On 7 March 2003 Latvia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sandra Kalniete sent a letter to Secretary General of NATO Lord Robertson, together with Latvia's Reform Implementation Plan for membership of NATO, approved by the Cabinet of Ministers on 4 March 2003.

In the letter, the Minister looks back with satisfaction on Latvia's recently successfully concluded negotiations on accession to NATO, which it commenced as the first candidate state following the invitation received from NATO Heads of State and Government in Prague on 21 November 2002. The letter points out that these negotiations have demonstrated both the Latvian government's interest and readiness to take on its commitments under the Washington Treaty, and Latvia's compliance with NATO requirements. Ms Kalniete confirms Latvia's intention to become involved in NATO military structures and collective defence planning, and to participate actively in the full range of NATO missions. The financial resources allocated from the state budget for this purpose are adequate for Latvia to fulfil the obligations it has assumed.

The accompanying Reform Plan encompasses all the areas in which Latvia needs to continue work and deals with political, economic, defence, resource, information security and legal issues. In the areas of political and economic reform, Latvia undertakes to continue combating corruption, actively promote societal integration, strengthen its administrative resources and pursue an economic policy that would guarantee sufficient resources for the development of national defence capabilities.

On defence reform, Latvia undertakes to continue strengthening the ability of the armed forces to deploy and maintain units on missions abroad, capable of interoperating with forces from NATO countries in joint operations. Latvia also seeks to strengthen its ability to cooperate with Allied forces, both within the territory of the Alliance and beyond its borders.

The Reform Plan also outlines the main tasks for ensuring the security of classified NATO information through enhanced protection of paper-based documents and electronic information and a more thorough screening of personnel. Latvia undertakes to adhere to the agreements regulating Alliance operations as stipulated by the Washington Treaty. These regulations refer, for example, to the status of military personnel and headquarters in NATO member states.

On the issue of resources, Latvia undertakes to maintain defence expenditure at 2% of GDP.

Accession negotiations will officially conclude on 26 March at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, when the signing of candidate country Accession Protocols is scheduled to take place. The Ambassadors of NATO member states and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the seven invited countries, including Latvia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sandra Kalniete, will participate in the signing ceremony. The Protocol is to be subsequently ratified in the parliaments of NATO member states.

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