VZCZCXYZ0005
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHRA #0684 2551238
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 121238Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY RIGA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4341

UNCLAS RIGA 000684 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR G, DRL/SEA, AND NSC/DEMOC 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PREL LG
 
SUBJECT: LATVIA: PRESIDENT'S HUMAN RIGHTS ROUNDTABLE AT 2007 UNGA 
 
REF: STATE 125456 
 
¶1. 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 additional assistance to Ukraine, 
Belarus, Afghanistan, and Kosovo.  The country wants to use its own 
post-Soviet experience to support democracy in the neighborhood and 
promote respect for basic freedoms.  Latvia has an Embassy in 
Georgia and hopes to open one in Moldova as well.  Moldova opened an 
embassy in Riga at the end of 2005. 
 
¶2. The GOL's democracy and human rights agenda focuses specifically 
on Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, and Belarus.  Following are several 
examples of projects the GOL plans to fund in 2007 to promote human 
rights, encourage the development of civil society, and strengthen 
democracy. 
 
Georgia: 
 
-- Encouragement of an active and strong NGO sector (two projects) 
 
--Support for improvement of Georgian judicial system in the 
framework of international law 
 
--Encouragement of civic participation for stronger governance 
 
Moldova: 
 
-- Development of democratic civil society and a strong NGO sector 
(two projects) 
 
Ukraine: 
 
-- Developing the Role of NGOs in implementing democratic governing 
principles 
 
Belarus: 
 
--The GOL provides funding for 4 Belarusian students to attend 
university in Latvia who, for political reasons, are unable to study 
in Belarus. 
 
¶3. Post works closely with the GOL to support these initiatives and 
to coordinate them with USG efforts in the same countries.   In 
January, Post partnered with the GOL to host members of the Georgian 
parliament in Riga for discussions with the Latvians on a host of 
issues, including human rights.  Because Latvia has hands on 
experience as an emerging democracy, and because as a small country 
their initiatives on these issues can be less intimidating, Latvia's 
leadership in encouraging the development of democracy and the 
protection of human rights has been particularly helpful. 
 
BAILEY