Latvia. Long-term stability will guarantee prosperity
POLITICS & ECONOMY WHILE EU AND NATO MEMBERSHIP ARE THE IMMEDIATE GOALS, LATVIA ALSO RECOGNIZES THE NEED TO CONSOLIDATE REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

ANDRIS BERZINS Prime Minister of Latvia: main priorities are EU and NATO membership

2002 marks an important year for Latvia as the country is expected to be formally invited to join both the European Union and NATO before year-end. According to Latvian Prime Minister Andris Berzins, EU and NATO membership represent two of the country's three main foreign policy priorities at the moment, the other being the maintaining of strong relations within the Baltic region. However, all three short-term aims are intended to contribute to the government's primary goals of long-term stability and security for the new republic. Mr. Berzins states, "Realization of these priorities is the way to achieve long-term sustainable development and long-term guarantees for the country. Every time I am asked why we need to join the EU or NATO, I give the same answer, 'Look at what has happened in Latvia in the last 100 years. The order of the state was changed three times. In 100 years, we had two revolutions, four nationalizations and denationalizations of property, numerous deportations to Siberia or Germany, and the list continues. It means that we have only had peace for 15-20 years, and then somebody came and said that our home was their home. It means that the main thing we want and need now in Latvia is long-term stability and security. We want to live in a peaceful and democratic environment and we want to use all the principles that are used by normal democratic societies."

Although EU membership is traditionally seen as an economic agreement and NATO a security-related involvement, the Latvian government contends that the two are strongly interrelated. Minister of Economy Aigars Kalvitis points out that Latvia's NATO membership is likely to help the country reap economic benefits in the sense of an increase in foreign investment. He explains, "If Latvia becomes a member of NATO, I think there will be big changes within our industry and also our investment structure since our security will then be guaranteed."

VAIRA VIKE-FREIBERGA President of Latvia: interested in maintaining strong relations with the U.S.

However, it is clear that the most important aspect of accession to the EU and NATO for Latvia is to become part of the vision and principles that both organizations stand for. Minister of Foreign Affairs Indulis Berzins comments, "The EU and NATO are two sides of the same coin. We can say that the EU is about economic prosperity and cooperation, and that NATO is much more about defense, and military and political cooperation but I really see these two processes as part of the same idea–to build Europe whole and free." Echoing these sentiments, Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga also stresses Latvia's interest in maintaining strong relations with the U.S. She states, "Americans should know that Latvians are their friends. After September 11, there were masses of flowers in front of the American embassy here. We feel for the American people and we support them. We have not forgotten that the U.S. was instrumental in maintaining international non-recognition of the annexation of Latvia in 1940 and we hope that it will once again spearhead the movement to ensure our safety for the next century and beyond. We certainly share the same values and priorities and we like to think of NATO as not just a military alliance, but as a common civilization."