE: LATVIAN POSITION UNCLEAR, [...] (C) PolEconOff delivered reftel points September 1 to Sanita Krumina of the Nonproliferation and Arms Control Division at the MFA. Krumina responded on September 7 that the GOL was still clarifying with other EU states regarding its position on any Israel-focused agenda item at the IAEA Gener [...] |
2007-09-10 06:05:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL EUN IAEA IS LG |
| 07RIGA671 |
LATVIA: POINTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS AT THE UN DELIVERED [...] PolEconOff delivered reftel points on the UNGA Third Committee and the Human Rights Council August 31 to Liga Rozeniece, Head of International Organizations Division at the MFA. Rozeniece expressed appreciation for the US views on the issues raised in the demarche, but provided no substantive [...] |
2007-09-10 11:03:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | EUN PREL UNGA LG |
| 07RIGA672 |
LATVIAN FIRST LADY HAS ACCEPTED INVITATION TO [...] (SBU) On September 7, 2007, post received official confirmation of the Mrs. Lilita Zatlera's acceptance to participate in the luncheon on Literacy and Health in New York City on September 24, 2007 (ref. C). The Latvian President and his wife plan to be in New York September 22-27. (ref B). BA [...] |
2007-09-10 11:46:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL SOCI TSPL UNGA |
| 07RIGA684 |
LATVIA: PRESIDENT'S HUMAN RIGHTS ROUNDTABLE AT 2007 UNGA [...] Reftel requests information on Post's and the GOL's efforts to promote human rights and democracy. Latvia is shifting from being a recipient of foreign aid to being a donor and is implementing a significant increase in development assistance during 2007--focused on Georgia and Moldova, with ad [...] |
2007-09-12 12:38:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PREL LG |
| 07RIGA685 |
THE LEMBERGS CASE: TAKING DOWN A MINI-GARCH [...] (C) Summary: The story of Aivars Lembergs is one of post-independence Latvia's most compelling yet morally troubling tales. To much of his electorate in Ventspils, Lembergs is the brilliant protector of the city's autonomy and the great provider of prosperity. To successive Lavian government [...] |
2007-09-12 14:46:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV KJUS KCOR PHUM LG |
| 07RIGA689 |
LATVIA: INFLATION UP TO 10.1 PERCENT IN AUGUST [...] (U) According to Latvia's Central Statistical Bureau (LCSB), inflation in August increased .4 percent since July, bringing annual inflation up 10.1 percent year-on-year. This marks the first time Latvian inflation has reached double digits since January 1997 when consumer prices rose to 11.4 pe [...] |
2007-09-17 11:08:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EFIN PREL LG |
| 07RIGA690 |
LATVIA SUPPORTS SPLIT-CURRENCY ASSESSMENTS FOR ICAO [...] PolEconOff delivered reftel points on September 14 to Arnis Muiznieks, Director of the Ministry of Transport's Aviation Department, and urged the GOL to support the addition of language to the draft resolution that would establish the budget of the Council of the International Civil Aviation Or [...] |
2007-09-17 15:31:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | EAIR ICAO LG |
| 07RIGA691 |
LATVIA: MOODY'S REVISES LATVIA'S CREDIT RATING FROM [...] (U) International credit rating agency Moody's Investors Service downgraded Latvia's credit rating outlook to stable from positive on 12 September, citing worsening macroeconomic imbalances in the country. Moody's warned that Latvia's current account deficit, now at 27 percent of GDP, is among [...] |
2007-09-18 06:10:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EFIN PGOV LG |
| 07RIGA697 |
LATVIAN FM PABRIKS WILL ATTEND SEPTEMBER 26 TRANSATLANTIC [...] (SBU) On September 17, post delivered ref A letter inviting Latvian Foreign Minister Pabriks to the September 26 transatlantic dinner hosted by Secretary Rice on the margins of the UNGA in New York City. On September 19, Dace Rutka, Head of the Americas and Caribbean Countries Division at the [...] |
2007-09-19 15:40:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | NATO OPDC PREL EU LG |
| 07RIGA700 |
LATVIA TO FOLLOW EU'S LEAD ON NEW U.S. LAW ON MARITIME [...] (SBU) Summary: Latvia is seeking guidance from the European Union in response to the new U.S. law requiring 100 percent scanning for all U.S.-bound maritime cargo prior to loading at a foreign port by 2012. GOL representatives expressed concern about the cost of meeting the new requirement and [...] |
2007-09-20 10:26:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD EWWT AMGT PTER LG |
| 07RIGA714 |
Saeima elects its new speaker [...] On September 24, the Saeima (Latvian parliament) elected its new speaker Gundars Daudze (member of the Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS) to replace Indulis Emsis (ZZS) who announced his resignation after the Prosecutor's Office brought criminal charges against him for giving false testimony con [...] |
2007-09-25 14:49:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PINR PREL LG |
| 07RIGA723 |
LATVIAN ANTI-CORRUPTION CHIEF SUSPENDED [...] Summary: Prime Minister Kalvitis has suspended and initiated a disciplinary case against Aleksejs Loskotovs, the head of the Latvian Anti-Corruption Bureau (KNAB). The charges stem from the alleged discovery of "continued and serious violations concerning the use and accounting of operative fin [...] |
2007-09-27 14:53:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV KCOR KCRM LG |
| 07RIGA731 |
PREVENTING FURTHER LATVIAN BACKSLIDING ON RULE OF [...] (C/NF) Summary: One year ago, we said that the outcome of Latvia's parliamentary elections in October 2006 would be key to determining whether Latvia would continue to move forward to strengthen the rule of law or regress to old and non-transparent ways of doing business. Developments since [...] |
2007-09-28 11:40:00 | Embassy Riga | SECRET//NOFORN | PGOV KCOR PINR PHUM LG |
| 07RIGA738 |
LATVIA SUPPORTIVE OF US POINTS ON BURMA [...] (C) PolEconOff delivered reftel points on Burma October 2 to Signe Jansone, the A/S level official that covers Asia at the MFA. Jansone agreed broadly with the points raised. Specifically, she stated that the GOL supports stronger sanctions against the Burmese regime and further efforts to en [...] |
2007-10-02 14:36:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM UN BM LG |
| 07RIGA739 |
IRAN PROPOSES A VISIT TO LATVIA [...] (C) On the margins separate meeting, MFA A/S level official for bilateral affairs, Signe Jansone, told PolEconOff that the Iranian Embassy in Stockholm approached the GOL to suggest a visit to Latvia by Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Jalili for November. Jansone elaborated that the prop [...] |
2007-10-02 14:46:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL IR LG |
| 07RIGA741 |
FURTHER WORRYING STEPS ON RULE OF LAW IN LATVIA [...] (S/NF) Summary: Additional developments on rule of law in Latvia only add to our concern. Late September 28, we became worried that there was a move afoot within the Latvian government to sack prosecutor General Maizitis. We strongly warned senior levels of the GOL against such a move, noting [...] |
2007-10-02 14:54:00 | Embassy Riga | SECRET//NOFORN | PGOV KCOR SNAR LG |
| 07RIGA757 |
LATVIA LIKELY TO SUPPORT EC OCTOBER 10 VOTE ON BIOTECH CORN [...] (SBU) PolEconOff delivered reftel points on October 5 to Inese Aleksejeva, Head of the Ministry of Agriculture's Biotech and Novel Food Division, and Inese Birgele, Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs International Trade and Investment Division. PolEconOff urged the GOL to support the Europ [...] |
2007-10-10 14:42:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | TBIO ETRD EUN ECON LG |
| 07RIGA771 |
GOVERNMENT MOVES TO DISMISS ANTI-CORRUPTION CHIEF [...] Summary: In a closed meeting on October 16, the Latvian government supported the dismissal of Aleksejs Loskutovs, the chief of the Latvian Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) on the grounds of his unsuitability to continue to hold his position. They made the decision after an ad h [...] |
2007-10-17 14:17:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV KCOR KCRM LG |
| 07RIGA772 |
LATVIA AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN BURMA [...] (SBU) PolEconOff delivered reftel points October 12 to Signe Jansone, the A/S level official that covers Asia at the MFA. Jansone responded on October 16 that the GOL does not plan to provide foreign assistance to Burma for 2008. She stated that The GOL and NGO sector in Latvia are concentrati [...] |
2007-10-17 14:18:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PHUM BM LG |
| 07RIGA775 |
Roma education in Latvia [...] Summary: The available statistical data and reports of educators reveal that Latvia's comparatively small Roma community educational achievements at all levels lags far behind the average national level. Individual initiatives, mainly special segregated classes for Roma, aimed at tackling under [...] |
2007-10-18 07:31:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV LG |
| 07RIGA778 |
Kalvitis in trouble: protests and few friends [...] Summary: Approximately 3000 people participated in a peaceful, public protest in front of the Latvian Parliament (Saeima) to express their opposition to the current government of Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis and the threatened dismissal of Latvia's anti-corruption chief, Aleksejs Loskutovs. [...] |
2007-10-18 14:50:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV LG |
| 07RIGA779 |
IRAN APPEARS TO REJECT DOWNGRADED VISIT TO LATVIA [...] No summary [...] |
2007-10-19 07:31:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL IR LG |
| 07RIGA782 |
LATVIAN POLITICS TURNS WEIRD; FM RESIGNS, PM [...] (C/NF) Summary: Latvia's internal political machinations took a bizarre turn on October 19. FM Pabriks submitted his resignation, telling the Ambassador that he had "lost trust" with the current cabinet. But PM Kalvitis refused to accept the resignation and Pabriks is, in effect, hostage in t [...] |
2007-10-19 14:57:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV PINR LG |
| 07RIGA787 |
Latvia's Woman of Courage Nominee 2008 [...] Post's nominee for the International Woman of Courage Award is Anita Ratkevica, social worker and founder of the NGO women's support club "Harmonija." Ms. Ratkevica is pleased to be nominated for the award. Biographical data requested in reftel is below. A. Full Name: Anita Ratkevica [...] |
2007-10-22 13:37:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PHUM KPAO KWMN LG |
| 07RIGA788 |
PM ACCEPTS FM'S RESIGNATION; MACHINATIONS CONTINUE [...] Summary: October 22 began what will be a busy week in Latvia's ongoing political saga. Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis revised his earlier decision and accepted the resignation of Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks, effective October 29. The opposition has called a special session of parl [...] |
2007-10-22 15:28:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL LG |
| 07RIGA794 |
LONG TRUCK LINES LIKELY TO CONTINUE ALONG LATVIAN-RUSSIAN [...] (U) Summary: A combination of factors, specifically, a significant increase in trade from the EU to Russia; a lack of action thus far to modernize and increase the capacity and efficiency of Russian checkpoint operations; and the lack of attractive alternative routes, have caused extended delay [...] |
2007-10-24 10:42:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON PBTS PREL ETRD EUN RS LG |
| 07RIGA796 |
SECENSETTER FOR OCT 31 VISIT OF PM KALVITIS TO [...] (C/NF) Summary: Latvian PM Kalvitis comes to Washington Oct. 31 - Nov. 1 politically weakened but still enormously influential. Latvia's longest serving PM in the post-Soviet era, Kalvitis is enmeshed in a political battle over the dismissal of the anti-corruption chief and with growing voter [...] |
2007-10-24 13:45:00 | Embassy Riga | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL PGOV PINR NATO RS LG |
| 07RIGA801 |
LATVIA SUPPORTS TIGHTER SANCTIONS ON BURMA [...] (C) PolEconOff delivered both sets of reftel points October 26 to Signe Jansone, the A/S level official that covers Asia at the MFA. Jansone responded that the GOL supports the U.S. initiative to tighten sanctions further against Burma. She added that Latvia has "no connection at all with Bu [...] |
2007-10-26 12:43:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM CVIS ETRD BM LG |
| 07RIGA811 |
Legal issues in the Loskutovs case [...] Summary: The case of Latvia's anti-corruption bureau (KNAB) chief Aleksejs Loskutovs has engendered much discussion of various legal issues. There are two very distinct issues at play, suspension and dismissal. While inter-related in the politics of the case, from a legal standpoint they are [...] |
2007-10-29 15:57:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV KCOR LG |
| 07RIGA812 |
Old Believers in Latvia [...] Summary: Latvia is well-known for its large Russian community, mainly the large number of non-citizens and claims that they are discriminated against, especially on language. However, it would be a big mistake to perceive Russians in Latvia as a homogenous religious community. While the majorit [...] |
2007-10-30 05:13:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV KIRF LG |
| 07RIGA815 |
LATVIA TO FOLLOW EU LEAD ON CUBA ISSUES [...] (C) Summary: Pol/Econ Off delivered reftel demarches on October 29 to Dace Rutka, Head of the MFA's Americas Section, and Liga Brige, MFA Cuba Desk Officer. Rutka voided defining Latvia's positions on the specifics of both cables, and would only state that the GOL would follow EU consensus in [...] |
2007-10-30 15:24:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | UNGA PHUM ETRD PREL CU LG |
| 07RIGA817 |
LATVIAN LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR IRAQ DEPLOYMENT [...] (C/NF) We have previously discussed with the Latvian government the legal requirements for military deployments overseas in the context of the future of Kosovo. Senior MFA and MOD officials have affirmed to us that Latvia can deploy outside of Latvia in three situations: in a UNSC-mandated/au [...] |
2007-11-01 08:33:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | MARR MOPS PREL IZ LG |
| 07RIGA82 |
REQUEST TO RESETTLE PROTECTED MIGRANTS FROM GITMO: LATVIANS [...] (SBU) On January 29, PolEconOff delivered ref A additional information to Dace Rutka, Head of the Americas and Caribbean Countries Division at the MFA, and Liga Brige, also of the Americas and Caribbean Countries Division. Rutka and Brige stated they now have enough information and will forwar [...] |
2007-01-29 14:50:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREF SMIG LG |
| 07RIGA820 |
LATVIAN CENTRAL BANK PRESIDENT RE-ELECTED TO [...] The President of the Bank of Latvia, Ilmars Rimsevics, was re-elected by the Saeima (Parliament) on November 1 to another 6-year term. Rimsevics was first appointed to head the central bank in 2001, and his new term officially begins on December 21. He was the only candidate put forward, and [...] |
2007-11-01 15:07:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EFIN PGOV LG |
| 07RIGA821 |
WHAT'S LIKLEY TO HAPPEN NEXT IN LATVIA? [...] (C/NF) Summary: Conventional wisdom in Latvia is that PM Kalvitis will announce his resignation following the adoption of the 2008 budget, scheduled for November 8. If he does step down, we expect a somewhat protracted period of government formation that could likely go until Christmas or eve [...] |
2007-11-02 14:09:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV PREL LG |
| 07RIGA823 |
LATVIAN RESPONSE: DESIGNATIONS OF IRANIAN ENTITIES [...] Poloff delivered reftel demarche to Judite Dobele, the GOL MFA Head of the Middle Eastern Division. Dobele stated that the GOL has taken concrete steps to assure that there is no participation in terrorism financing. One indication of this is Latvian commercial banks' mandate to investigate cas [...] |
2007-11-02 14:20:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | EFIN KNNP PREL PARM LG |
| 07RIGA827 |
Loskutovs update [...] Summary: Continuing to search for ways to avoid a vote on the fate of anti-corruption bureau (KNAB) chief Loskutovs, the Saeima legal affairs committee told the government it needed to bolster its case for dismissal and the government pulled back its request for the parliament to dismiss Loskut [...] |
2007-11-06 05:26:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV KCOR KCRM LG |
| 07RIGA828 |
LATVIAN RESPONSE: FATF STATEMENT AND GUIDANCE ON [...] (U) Poloff delivered reftel demarche to Judite Dobele, the GOL MFA's Head of Middle East and Africa Division, Viesturs Burkans, the GOL Prosecutor General's office Head of the Financial Investigation Unit, and Janis Brazovskis, the GOL Head of Financial Integrity Division in the Financial and [...] |
2007-11-06 07:05:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL MNUC ECON LG |
| 07RIGA831 |
LATVIA AND RUSSIA TO DELAY EXCHANGE OF [...] (C) Officials in both the PM's office and the MFA have confirmed what we expected - that the current political situation in Latvia has delayed the exchange of instruments of ratification for the Latvia-Russia border treaty. FM Lavrov's proposed visit for November 14 or 15 is off as there is c [...] |
2007-11-07 07:19:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PBTS RS LG |
| 07RIGA833 |
LATVIA WILL NOT ATTEND CD MINISTERIAL IN BAMAKO, [...] (C) Pol-Econ Off delivered reftel demarche on November 7, to Sarmite Danne, First Secretary in the MFA's International Organizations Division. Danne stated that Latvia will not be sending a delegation to the November 14-17 Community of Democracies Ministerial in Bamako, Mali, due to lack of MF [...] |
2007-11-07 15:40:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | KDEM PHUM PREL UNGA LG |
| 07RIGA837 |
PM KALVITIS PLANS TO RESIGN DEC. 5 [...] (C) Summary: Latvian PM Aigars Kalvitis announced November 7 that he will step down on December 5. He said he wanted to ensure a smooth transition. At the same time, he nominated candidates to fill three of the four vacancies in the cabinet, including Maris Riekstins as foreign minister. The [...] |
2007-11-08 15:37:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV LG |
| 07RIGA84 |
LATVIA STILL UNDECIDED ON HRC, LUKEWARM AT BEST [...] (C) Pol/econ chief has held several conversations with Latvian MFA pol dir Ilgvars Klava regarding ref A request to explore Latvian willingness to pursue a seat on the Human Rights Council. Klava, who has been very critical of the council (ref C), has agreed that we should avoid having Belaru [...] |
2007-01-30 14:44:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PHUM PREL UNHRC LG |
| 07RIGA849 |
LATVIA SUPPORTS FURTHER SANCTIONS ON BURMA [...] (C) PolEconOff delivered reftel points November 13 to Signe Jansone, the A/S level official that covers Asia at the MFA. Jansone responded that the GOL continues to deplore the lack of human rights in Burma: "the people have no basic human rights or education." She noted that the EU has been [...] |
2007-11-14 10:28:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM EFIN ETRD BM LG |
| 07RIGA850 |
LATVIA: DAS GARBER DISCUSSES VISA WAIVER, CFE, AND [...] (C) Summary: EUR DAS Judith Garber visited Riga on November 7 and 8 for meetings with GOL officials at the MFA and DOD. All MFA officials stressed the Visa Waiver program as priority number one in the bilateral relationship. The Latvian MOD expressed strong support for U.S. efforts to negoti [...] |
2007-11-14 10:28:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV CVIS MARR LG |
| 07RIGA852 |
LATVIAN INFLATION UP TO 13.2% [...] According to figures released on November 8 by the Latvian Central Statistical Bureau (CSB), the annual inflation rate in Latvia hit 13.2% in October. This marks the highest rate in Latvia since 1996, and consumer prices are widely expected to continue rising until mid 2008. Increases in util [...] |
2007-11-14 15:54:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON AFSN AMGT ELAB LG |
| 07RIGA86 |
AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH SPEAKER EMSIS [...] (C) Summary: Saeima speaker Indulis Emsis was optimistic that legislation authorizing the government to sign the border treaty with Russia would pass on February 1, but was skeptical that nationalist party Fatherland and Freedom could remain in the coalition after its opposition to this legisl [...] |
2007-01-31 14:59:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PBTS PHUM RS LG |
| 07RIGA860 |
LATVIA'S 2008 BUDGET [...] Summary: On November 8th, the Saeima (Parliament) passed the government's 2008 budget, with 54 parliament members voting in favor and 39 against. In line with the main budgetary priority, which was economic stabilization in the face of accelerating inflation, the budget plans to run a 1% of G [...] |
2007-11-16 11:46:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EFIN ETRD LG |
| 07RIGA865 |
A/S FRIED'S VISIT TO RIGA [...] (C) Summary: CFE and domestic political developments were key topics in the visit of EUR A/S Dan Fried to Riga October 25 - 26. The Latvians warmly welcomed his assurance that on CFE the USG would pursue a policy of "nothing about you without you" in talking with Moscow and that any consultat [...] |
2007-11-21 12:36:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR MOPS NATO RS LG |
| 07RIGA869 |
LATVIA TO SUPPORT GMO ZERO-TOLERANCE POLICY AT [...] (C) Pol/Econ Off delivered reftel demarche on November 21 to Dace Freimane, Deputy Director of the Agriculture Ministry's EU Affairs Division. Freimane said that her office was currently preparing notes for Agriculture Minister Roze regarding the November 26 meeting. She stated that while sh [...] |
2007-11-21 16:14:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | EAGR ETRD EUN TBIO LG |
| 07RIGA871 |
VIKE-FREIBERGA'S CANDIDACY TO HEAD EU "WISEMEN" [...] (C/NF) Peteris Ustubs, foreign policy advisor to Latvian PM Kalvitis, called in pol/econ chief late November 21. Ustubs had just returned from Paris and a meeting with Sarkozy's diplomatic advisor AMB Levitte. Sarkozy wants to propose former Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga (VVF) to head [...] |
2007-11-23 13:36:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL EUN FR LG |
| 07RIGA872 |
LAVROV VISIT DEC. 18? KALVITIS TO STAY UNTIL DEC. [...] (C) Summary: Russian FM Lavrov will likely visit Latvia December 18 to exchange instruments of ratification on the Latvian-Russian border treaty. As a result of this and other events, it seems likely that PM Kalvitis will resign as planned on December 5 but stay in caretaker mode through Dece [...] |
2007-11-23 13:39:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PBTS EUN RS LG |
| 07RIGA873 |
E-PINE POLITICAL DIRECTORS, MEETING [...] (C) SUMMARY. The fall meeting of the e-PINE Political Directors was held October 26 in Riga, Latvia. Political Directors from seven Nordic and Baltic nations met with EUR Assistant Secretary Daniel Fried to compare notes on the countries that make up e-PINE,s core focus: Georgia, Moldova, B [...] |
2007-11-23 13:41:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ENRG RS GG MD BO BK LG |
| 07RIGA877 |
LATVIA ON MADRID: NERVOUS ON CFE [...] (C) Summary: Latvia is wary of the Spanish/German effort on CFE in Madrid and greatly appreciates the US support for core principals in this area. Latvia will make a strong statement of support for ODIHR and election observation. They support the closure of the OSCE mission in Croatia and sup [...] |
2007-11-27 16:14:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KCFE OSCE LG |
| 07RIGA883 |
LATVIAN HIGH COURT RULES ON APPEAL OF BANKA BALTIJA [...] Summary: On November 20, the High Court of Latvia finished reviewing the previous ruling of the Riga Regional Court, and delivered an appeal judgment over the Banka Baltija collapse case. Banka Baltija was the largest bank in Latvia in the early nineties, and the declaration of its insolvency i [...] |
2007-11-29 13:08:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | EFIN PGOV ECPS KJUS LG |
| 07RIGA884 |
Court rules Latvia-Russia border treaty complies with [...] Summary. Latvia's Constitutional Court (ST) announced November 29 that the Latvia- Russia Border Treaty, which provides Latvia's acknowledgment to the transfer of the Abrene region of Latvia to Russia in Stalin's era, complies with the Constitution of Latvia. The court ruled that the Treaty its [...] |
2007-11-29 16:07:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PBTS PREL RS LG |
| 07RIGA895 |
Kalvitis officially resigns as Latvian PM; Lavrov invited [...] On December 5, Latvian PM Aigars Kalvitis submitted his resignation to President Zatlers, as he pledged last month. Under the Latvian constitution, the resignation also covers all ministers and the government goes in to caretaker mode until the Saeima (parliament) approves a new government. K [...] |
2007-12-05 15:49:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL RS LG |
| 07RIGA898 |
Decision on Putin documentary raises censorship concerns [...] Summary. The decision by Latvian National Television (LTV) to cancel the planned December 1 broadcast of a documentary "Putin's System," which is critical of the Russian President, has produced significant drama and raised questions of censorship. LTV first claimed that the broadcast was cance [...] |
2007-12-07 15:11:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PHUM LG |
| 07RIGA906 |
THE APPEARANCE OF BOLD ACTION, LOOKING FOR A [...] (C) Summary: The process of forming the next Latvian government took a not entirely unexpected turn on December 12 when President Zatlers decided to consult with potential candidates for Prime Minister from outside the party structure. Although Zatlers seems interested in doing something unex [...] |
2007-12-12 15:48:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV LG |
| 07RIGA908 |
LATVIA REMAINS ON BOARD REGARDING KOSOVO [...] (C) Summary: Latvia remains fully on board with a way forward on Kosovo based on the Ahtisaari plan. It has no problem with deploying the planned ESDP mission, although budget constraints may limit its participation. When the time comes, Latvia is prepared to recognize an independent Kosovo, [...] |
2007-12-13 09:44:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MOPS EUN YI LG |
| 07RIGA92 |
Latvian parliament approves border treaty on first reading; [...] (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 near [...] |
2007-02-02 14:36:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PBTS RS LG |
| 07RIGA930 |
Gazprom and Latvijas Gaze agree on new natural gas supply [...] Latvijas Gaze (LG), the central natural gas provider in Latvia, announced on December 14 that it had reached agreement on a new supply contract with Gazprom for 2008-2010. In line with Gazprom's pricing policy and its efforts to even out gas prices across Europe, the new tariff for Latvia will [...] |
2007-12-21 11:01:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | ENRG EPET ECON PREL RS LG |
| 07RIGA931 |
LATVIAN PARLIAMENT EXTENDS TROOP MANDATE FOR IRAQ [...] No summary [...] |
2007-12-21 11:01:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | MARR PGOV MOPS PREL IZ LG |
| 07RIGA932 |
LATVIA-RUSSIA SIGN AGREEMENT TO RETURN SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL [...] Summary: On December 3, the Republic of Latvia and the Russian Federation signed an agreement to return remaining spent nuclear fuel from Latvia's decommissioned Salaspils research facility to Russia for recycling and storage. The agreement stems from efforts in Latvia started in the late 1990 [...] |
2007-12-21 11:02:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL KNNP RS LG |
| 07RIGA935 |
LATVIAN PARLIAMENT INSTALLS NEW CENTER-RIGHT MAJORITY [...] SUMMARY. The Saeima (Latvian parliament) voted 54-43 on December 20 to approve a new center-right government led by former Interior Minister (and former PM) Ivars Godmanis of Latvia's First Party/Latvia's Way (LPP/LC). The new government is composed of the same four center-right parties as th [...] |
2007-12-21 14:14:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL PHUM LG |
| 07RIGA939 |
Latvia to decide in January on Committee for Elimination of [...] We reported ref B that Latvia would make a decision on whom to support for the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination closer to the Jan. 17 date of the election. We followed up with the MFA, who confirmed that Latvia will make its decision the week of January 7, following the ho [...] |
2007-12-28 09:17:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PHUM UN LG |
| 08RIGA110 |
LATVIANS SEE IGNALINA LOSING MOMENTUM [...] (C) Summary: The mood among Latvian officials on prospects for building a new nuclear power facility in Ignalina, Lithuania, has turned gloomy. In recent meetings GOL officials and politicians say that the drive to replace the plant has lost momentum and that the Lithuanians are not showing [...] |
2008-02-29 08:23:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG ECON PREL LG |
| 08RIGA117 |
LATVIAN IMPLEMENTATION OF BERLIN DECLARATION ON TB [...] Per reftel request, the following is the status of Latvia's implementation of the Berlin Declaration on Tuberculosis (TB). 2. According to Rinalds Mucins, Ministry of Health Under Secretary of State, Latvia has had an active anti-tuberculosis program in place since the mid-1990's, so no fund [...] |
2008-03-05 09:50:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | TBIO WHO XG LG |
| 08RIGA118 |
LATVIAN IMPLEMENTATION OF BERLIN DECLARATION ON TB [...] Per reftel request, the following is the status of Latvia's implementation of the Berlin Declaration on Tuberculosis (TB). 2. According to Rinalds Mucins, Ministry of Health Under Secretary of State, Latvia has had an active anti-tuberculosis program in place since the mid-1990's, so no fund [...] |
2008-03-05 10:09:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | TBIO WHO XG LG |
| 08RIGA123 |
Scenesetter for Secretary Chertoff's visit to Riga [...] We look forward to welcoming you in Riga. Your visit, and the accompanying signing of the MOU (assuming agreement can be reached on the text) on the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), is a significant marker of the strength of our bilateral relationship. Joining the VWP is the foreign policy issue th [...] |
2008-03-10 11:15:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | CVIS PREL PGOV KCOR OVIP CHERTOFF MICHAEL LG |
| 08RIGA125 |
EMBASSY RIGA SECONDS EMBASSY TIRANA'S SUGGESTED [...] Embassy Riga read with interest Embassy Tirana's reftel cable on improving the Human Rights Report process. Post seconds the concerns and issues raised in the cable--and endorses the pragmatic reforms to the process that were suggested, especially in regards to timelines. We look forward to w [...] |
2008-03-11 10:52:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PGOV PREL LG |
| 08RIGA129 |
DEMRCHE RESPONSE: LATVIA SUPPORTS TOUGH EU [...] (C) PolEconOff delivered reftel points March 11 to Evita Stranga, Deputy Head of COREPER I Division of the EU Coordination Department at the MFA. Stranga responded that the GOL agrees that it is important to develop a post-Kyoto framework that involves all major emitters. The GOL also suppor [...] |
2008-03-13 07:12:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | SENV ENRG EUN KGHG LG |
| 08RIGA130 |
DAS KRILLA STRESSES TOLERANCE AND INCLUSION IN [...] (C) Summary: DAS for DRL Jeffrey Krilla visited Riga March 5 and 6 for roundtable discussions with ethnic Russian and other minority groups in Latvia. He also met with the Latvian Minister of Integration, MFA officials, and an ethnic Russian member of parliament. While the Integration Ministe [...] |
2008-03-13 07:12:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PREL LG |
| 08RIGA132 |
LATVIA: POINTS ON REFERENDUM IN BURMA DELIVERED [...] PolEconOff delivered reftel points March 14 to Dana Rudaka, Head of Asia and Oceania at the MFA. Rudaka expressed appreciation for the points, but provided no immediate response. LARSON [...] |
2008-03-14 12:51:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PHUM BM LG |
| 08RIGA138 |
LATVIA,S DYSPEPTIC DOMESTIC POLITICS [...] (C/NF) Summary: Since the relatively dramatic events of last fall that brought down the Kalvitis government, the Latvian domestic political scene has been full of sound and fury but signifying little in terms of action. There is a lot happening and much noise, but it is hard to see that any of [...] |
2008-03-17 15:13:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV LG |
| 08RIGA144 |
LATVIA, BUCHAREST AND ISAF [...] (C) Summary: We assess that it is unlikely that the Latvian government will make significant new contribution to ISAF at Bucharest. Military op tempo, an unsure defense minister, and funding concerns all contribute to the reasons this is unlikely. Latvia is likely to continue with participatio [...] |
2008-03-19 07:32:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | MOPS MARR PREL NATO AF LG |
| 08RIGA149 |
LATVIA CONCERNED ON DEVELOPMENTS IN BELARUS, [...] (S/NF) Summary: Latvian officials are concerned by developments in the U.S. - Belarus bilateral relationship, believing that this represents a hardening of positions by Lukashenka. They are offering support for the U.S., including within the EU, although they did not succeed in getting a pres [...] |
2008-03-20 10:07:00 | Embassy Riga | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL PINR EUN BO LG |
| 08RIGA151 |
Latvia to hold two signature drives in 30 days [...] Summary. Two unrelated legislative amendments - constitutional amendments providing the rights to dismiss Saeima through a national referendum and amendments setting the level of a minimum pension at the official subsistence level - proposed by private groups have succeeded in collecting the re [...] |
2008-03-20 15:31:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PHUM LG |
| 08RIGA18 |
Latvia will attend WIREC [...] We delivered reftel invitation to the Latvian MFA who confirmed that Latvia will plan to attend WIREC 2008. At this point, the plan is for the Latvian delegation to be led by FM Maris Riekstins, who will be joined by Economics Minister Kaspars Gerhards. The rest of the delegation will be comp [...] |
2008-01-09 10:58:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | ENRG SENV PREL LG |
| 08RIGA199 |
PRESIDENT ZATLERS' VISIT TO WASHINGTON [...] (C/NF) Latvian President Valdis Zatlers makes his first visit to Washington April 23 - 25 significantly stronger in his job than when he started, but still not the dominant figure in Latvian politics that his predecessor was. Given the strong constitutional limitations on his role, this is on [...] |
2008-04-17 09:58:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL MOPS CVIS ENRG MARR NATO RS LG |
| 08RIGA2 |
LAVROV'S VISIT TO RIGA [...] (C) Summary: Russian FM Lavrov's December 18 visit to Riga was most notable in that it occurred at all. After months of work, his visit marked the first ever visit by a Russian or Soviet FM to an independent Latvia. The highlight was the exchange of instruments of ratification on the Latvia-R [...] |
2008-01-02 05:27:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PBTS ENRG ETRD EUN RS IR LG |
| 08RIGA200 |
THE TUG OF WAR OVER NEW POWER PLANTS IN LATVIA [...] (SBU) Summary. The debate over future power plants in Latvia is rapidly heating up. As electricity demand grows and the 2009 decommissioning of Ignalina nuclear power plant in Lithuania approaches, the GOL is weighing its options. Among them are building new power plants and/or linking Latvia [...] |
2008-04-17 12:37:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG ECON EINV PREL LG |
| 08RIGA202 |
UPDATED LATVIAN ECONOMIC OUTLOOK [...] Summary. The consensus among sources continues to be that Latvia's economy will slow throughout the year, though estimates range from the Association of Latvian Commercial Banks' soft-landing scenario of 6.7% GDP growth, to the IMF's hard-landing estimate of 3.1%. However, the inflation that [...] |
2008-04-17 14:06:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EFIN ETRD LG |
| 08RIGA211 |
LATVIAN RESPONSE ON AVIATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT [...] No summary [...] |
2008-04-24 14:41:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAIR ECON ETRD SENV EUN LG |
| 08RIGA22 |
(S/NF) LATVIA/RUSSIA - INTEL ISSUES TO COMPLICATE [...] (S/NF) Summary: A Russian diplomat in Latvia, who is a declared SVR officer, will leave his post by the time his visa expires in June because his previous expulsion from France has him on a Schengen blacklist. The GOL has decided not to expel the individual because they do not have informatio [...] |
2008-01-11 14:58:00 | Embassy Riga | SECRET//NOFORN | PINR PREL RS LG |
| 08RIGA222 |
RESPONSE: IMPACT OF RISING FOOD/COMMODITY PRICES - LATVIA [...] Per reftel, the following is Post's summary of the impact of rising food and commodity prices in Latvia, related to the seven topics identified: ---------------- DEMAND ---------------- 2. According to the Latvian Institute for Agricultural Economy, the most essential food staples and b [...] |
2008-04-30 14:24:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | EAGR EAID ETRD ECON PGOV PREL LG |
| 08RIGA227 |
LATVIA CONTINUES TO SUPPORT EU POSITION ON BURMA [...] (C) PolEconOff delivered reftel points May 6 to Iveta Skrastina of the Asia and Oceania Division at the MFA. Noting that the GOL shares U.S. concerns about the Burmese regime's suppression of democracy, Skrastina stated that the GOL will continue to support the EU common policy on Burma. She a [...] |
2008-05-06 09:42:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM EAID BM LG |
| 08RIGA228 |
HERE WE GO AGAIN - ANTI-CORRUPTION CHIEF UNDER FIRE [...] (C/NF) Summary: Two separate events have brought a new focus on anti-corruption chief Aleksejs Loskutovs, whose attempted removal from office last fall brought down the Kalvitis government. Two members of his staff have been sacked for stealing money seized in investigations, and indicted Ven [...] |
2008-05-06 14:19:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV KCOR KJUS ASEC LG |
| 08RIGA23 |
LATVIAN PASSPORT SCANDAL CAUSE FOR SERIOUS CONCERN [...] (S/NF) Summary: A scandal involving the issuance of at least 100 passports to individuals not eligible for Latvian passports has dominated the news in Latvia in recent days. The scheme, which allegedly involved passports issued in 2004-05, appears to have involved multiple individuals in the [...] |
2008-01-11 15:43:00 | Embassy Riga | SECRET//NOFORN | CVIS KFRD KCRM PGOV PREL LG |
| 08RIGA254 |
LATVIA: NO POSITION ON WIPO DG ELECTION [...] No summary [...] |
2008-05-13 14:25:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | AORC WIPO KIPR ETRD PREL LG |
| 08RIGA255 |
LATVIA: DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH THE CUBAN PEOPLE [...] Per reftels, Post would like to place an op-ed in local media, and joins in Embassy London's request to receive generic text for such an op-ed from WHA. In order to have time to translate the text into Latvian, we would ask that text be made available by May 16. 2. In addition, we have spok [...] |
2008-05-13 14:25:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL KDEM PHUM EUN CU LG |
| 08RIGA258 |
LATVIAN ASSISTANCE IN RESPONSE TO CYCLONE NARGIS [...] Post recently sent in a demarche response stating the GOL was not planning to provide humanitarian assistance in the wake of Cyclone Nargis. However, we have subsequently learned the following about public and private efforts: --On May 13, the GOL's cabinet approved a 20,000 EUR donation for [...] |
2008-05-14 13:57:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PHUM EAID BM LG |
| 08RIGA266 |
LATVIA TO WORK THROUGH EU ON LEBANON [...] No summary [...] |
2008-05-16 12:46:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EUN LE LG |
| 08RIGA267 |
LATVIAN NATIONAL SECURITY COMMITTEE PRESSURES STATE [...] On May 14, the Latvian National Security Committee of Parliament brought in Edgars Kots, Director of the Latvian National Television Station (LTV), for questioning. Though the sessions of the committee are closed, council member Linda Murniece (member of opposition party New Era), told media th [...] |
2008-05-16 12:51:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV LG |
| 08RIGA270 |
AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES ENERGY SECURITY AND OTHER [...] (C/NF) Summary. On May 15, Ambassador Larson met Latvian Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis for discussions on a wide range of issues. Tey discussed energy security, the privatization of Lattelekom, developments in the Latvian economy, and the GOL's invitation for Prime Minister Putin to attend th [...] |
2008-05-19 08:20:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL PGOV ECON ENRG RS LG |
| 08RIGA279 |
LATVIA: DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH THE CUBAN PEOPLE FOLLOW-UP [...] Per reftel, Post confirms that the Department-provided op-ed was placed under Ambassador Larsons' name in a local Russian-language newspaper, Telegraph, on May 21. 2. In addition, the MFA issued the following statement on May 20 (informal embassy translation): "Foreign Minister Urges Supp [...] |
2008-05-22 10:28:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL KDEM PHUM KPAO SOCI CU LG |
| 08RIGA280 |
RAFI EITAN VISIT TO LATVIA/LITHUANIA - REQUEST FOR [...] (U) This is a joint message from Embassies Riga and Vilnius. This is an action request. Please see para 3. 2. (C) We understand that Israeli government minister Rafi Eitan will visit Latvia and Lithuania the week of May 26 to press the two governments to do more on restitution issues rela [...] |
2008-05-22 13:32:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINR LG LH IS |
| 08RIGA297 |
LATVIA: REACTION TO GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY INITIATIVE [...] (C) PolEcon Off delivered reftel demarche to Maija Manika, MFA U/S for Economic Relations and Development Cooperation Policy, on May 21. At that time, Manika had no response, but promised to pass us MFA positions when formulated. Post received an email on May 27 from Elina Grinpauka, MFA Int [...] |
2008-05-30 13:21:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD EAGR ECON TBIO LG |
| 08RIGA298 |
JUSTICE MIN STATE SECRETARY BICEVSKIS NOMINATED [...] (U) On May 27, the Latvian Cabinet of Ministers confirmed the appointment of Martins Bicevskis to the vacant position of Finance Ministry State Secretary. Bicevskis, the current Justice Ministry State Secretary, will take his new position on June 2, replacing Irena Krumane, who left to become [...] |
2008-05-30 14:31:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EFIN PINR LG |
| 08RIGA301 |
LATVIA: GLOBAL MARITIME PARTNERSHIPS [...] No summary [...] |
2008-05-30 15:02:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | EWWT EAID ECIN ECON EFIS MARR MASS MCAP LG |
| 08RIGA304 |
THE RETURN OF JURGIS LIEPNIEKS [...] (C/NF) Summary: Jurgis Liepnieks, former Chief of Staff to PM Kalvitis and confidante of Skele and now expelled from People's Party, offered his views of the state of politics in Latvia. He suggested that Skele is gaining dominance over the other oligarchs through financial leverage, that Kalv [...] |
2008-06-02 12:00:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV PINR LG |
| 08RIGA312 |
Could territorial reform destabilize the ruling coalition? [...] Summary. The adoption and implementation of the administrative reform which would consolidate many small local governments (527) into bigger regional governments (88 or 127 municipal districts) has become a major object of disagreement between the two biggest parties in the ruling coalition -- [...] |
2008-06-04 04:28:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV LG |
| 08RIGA322 |
CHANGING OF THE GUARD AT THE SUPREME COURT [...] (C) Summary: On June 5 Ivars Bickovics, currently the Chair of the Political Panel in the Supreme Court, was appointed by the Saeima (parliament) to become the next Latvian Supreme Court Chief Justice, replacing Andris Gulans who has had that position since 1994. Gulans, last day is June 13. [...] |
2008-06-06 08:29:00 | Embassy Riga | SECRET//NOFORN | PGOV KCOR KJUS LG |
| 08RIGA324 |
SAEIMA PASSES NEW MONEY LAUNDERING LAW, WITH A [...] (C) Summary. On Thursday, June 5 the Saeima (parliament) voted to approve the long-awaited, new Anti Money Laundering (AML) laws to bring Latvia in compliance with EU norms. During the final vote, however, six new amendments, which greatly reduce the effectiveness and usefulness of the law, we [...] |
2008-06-06 14:49:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EFIN KCOR LG |
| 08RIGA338 |
COMMISSION FORMED: KNAB CHIEF'S FUTURE IS DIM [...] (C) Summary. Following Prosecutor General Janis Maizitis' submission of his report on the KNAB (ref b), Prime Minister Godmanis asked Anti-Corruption Bureau (KNAB) Chief Aleksejs Loskutovs to step down, which he refused to do. According to Latvian law, a Commission has been formed to determine [...] |
2008-06-12 11:14:00 | Embassy Riga | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KCOR KJUS LG |
| 08RIGA339 |
Continued high wage growth in Latvia and its effect on [...] According to the Latvian Central Statistics Bureau, the average gross monthly salary in Latvia in Q1 grew by 28.1% year-on-year. In absolute figures this translates into an increase from LVL 354 to 453 (USD 787 to 1007). Gross salaries grew by slightly more in the private sector than in the pub [...] |
2008-06-12 12:31:00 | Embassy Riga | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON AFSN AMGT ELAB LG |
| 08RIGA346 |
LATVIA WANTS TO BE COVERED UNDER IRAQ SOFA, [...] No summary [...] |
2008-06-13 14:46:00 | |||