Russian ambassador: "Influential forces" harm Latvian-Russian relations

  • 2006-08-22
  • TBT Staff
Russian ambassador to Latvia Viktor Kalyuzhny told the Latvijas Avize daily that there were "influential forces" harming relations between Latvia and Russia in a piece published on Aug. 22.

"As we all know, political contacts on the highest level have remained frozen in recent years," Kaluzhny said, referencing a recent meeting between Latvian and Russian prime ministers. "These latest developments have prompted many observers to speak about a 'thaw' in the relations between our countries."
"At the same time, unfortunately, not everybody in Latvia is ready for this. Moreover -- there are influential forces at work who are not interested in normalization of these bilateral relations."
Kalyuzhny answered claims that the meetings were the result of Western pressure.
"However, I have said it repeatedly and would like to reiterate one more time that the meetings of the prime ministers of our countries both in Reykjavik and in St. Petersburg can and should be interpreted as Russia's interest in building mutually beneficial and normal neighborly relations."
In co-operation with BNS