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31 August 2008 marks ten years since the Skrunda Radio Location Station terminated its operations. On this occasion, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins has sent a letter of congratulations to members of the Skrunda Joint Commission expressing his gratitude to everybody who was involved in the implementation of the Skrunda agreement.
On 30 April 1994, the Republic of Latvia and the Russian Federation signed an Agreement on the Legal Status of the Skrunda Radar Station (RS) during its Temporary Operation and Dismantling. The monitoring of the implementation of the Agreement was carried out by a trilateral Joint Commission consisting of representatives from the sides of Latvia and Russia, and from the OSCE. Seven inspections by the OSCE confirmed that Latvia and Russia have fully complied with their commitments.
"Taking advantage of the occasion, I would like to congratulate you all on the 10th anniversary of this event. It was in fact the termination of the radar transmitter operations that meant discontinuation of the military functions of the facility. It was precisely this achievement a decade ago which meant that one of Russia's strategic defence facilities would no longer be able to continue its military operations.
I believe that a crucial role in the strict implementation of this agreement, starting from the day of its signing to the completion of demolition and the withdrawal of military personnel, was performed by the Skrunda Joint Commission and representatives from Latvia, as well as by professional and responsible efforts of all the involved officials. Therefore, allow me today to express my most sincere recognition and appreciation to all of you, to the people who were directly involved in this work, and to thank you for your contribution, enthusiasm and highly professional actions," Minister Riekstins emphasizes.
After the operations of the transmitter were terminated, the dismantling of the Skrunda Radar Station commenced, with completion on 29 February 2000.
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