Second Round of NATO-Latvia Accession Negotiations Concludes [11 Dec 2002]

On 11 December 2002 the second round of negotiations between Latvia and NATO on Latvia's accession to the Alliance took place at NATO Headquarters in Brussels. The Latvian delegation, approved by the Cabinet of Ministers, was headed by State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maris Riekstins. Discussions on defence issues were led by State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence Edgars Rinkevics, on financial issues by Under-secretary of State of the Ministry of Finance Inguna Sudraba, and on security issues by Deputy Director of the Constitution Protection Bureau Uldis Dzenitis. The NATO delegation to the talks was chaired by NATO Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs Günther Altenburg.

The aim of the second round of negotiations was to ascertain Latvia's readiness to undertake the commitments set out in the North Atlantic Treaty on NATO co-financed activities and programmes, and to involve its experts in NATO's common civic and military structures. Issues related to the protection of classified information were given special attention. Latvia expressed its readiness to undertake the necessary organizational measures to guarantee protection of NATO's classified information.

In addition to the afternoon's plenary session, a meeting of NATO and Latvian defence planning experts was held in the morning on the enhancement of the structure of armed forces, along with a meeting with NATO security experts. On 12 December more detailed discussions between Latvian and NATO experts are expected on the legal aspects of Latvia's accession to NATO.

Accession negotiations will continue with the elaboration of a Reform plan, which the Latvian delegation will discuss with the Senior Officials Committee of the 19 NATO member states on 4 February 2003.

(end of text)