Declaration

By signing the Border Agreement with the Russian Federation, Latvia, confirms its good will to promote good neighbourly relations with the Russian Federation and simultaneously expresses its satisfaction of the willingness of the Russian Federation to develop good neighbourly relations with Latvia.

Latvia declares that by Article 1 of this Agreement it understands the de facto functioning line of demarcation dating from year 1990/1991, which is documented and technically described in the Annex of the Agreement. The only objective and subject of this Agreement is to document the abovementioned line of demarcation in order to ensure and to facilitate its practical functioning in the interests of both countries and their residents as well as in the mutual interests of the European Union and the Russian Federation.

Latvia does not link this Agreement with the broader issue of the elimination of the consequences of the illegal occupation of Latvia. Latvia declares that this Agreement is not related and does not diminish, does not deprive the state of Latvia and its citizens of the rights and legal claims provided by the international law, including the Peace Treaty between Latvia and Russia of August 11, 1920, and by state law of the Republic of Latvia pursuant to the international law.

Latvia stresses the fact that this Agreement is a result of the good will of both parties to the Agreement, provides reasons for optimism, and therefore it wishes to undertake efforts in order to solve the abovementioned issue in a way acceptable to both parties of the Agreement, and on the basis of these principles and in the interests of both countries to continue developing good neighbourly relations directed towards future and based on mutual respect and non-interference in the internal matters of the other state.