"Latvia: modern-day challenges in domestic and foreign policy", Foreign Minister's speech at Stanford University in San Francisco on 21 September 2005

Over recent years Latvia had achieved its foreign policy goals of becoming a member state of the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Country currently faces a new challenge - determining its foreign policy goals for the future. The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working hard on identifying the foreign policy spheres requiring Latvia's attention and active involvement.

Now Latvia is establishing an active role for itself in connection with the reform of international organizations. Latvia is an example of a country, which in recent years has experienced significant changes and has achieved remarkable results. The country has gained valuable experience in how reforms should be carried out to promote further development. Latvia has already actively voiced its position with regard to the UN reforms, believing in the necessity of changes both to the UN Security Council and to the Human Rights Commission to improve the work of the organization.

Changes are also required in the EU structures, in view of the two serious problems recently experienced by the organization – the failure to adopt the Financial Perspective for the next seven years and the EU Constitution. These two problems indicate that the new member states were more prepared for the EU enlargement process than the 'old' member states. During the last decade much of the Baltic state's efforts have concentrated on making reforms required to join the European Union and NATO. With these historical goals achieved, the country can use its experience and energy to help both longtime European Union members Reform of corporate taxation, pensions and health care—issues discussed with much bitterness in France and Germany—already has been passed in Latvia. I believe there is chance for an exchange regarding our experience as a small country in the EU. Latvia is the most dynamic country in the most dynamic European region—around the Baltic Sea.

Previously Latvia was a recipient of assistance during its democratization process. The moment has now come when Latvia can pass on its experience and knowledge to other countries and international organizations. Latvia has carried out a number of reforms which the 'old' European Union member states are yet to face, and the country's experience can also be shared with other newly developing countries such as Georgia and Moldova. Byelorussia is important for us too, because it is our neighboring country. If European Union and USA wants to get success in theses countries, Latvia can be as a bridge and help to understand their culture and traditions. Good project can fail only because it is not adapted to concrete country and Latvia can offer its help.  I am convinced that EU and USA must work together in this field.

Latvia would like to work with its neighbors based on mutual understanding, promotion of development and through negotiation. Latvia does not wish to challenge Russia but instead to develop a mutually beneficial neighborhood policy. We don't want to be seen as a troublemaker, as somebody who unnecessarily is willing to challenge the role of Russia in the region. We are neighbors. If something wrong happens with Russia, we will be the first to be affected. But a relationship between neighboring countries should be based on equality and common interests. We cannot tolerate that kind of policy we very frequently see today where Russians regard our territory, our population as their historical belongings. Russia's political elite must accept that Latvia, which regained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, is a sovereign state.

Latvia's ethnic Russian minority makes up about one-third of the country's 2.3 million population. Only 57 percent of the country is ethnic Latvian; other groups, in addition to Russians, include Belarusians, Ukrainians and Poles. Some observers have criticized Latvia for its citizenship laws that have excluded many Soviet-era immigrants and non-Latvian speaking residents. But about three-quarters of Latvia's Russian population came to the republic after it was occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940, including about 20,000 retired Soviet military officers. Since 1993, Russia has decided it can use this population for its own political interests. The Russian-language media in Moscow and St. Petersburg, which are largely state controlled, negatively influence the mindset of Russians living in Latvia. As an open society, Latvia cannot halt the flow of pro-Russian propaganda but it causes many problems among non-Latvians: Some of these people are torn apart; they don't know what to do.

Since Latvia joined the European Union and NATO many ethnic Russians have realized it is in their interest to learn the language and become loyal citizens. As a result a third of this group will choose to become Latvian citizens; a third will never join until Russia changes its attitude toward the former Soviet republic; and the remaining third, mostly older people, will fail to make any choice and eventually will pass away.

This year we ratified so called minority convention and I think that this is great success for us, because there is no place for debate anymore.

While Latvia regards itself as European first, we also value strategic partnership with the United States. If it were not for America, we would not be in NATO and would not have regained independence. Membership in NATO is important for us because we see NATO as a guaranty for our freedom and independence. We are very interested to organize a NATO summit in Riga next year. And it would be a really good signal for Latvia and other new NATO member states.

What concerns to Iraq, we understand the aim why NATO soldiery is there, and therefore we take part. We do not want as Russians to stay in Afghanistan we want to leave when there is security in the region. It seems that we will prolong our mandate in Iraq for a year.  

If we talk about economic activities we can see that Latvia develops, investments are coming in our country but we could do more and we are still waiting for small support. We have a great potential and I think that Latvia is on a right way.