EVENTSPresident of Latvia and U.S. leaders are committed to building Europe whole and free On April 23, 2001 in the White House President of Latvia, Dr. Vaira Vike-Freiberga, met with President George W. Bush, Vice President Richard Cheney, and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice. President Vike-Freiberga expressed her gratitude for the United States' support that was of crucial importance for regaining Latvia's independence and during the ten years of rebuilding the nation. She called upon the United States to continue its leadership in building Europe whole and free, to strengthen U.S. involvement in European security and to expand cooperation within the framework of the U.S.-Baltic Charter. President Vike-Freiberga underscored that Latvia is already contributing to European security through participation in peace operations in Southeastern Europe, and is preparing for participation in the common defence of NATO Alliance. "Latvia already is acting as a committed Ally of the United States, and will continue to do so in the future as a member of NATO and the European Union," said the President. Dr. Vaira Vike-Freiberga reassured her partners that Latvia fully recognizes the importance of successful building of an inclusive society, defense modernization, and commitment to Western democratic values for Latvia's Euro-Atlantic integration. U.S. leaders recognized the impressive progress Latvia has made during the years of reform and wished further success for the country. They affirmed U.S. commitment to continued process of Euro-Atlantic integration, part of which is further enlargement of NATO. After the conversation with U.S. leaders President Vike-Freiberga at the National Security Council briefly met with the representatives of Central Eastern European Coalition and thanked them for supporting NATO aspirations of the new European democracies. President's Press Service Representatives of the NATO member states: Latvia has made significant progress in preparedness for the membership in NATO On April 23, 2001, in NATO Headquarters in Brussels the annual North Atlantic Council session with Latvia took place in which the Prime Minister of Latvia Andris Berzins and the Minister of Defence Girts Valdis Kristovskis met the ambassadors of the 19 NATO member states and NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson in order to discuss Latvia's progress in the performance of the Annual National Program. The length of the preparation process cycle for the NATO aspirants is one year. During this year the Progress report on the performance of each aspirant is worked out. As several representatives of the NATO member states remarked it, Latvia has made significant progress in preparedness for the membership in NATO during the year. The remarkable support of Latvia's society to the strengthening of the defence system and the increase in the defence budget was evaluated especially positively. The ambassadors of NATO acknowledged it to be a difficult and responsible task. Special recognition was given to Latvia's positive economic development, the low inflation rate, the rapid growth of economy, the growth of gross domestic product, the large amount of direct foreign investments, which put Latvia in leading positions in Central and Eastern Europe. Discussing the NATO enlargement in the Baltic region, the representatives of the NATO Allies were of the same opinion that the enlargement of NATO by no means is directed against Russia. On the contrary, it corresponds to Russia's long-term political interests ensuring peace and stability to the region. Latvia's achievement in the area of society integration and the increased number of naturalized people during the last year was remarked positively. The participants of the meeting considered it necessary for the government of Latvia to continue the implementation of the teaching program of Latvian language, which forms one of the preconditions of society integration. The working out and adoption of the Society integration program was praised. Regarding military issues, the ambassadors of the NATO member states evaluated positively the development of the Planning and budget system in the Defence forces of Latvia. The well-grounded choice of priorities in the defence planning issues was mentioned positively, especially in respect of personnel teaching system. Latvia's contribution to NATO international peacekeeping operations was praised. NATO recommended Latvia to focus the attention on the development of long-term military programs and investments in the military infrastructure. Ministry of Defence The State Defence Financing Law passed in the Parliament sets 2% of GDP for defence spending in 2003 On April 5, 2001 the Saeima (the Parliament) passed the state defence financing law. The law provides that, working out the annual national budgeting, the funding allocated for the state defence and integration in North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) will be increased from 1.75% of gross domestic product (GDP) in the year 2002 to 2% of GDP in the year 2003. The goal of the law is to provide funding for the state defence, security and integration in NATO in order to ensure the long-term development planning system of the National Armed Forces (NAF) and to promote goal-directed strengthening of the self-defence capability of Latvia, aimed to the implementation of NATO standards till the year 2003. Thus a real precondition will be set for Latvia's integration in European and transatlantic security structures, which is the main priority of Latvia's foreign policy and security policy. Ministry of Defence The State Defence Financing Law: http://www.mod.lv/english/08akti/01_05finans.php Latvia welcomes U.S. Senators' support to further NATO enlargement 06.04.2001 Latvia highly regards the letter signed on April 5, 2001 by 17 influential U.S. Senators, both republican and democratic, which calls on U.S. President George W. Bush to honor his preelection campaign commitment that the United States will take a leadership role with its allies "to advance the process of NATO enlargement at the next Alliance summit in 2002." Latvia is pleased that the Senators have highlighted the importance of NATO enlargement in U.S. foreign policy and its main accomplishments âÀ“ creation of a secure and stable Europe and a constructive and stable relationship with Russia. The Senators have recognized that the inclusion of Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary has strengthened the Alliance and expanded peace and stability in Europe, therefore proving value of NATO enlargement. Latvia hopes that the letter's appeal will not only receive the support of the U.S. Administration, but will also encourage other members of the Alliance to strengthen their resolve in pursuing further NATO enlargement. Latvia with full determination continues its preparations for the membership in the Alliance through implementation of the Membership Action Plan and by proving itself as a reliable partner. On April 5, 2001 Latvia's Parliament has approved the law stipulating the increase of defense spending to 1.75% of GDP in 2002 and to 2% in 2003. MFA Senators' NATO enlargement support letter to the U.S. President: http://expandnato.org/senatorswhite.html DOCUMENTSThe State Defence Financing Law The law comes into force on May 2nd, 2001. The Saeima (the Parliament) has passed and the President of Latvia has announced the following law: Article 1. The goal of the law is to determine the amount of the funding allocated for the state defence, security and integration in North Atlantic Treaty Organization (hereinafter NATO) in order to ensure the long-term development planning system of the National Armed Forces and to promote goal-directed strengthening of Latvia's self-defence capability, aimed to the implementation of NATO standards in the time period till the year 2003, thus setting a real precondition for Latvia's integration in the European and Trans-Atlantic security structures, which is the priority of Latvia's foreign policy and security policy. Article 2. Working out the annual national budgeting, the Cabinet provides for the following amount of funding to be allocated for the State defence, security and integration in NATO: 1) 1.75% of gross domestic product (GDP) - in 2002; 2) 2% of gross domestic product (GDP) - in 2003.
The law was passed in the Saeima on April 5th, 2001. The President of Latvia V. Vike-Freiberga Riga, April 18th, 2001. Senators' NATO enlargement support letter to the U.S. President April 5, 2001 The Honorable George W. Bush The President The White House Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. President: No foreign policy priority is more important than fulfilling the vision of a Europe whole and free. This goal has served as a reliable guide for U.S. policy for well over fifty years. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union over a decade ago, the cornerstone of our policy has been the premise that the extension of the NATO Alliance to new democracies of Europe is fundamental to the strategic and moral objectives of the United States. We note that during the 2000 Presidential campaign, you promised that you "will lead our European allies to advance the process of NATO enlargement at the next Alliance summit in 2002." We applaud this statement and urge you to make NATO enlargement an early priority of your Administration. We agree that the United States must work to ensure that NATO invites qualified European democracies to begin accession negotiations at the 2002 Summit in Prague. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, it was a bipartisan initiative in the Senate that led the effort to bring Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic into NATO. As members of NATO, Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic have strengthened the Alliance and expanded the zone of peace and stability in Europe. It is in America's strategic interest that the process of NATO enlargement continue. The integration of Europe's new democracies into the Alliance would pave the way for a truly constructive and stable relationship with Russia. It would eliminate a major source of potential danger in European affairs. A Europe that is whole, free and secure would be a Europe inherently less inward looking and more capable and willing to serve as a strong partner of the United States in addressing global challenges and opportunities. Continuing the process of NATO enlargement will require strong and effective leadership on the part of the United States. We are confident that your Administration will provide that leadership. Sincerely, Gordon H. Smith Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Richard G. Lugar Joseph I. Lieberman Jon Kyl Jesse Helms Richard Durbin George V. Voinovich George Allen Mitch McConnell Mike DeWine John McCain Barbara A. Mikulski Sam Brownback Russell D. Feingold Jean Carnahan Hillary Rodham Clinton FACTS AND FIGURES   ACCENTSExtracts from the address "Completing the New Europe: the Baltic Dimension" by Dr. Vaira Vike-Freiberga, President of the Republic of Latvia, at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington, D.C., April 24, 2001 "Latvia's accession to the European Union and to NATO will finally put an end to the last sequels of the Second World War. It will finally bring about a just and lasting order in Europe. We are not asking for any favors and we are not looking for a free ride. We recognize that being part of the most successful Alliance in modern history entails obligations, responsibilities and equitable burden sharing. We are serious in our commitment to ensure peace and stability not only on the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea, but everywhere in Europe. We are committed to modernizing our defense forces, which we had to build completely from the ground up a decade ago. We have raised our defense budget by 30% during the last three years, and will increase it still further so that it attains 2% of Latvia's GDP in the year 2003. The NATO Membership Action plan is and has been a crucial instrument in guiding our progress. We have been investing into our military personnel and providing them with Western-style military instruction. Our armed forces are beginning to work with NATO-interoperable communications systems. Our defense planning is being conducted in accordance with NATO standards, and we are actively participating in NATO's Partnership for Peace program. Latvia has the political will and the appropriate funding to make a moderate but useful contribution to the Alliance's common defense activities. Within its capabilities, Latvia has been participating in every NATO-led peacekeeping operation that has taken place in Southeastern Europe since 1996. My first visit abroad as the new President of Latvia in 1999 was to Sarajevo. I had the opportunity to see first hand the scars of war, and to talk to ordinary people who have suffered the atrocities and horrors of armed conflict. I also had the occasion to visit Latvia's soldiers, who, together with troops from Estonia, were stationed in a joint battalion under Danish command to maintain the peace in Bosnia- Herzegovina. Latvian military police units have been and still are serving in Kosovo as part of KFOR, as are our medics. Latvia is working closely together with Estonia and Lithuania in the integration of its defense structures. The three Baltic countries have established a number of trilateral projects, including a Baltic Battalion, a joint Baltic Naval Squadron, a Baltic Air Space Surveillance Network, and a Baltic Defense College. These joint projects will all contribute to the Alliance's assets once the three Baltic States accede to NATO, and are already demonstrating our ability to work together in Europe's security interests." "Latvia wants part of the next wave of enlargement at the Prague Summit in 2002. The accession of Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary to NATO was a historic step forward and has already contributed to the security, stability and cohesion of the new Europe. It upheld the principle that commendable performance will be rewarded and not ignored. NATO has declared that its doors are open, and that the decision on which countries to admit during the next round of enlargement will not be based on historical or geographical considerations, but rather on the practical defense capabilities of each candidate country. We trust that the NATO member-states, and only the NATO member-states, will be the ones to take that decision. No country not part of the Alliance should be able to determine who is admitted, and who is not. Both these important principles have been asserted in a variety of official pronouncements, and I was extremely pleased yesterday to hear them reaffirmed by President G. W. Bush, by Vice-President Richard Cheney and by The Secretary of State Colin Powell. We trust that they will indeed be followed by all NATO member states when it comes time to apply them in practice." "All of NATO's candidate countries, which are sometimes known as the Vilnius Nine, uniformly oppose any retrogressive notion of security being based upon spheres of influence. The remarkable spirit of co-operation that has been demonstrated by our countries since the start of the latest expansion process attests to the strong mutual support and solidarity that extends from the Baltic to the Black Sea in our common quest to become effective and contributing members of the Euro-Atlantic community." "NATO and the European Union have provided the backbone for Europe's success during the past fifty years. They are the twin institutional pillars of the Euro-Atlantic. A closely integrated and effective European Union supported by a strong and enlarged NATO Alliance will fulfill our common vision of a continent that is secure, stable and prosperous. .. When the time arrives, Latvia will be eager to contribute to Europe's future Defense Force, which in turn should increase Europe's capability to contribute to the NATO Alliance and permit the EU to act in cases where NATO itself might choose to refrain from involvement. Latvia is determined to become a net contributor to NATO's and Europe's expanded security framework: It is determined to become an active and prosperous member of the European Union." Full text of the speech: http://www.am.gov.lv/en/?id=3424 Extracts from the briefing of Minister of Defence Mr. Girts Valdis Kristovskis in the meeting between Latvia and the North Atlantic Council, Brussels, April 23, 2001 "Latvia has taken a three-step approach in the development of its military capabilities. First by developing personnel, communications and PPBS, then addressing issue of defence structure, logistics and infrastructure and thirdly developing weapon and equipment procurement programs. Here I must add that the NATO Membership Action Plan process has helped us to make the development of our defence system much more effective and it was useful for us to focus our efforts. As a first step, in the recent past we have addressed military personnel issues: quality of life, career planning, and personnel management. While these issues remain to be addressed, we feel that we have made sufficient progress to allow us to concentrate on the work ahead. Within this phase we have also developed conceptual bases for the defence and created effective Planning, programming and budgeting system to ensure efficient resource planning and execution. The second step was to reorganize our defence system âÀ“ to develop planning, communications, logistic, and comprehensive training structures, as well as the required infrastructure itself. During the last two years a comprehensive and effective planning system was established. We have almost completed our first planning cycle and have introduced all necessary documents, such as a Threat Analysis, a Defence Concept, a Long Term Development Plan, a Mid-term Development Plan, as well as 4 year programs based on PPBS principles. Currently we are conducting financial estimates of our envisaged force structure, after which a final decision will be made in consultations with the Alliance. During the last two years we have successfully worked on the establishment of effective Operational planning system. We have significantly upgraded the training capabilities of our Armed Forces. We have created a unified training system under the National Armed Forces Training and Doctrine Command. An NCO school has been established, a major restructuring is going on in the Defence Academy, a special Recruitment center has been established, and specialist training (EOD, divers, engineers) has been developed. We have also established a Logistics Command. Also, implementation of a C3 system through a number of ongoing procurement projects is underway. Latvia currently is devoting fair proportion of it's defence budget to the development of defence infrastructure. Development of naval infrastructure is well underway, Naval base in Liepaja with the training center is being developed to match the highest standards of interoperability. Serious emphasis is laid on the NAF HQ command center with integrated C4I system that will become an integrated part of Latvia's Crisis management system. Thus, by the end of 2001, we will have basically completed the second stage of our development process. As the third step, based on the capabilities achieved in the previous two, Latvia's defence system aims to maximize its self-defense and combat capabilities. In this regard, the proportion of the defence budget devoted to investment in 2002 will increase to 25%. To that end, our main priority is the development of Land forces in line with operational requirements and resources available. By the end of next year, the first modern regional center will be established, which will ensure effective use of human resources. Implementation of a C4I system is underway. During this phase development of air defence and completion of air surveillance system will take place. Further development and intensification of our efforts in promoting Baltic Cooperation activities will form a large part of the task. We plan to further implement NATO compatibility requirements, and to continue our participation in peacekeeping activities." Full text of the briefing: http://www.mod.lv/english/05jaunumi/index.php?id=387 FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT INFORMATION Latvia's Liaison Office with NATO Headquarters in Brussels H.E. Mr. Imants Liegis, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Address: NATO HQ, Mission of Latvia, B-1110, Brussels, Belgium Telephone: 32 2 707 28 87; 32 2 707 28 88 Fax: 32 2 707 28 89 E-mail: latpol@hq.nato.int USEFUL LINKS Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia: http://www.am.gov.lv/en/?id=4445 Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia: http://www.mod.lv/ Information on NATO enlargement issues: http://expandnato.org/ NATO Enlargement Daily Brief: http://www.topica.com/lists/nato/read | 
