Patch the hole in the border

An agreement between Russia and Latvia may be signed in March

Yesterday, Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga signed a law that gives the government of the republic a mandate to sign the border agreement with Russia, initialed back in 1997, without additions that Moscow considered unacceptable. The law will come into force in 14 days.

The law adopted by the Sejm on February 8 no longer refers to the Peace Treaty between Russia and Latvia of 1920. This means that the border treaty with Russia is freed from hidden claims to the Pytalovsky district of the Pskov region, which before the war was part of Latvia and had the Latvian name Abrene. Riga was going to sign a border agreement with Moscow back in May 2005. But in addition to it, the Latvian government adopted an explanatory declaration, which indirectly pointed out the Abrene problem. Moscow perceived this as an advance of territorial claims and refused to sign the border agreement.

Vaira Vike-Freiberga endorsed the document without delay, emphasizing that the government must conclude an agreement with Russia as quickly as possible. This could happen as early as March. It is assumed that the agreement will be concluded at the level of prime ministers - Mikhail Fradkov and Aigar Kalvitis.

Against the backdrop of the upcoming signing of the agreement, Russian-Latvian relations as a whole have noticeably intensified. Yesterday it became known that in mid-March there will be a meeting between the chairmen of the Russian-Latvian intergovernmental commission - Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin and Latvian Finance Minister Oskar Spurdzins. And this month, Latvian Transport Minister Ainar Slesers may meet with Mr. Levitin.

Political scientist and director of the Latvian Institute for Russian Studies Kārlis Daukšts noted to Vremya Novostey that “Latvia is being gently but persistently pushed to sign the treaty by the European Union, which wants to close the hole in the border once and for all.” According to the expert, the parties will successfully sign the border treaty, but problems in both countries may arise when parliaments must ratify the document. “Both in Latvia and Russia there are political forces that will try to use this moment. The debates in the Sejm that preceded the adoption of the law were very emotional, and the main battle is still ahead. Let's not forget that March 16 is approaching - a very controversial date for Latvia (on this day the Waffen SS legionnaires are commemorated in Latvia - Ed. ) This always gives political forces in Russia food for statements regarding Latvia. So the ratification stage will be difficult and many more words will be said,” Mr. Daukshts noted to VN.

Danuta DEMBOVSKAYA, Riga