Latvia and Russia

The text of the Latvian government's proposed political declaration has now been published in English on the Latvian Foreign Ministry's website:

Unofficial translation, Latvian draft

POLITICAL DECLARATION
ON THE FOUNDATIONS OF RELATIONS
BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA AND THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

1. The Parties express their readiness to promote wide-ranging co-operation and dialogue targeted at strengthening of mutual trust and understanding between both countries.

2. The Parties stress that the relations between both countries are based on such values as respect for the other Party's state sovereignty, observation of good neighbourly policies and practices, freedom, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights and individual freedoms.

3. The Parties confirm the importance of the Peace Treaty of August 11, 1920 signed between Latvia and Russia as a legally binding document, which not only defined the basic principles of relations between both countries, but also facilitated the strengthening of statehoods and international recognition of Latvia and the new Russia. The Parties believe that, regardless of the substantial changes that have taken place in international political realities and the international law after signing this document, the Treaty and the level of understanding as regards reciprocity, mutual respect and justice depicted in it has not lost its validity also today.

4. The Parties condemn the Non–Aggression Agreement signed between the USSR and Germany on August 23, 1939 and its Secret Protocols as part of those processes that led to the beginning of the Second World War, to subjugation of a large part of European nations and to a forceful transformation of the European political map. In this context the Parties take note of the December 24, 1989 decision, taken by the People’s Deputy Congress of the USSR in this regard. The Parties admit that that the signing of such territorially aggressive and illegal treaties represents a categorically condemnable practice, which has no place in the contemporary international relations. The Parties stress that for Latvia, the direct consequences of this Agreement were subsequent occupations by mutually hostile powers and a de facto loss of its statehood, as well as they stress that this tragic situation was further reinforced at the Yalta and Potsdam Conferences.

5. It is with deep regret that the Parties commemorate the First and the Second World Wars, the Russian Civil war, nazi crimes and the Holocaust, crimes of international terrorism, as well as Stalinist repressions in Latvia and Russia – the events that have taken millions of lives and are to be evaluated as tragic pages in the history of all the mankind.

6. The Parties believe that negative events in history must not serve as a burden for developing contemporary relations between countries. Experts and representatives of public at large of Latvia and Russia should not cease their efforts in evaluating - objectively and on the basis of true facts – the events of the 20th century, and by doing this – promoting further understanding between both countries. Simultaneously, the Parties are in agreement about the necessity to provide a political and internationally legal assessment of those regimes and ideologies that have been responsible for crimes against humanity – Fascism, National Socialism and Bolshevism, including the Stalinist crimes.

7. The Parties confirm their positions regarding the necessity of strengthening the role of the United Nations Organisation in the international events. The Parties stress the importance of strengthening international co-operation within the framework of the United Nations and its Security Council, particularly in fighting terrorism and in crisis management, and will continue to work closely together within the relevant UN structures un specialised institutions. The Parties share the opinion that the authority of the UNO and its Security Council should be based on their capability to increase their effectiveness in tackling the new challenges of the 21st century. The Parties admit that international action against terrorism should be based on unambiguous norms of the international law, as well as universal and regional agreements.

8. The Parties evaluate positively the changes that have taken place in Europe after the "Cold War". In particular, the Parties value the degree of commitment and solidarity that has, already since the middle of 1980s, united millions of people across Europe – their commitment to defending their ideals of individual freedom and justice and their commitment to implementing the forms of state governance corresponding to those ideals. The dynamic events that have taken place in Eastern Europe over the past fifteen years stand as a vivid testimony to the positive role these ideals have played for Europe as a whole.

9. The Parties confirm the historic role that the enlargements of the European Union and NATO have played in increasing the overall stability in Europe, as well as express their readiness to promote the development of partnership and deepening of co-operation between the European Union and Russia, as well as co-operation within the framework of the NATO–Russia Council. The Parties particularly stress the importance of broadening the political dialogue, strengthening the common fight against international terrorism, non-proliferation activities, peacekeeping and crisis management, arms control and confidence building measures, and commit themselves to advancing theses objectives, including within the frameworks of their institutional membership.

10. The Parties confirm their interest in strengthening bilateral relations and in developing bilateral legally binding basis that should increase co-operation between the countries. To this end, the Parties stress the necessity to sign and ratify those agreements that have already been technically prepared between the two countries.

11. Signing of the Agreement on the State Border between Latvia and Russia was an event of a true European significance and it is bound to become an important investment in the overall European co-operation process, particularly bearing in mind the EU–Russia co-operation in the field of justice and home affairs.

12. The Parties confirm their readiness to seek solutions to the unresolved social and economical issues that have occurred to the residents of both countries after May 4, 1990.

13. The Parties stress the importance of intensifying bilateral practical co-operation, especially in the areas of trade, science and technology, energy and transport, and will pay particular importance to the possibilities for implementing this goal provided by the Latvian–Russian Intergovernmental Commission.

14. The Parties will encourage implementation of joint initiatives in the Baltic Sea area and stress their readiness to develop further sub-regional and cross border co-operation projects.

15. The Parties commit themselves to creating favourable climate for the development of bilateral trade, increase of mutual investments and to the defence of entrepreneurship and private property. Membership of Russia in the World Trade Organisation would be highly beneficial towards reaching these goals.

16. The Parties will pay particular attention to the issues of co-operation in the areas of transit and energy and express their mutual readiness in working together on the Baltic Sea transport and energy infrastructure projects. The Parties stress that joint initiatives in this area should be based on the principles of mutual benefit and free and fair trade practices.

17. The Parties will encourage co-operation on environmental issues, including a long-term monitoring of the sea. Latvia and Russia commit themselves to participation in environmental projects and prevention of ecological crises.

18. The Parties express their interest in strengthening bilateral efforts in the area of home and justice affairs. Such activities should include developing infrastructure of border crossing points, raising the quality of co-operation between border guards, customs services and other relevant structures, including fighting crime and smuggling on the border as well as illegal immigration. The Parties agree that the signing of a bilateral Readmission Treaty would strongly contribute to reaching these goals.

19. The Parties stress the importance of cultural co-operation and express their readiness to facilitate the return to either the Republic of Latvia or the Russian Federation of those cultural values and archive documents that, as a result of historical developments, were relocated and are currently found on the other Party’s territory.

20. The Parties reiterate the role of the international law and international organisations in ensuring and defending the rights of persons belonging to national minorities. The Parties agree to pay particular attention to the preservation and development of the uniqueness and heritage to people belonging to national minorities in both Latvia and Russia.

21. The Parties confirm their legal and moral obligations in fighting all forms of racism, Anti-Semitism and xenophobia.

22. The Parties confirm their commitment to advancing the role of the OSCE in the international and European politics through focusing in particular on solving "frozen conflicts", ensuring free and fair elections and protecting human rights.

23. The Parties stress the role of the Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) and importance of fulfilling all obligations under the Treaty. The Parties commend all those countries, not yet parties to the Treaty, who have expressed readiness to join it after the adapted Treaty enters into force.

24. The Parties agree to expand co-operation within the framework of the Council of Europe on the basis of the commitments each of the Parties took upon themselves when joining this organisation.

25. The Parties will broaden the practice of consultations on topical international political issues and will continue to co-operate in all international bodies on issues of mutual interest.

Holding a firm belief that the achievement of the goals declared above will facilitate the relations between both countries in the interests of both peoples and in accordance with the new international political realities and will promote the observance of the international law and development of universal and regional agreements,


For the Republic of Latvia

For the Russian Federation

(via scb)