VZCZCXRO7133
RR RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHRA #0832 2851404
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 121404Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY RIGA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3425
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L RIGA 000832 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2011 
TAGS: PREL MASS EUN GG RU LE LG
SUBJECT: LATVIAN VIEWS ON GAERC - FOCUSED ON GEORGIA 
 
REF: STATE 170214 
 
Classified By: DCM Phillip L. Antweiler.  Reason: 1.4 (D) 
 
¶1. (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 - Although not in our points, this is an 
important issue for Latvia.  Latvia believes that recent 
tensions between Russia and Georgia should be resolved by 
peaceful means.  Latvia believes that the frozen conflicts in 
South Ossetia and Abkhazia are at the root of the problem and 
current mechanisms to address the conflicts are not 
effective.  Latvia hopes that the EU will begin a discussion 
of how it can better contribute to the effective resolution 
of these conflicts.  Erte said the GOL supports a statement 
that charecterizes Russian actions in response to the 
Georgian arrests of the Russian officers as 
"disproportionate" and which calls on the Russians to stop 
these actions.  Latvia believes that Russian-Georgian 
relations should be on the agenda for all high level 
Russia-EU talks, including the October 20 informal dinner 
with President Putin. 
 
¶3. (C) Sudan - Latvia supports the draft council conclusions, 
including extension of EU support to AMIS through the end of 
the year. 
 
¶4. (C) Balkans - On Kosovo, Latvia continues to look for a 
sustainable solution that promotes regional stability by the 
end of the year and supports Ahtisaari's efforts in this 
regard.  Erte said that they hope that the BiH elections will 
result in a stable government that can tackle tough reforms 
of the constitution and restructuring of the police.  Latvia 
welcomes and supports the Solana/Rehn report on the future EU 
role in BiH after the closure of OHR. 
 
¶5. (C) Enlargement - Latvia will support the commission 
recommendation to have Romania and Bulgaria join the EU on 
January 1, although it will call on Bulgaria to make further 
progress on JHA issues, especially transparency in the 
judiciary.  They hope that the two will move quickly to 
nominate commissioners. 
 
¶6. (C) Iran - Latvia feels that Iran has failed to fulfill 
its obligations under UNSCR 1696, but hopes the issue can be 
resolved through peaceful means.  The ball is in Iran's 
court, Erte said.  It is impossible to ignore the threat 
posed by Iran's nuclear program.  If it fails to cease 
reprocessing and other activities, the issue should return to 
the UNSC for action. 
 
¶7. (C) MEPP/Lebanon - Latvia supports full implementation of 
UNSCR 1701 as an important part of achieving peace in the 
region.  All parties should refrain from unilateral action 
and return to the roadmap.  Latvia believes that the 
kidnapped Israeli soldiers should be returned and Israel 
should release the PA ministers and legislators that it 
arrested.  Latvia hopes Israel will make full use of the TIM 
to get money to the PA and believes all border crossings to 
Gaza should be open, something for which active EU engagement 
would be useful. 
 
¶8. (C) Lebanon (cont.) - Erte said that Latvia is ready to 
contribute to the identification and restoration of damaged 
cultural sites in the city of Tyre.  The Latvian culture 
minister has written to the government of Lebanon to extend 
this offer.  Latvia is also ready to make its EOD team 
available to train Lebanese deminers if the Lebanese would 
like, although Erte said this offer had not yet been formally 
extended. 
 
¶9. (C) North Korea/UNSC/Zimbabwe - Erte said that the draft 
GAERC language on North Korea was not yet ready, but Latvia 
strongly condemns the DPRK test and will look for a strong 
statement from the GAERC.  Erte reaffirmed Latvia's strong 
support for Guatemala over Venezuela in the UNSC, but said 
Latvia lacked the diplomatic presence in the Middle East or 
Africa to lobby on this issue.  Erte concluded by saying that 
Latvia would support continued EU efforts to support AU and 
SADC activities to improve the humanitarian and social 
conditions in Zimbabwe. 
BAILEY