VZCZCXRO5962
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHRA #0570 2621444
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 181444Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY RIGA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5248
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS RIGA 000570 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL MOPS EUN RS GG LG
SUBJECT: Latvia/Georgia - countering Russia; deploying in EU 
mission 
 
Ref: A) State 98030 B) Riga 492 
 
¶1. Latvia has not directly countered Russian claims of genocide in 
South Ossetia, but senior officials have always rebutted it when 
asked.  According to MFA contacts, Latvia prefers to work through 
international organizations to counter such claims rather than risk 
a bilateral spat with Moscow in which Russia inflames the issue of 
ethnic Russians living in Latvia.  PM Godmanis has said that he 
believes an international investigation should examine these Russian 
claims. 
 
¶2. Following the September 15 GAERC decision to deploy an EU mission 
to Georgia, Latvia decided to send five people, drawn from both the 
Defense and Interior Ministries, to participate in the mission. 
 
LARSON