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RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHGB #2319/01 1841123
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 031123Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHRA/AMEMBASSY RIGA 0004
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5474
INFO RUEHCH/AMEMBASSY CHISINAU 0001
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 002319 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
CONFIDENTIAL/REL LATVIA (LG) 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/02/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM MOPS PREL PARM LG MD IZ
SUBJECT: ACTION REQUEST: LATVIAN MINDEF  REQUESTS CLOSE 
COORDINATION ON COALITION DEVELOPMENTS 
 
 
1.(U) This is cable contains an action 
request; please see para 10. 
 
2.(C/REL LG) SUMMARY. On July 1, Latvian 
Defense Minister, Atis Slakteris 
told the Political-Military 
Counselor that his government is committed 
to sustaining its presence in Iraq. 
However, he stated to do so will continue 
to be a challenge, as the Latvian public 
and domestic media are not of the same 
opinion.  They want their troops 
home now. According to Slakteris, 
with the upcoming parliamentary 
elections in autumn, "Latvian troops 
in Iraq" will become a consistent 
front page issue. This being the case, 
he stressed the importance of the USG 
keeping Latvia current on USG force plans, 
noting that the recent announcement by the 
USG that it would be "withdrawing troops," 
caught Riga off guard and without adequate 
comment to respond to press inquiries. 
 
¶3. (C/REL LG) SUMMARY CONT. Slaketeris also 
took this opportunity to request assistance 
in returning his rotating troops to Latvia 
between July 4 and 5 vice the latest 
plan to fly them home out of Kuwait 
between July 12-15. Pol-Mil counselor 
committed to informing MNF-I of his 
concerns and seeing if any remedy were 
available. He acknowledged the consequence 
of such issues becoming part of 
Latvia,s domestic debate.  Political- 
Military counselor has since 
consulted with appropriate 
U.S. military personnel and learned 
the status of the flight. Please see para 
7 - 9 for complete background and para 10 
for action request 
END SUMMARY. 
 
¶4. (C/REL LG) DefMin Slaketeris informed Pol-Mil 
Counselor that his government and military 
are committed to remaining in Iraq as long 
as the USG and the Iraqi government 
deems their assistance necessary.  He 
lamented that the Latvian public is not 
convinced of the need for Latvian troops 
to participate in stabilizing Iraq and noted 
the Latvian press is always 
fueling the public,s angst against the mission. 
 
¶5. (C/REL LG) With upcoming parliamentary 
elections, Slakteris said it would be 
critical to have good news stories 
from Iraq and to demonstrate to the public that 
the USG is a true ally, closely coordinating its 
force plans with the Latvian Government. 
The recent media,s reporting of the USG,s 
announcement that the USG was "withdrawing 
troops" caught the Latvian 
government and military by surprise, 
leaving them ill prepared to address 
their domestic media questions. 
Slakteris urged that the USG keep 
Coalition members in the "know" of USG 
military plans in Iraq so they can plan 
accordingly. 
 
¶6. (C/REL LG) Political-Military counselor 
agreed that coordination and sharing of 
information among Coalition partners 
is and will remain critical.  He stressed 
that withdrawal of USG forces will be 
conditioned-based and gradual. He further 
emphasized the importance of all Coalition 
members,and especially Latvia, 
to continue their much valued 
missions; we need everyone as 
all members contribute directly to 
success in Iraq. 
 
 
¶7. (C/REL LG) Slakteris requested Pol-Mil 
Counselor,s assistance in 
returning Latvian rotating troops 
home on time. According to Slakteris, 
the outgoing contingent of around 120 
troops, now in Kuwait, he said, was supposed to 
leave on July 5-7, and now they have 
been informed they must wait in Kuwait 
until July 12-15, in order to accommodate 
a small Moldovan contingent.  The flight 
would stop in Moldova before Latvia. 
To make matters worse, he said, the 
decision to delay the flight 
was made just now while he was in Iraq, 
without any consultation with him or 
anyone else in the Latvia military, 
leaving the appearance 
that Latvia has no role in decisions 
affecting their troops. Slakteris admitted 
that this issue might seem small to us, 
but the delay in their troops coming home to 
families would get into the media and 
its impact on public opinion at home, 
he worried, might seriously influence 
the electoral campaign. 
Pol-Mil counselor said he understood 
the consequences of such developments 
entering into the domestic debate, 
and committed to looking into the 
issue immediately. 
 
¶8. (C/REL LG) Pol-Mil Counselor has since discussed 
the redeployment of Latvian Soldiers with 
MNF-I and CENTCOM.  According to CENTCOM 
air and logistic operations, July 10-13 
were the departure dates suggested by 
the Latvian Senior National Representatives 
(SNRs) in Tampa and CENTCOM fulfilled 
their request.  These dates were not 
influenced by Moldova,s redeployment. 
In fact, the Moldovans offered to 
fly on these days to accommodate CENTCOM,s 
efforts to make efficient use of airlift. 
Further, CENTCOM advised, the entire Latvian 
contingent of 120 troops is not in Kuwait. 
A small advance team has flown to Kuwait, 
but the main body remains in Iraq at their 
base. 
 
¶9. (C/REL LG)It seems the problem is a 
miscommunication between the Latvian SNRs, 
in the field, and their Minister of Defense 
in Riga. At this late date, it is not feasible 
to alter the airlift date due to time needed 
to meet overflight requirements and get all 
troops in Kuwait for departure.  CENCTOM has 
conveyed this message to SNRs in Tampa who 
in turn should report the message to the 
Latvian MoD. 
 
¶10. (U) ACTION REQUEST: Post requests the 
Department to ask Riga to convey a message 
to appropriate Latvian officials based on the above. 
 
Khalilzad