Baltic Sea border heavily politicized

Jun 04, 2008
In cooperation with BNS

RIGA- The issue of the Latvian-Lithuanian sea border treaty has been politicized too much according to Lithuanian Prime Minister Gediminas Kirkilas.

In an interview with Latvian public radio the Lithuanian premier noted that Lithuania has already ratified the agreement.

"Now, it is Latvia's turn. I think, this issue has been politicized too much. It probably became a subject of election campaign or something like that... Our position is quite simple -- Latvia must ratify the treaty just like we did, and then it will be possible to set up various groups that can tackle various issues," Kirkilas said.

The Lithuanian prime minister also voiced surprise over Latvia's concerns and hesitation to ratify the treaty.

"Why is it impossible to ratify the treaty, if the border will remain unchanged anyway," Kirkilas said, adding that he does not see any rational reason for any government to revise the accord.

Lithuania has already ratified the border treaty that was signed nine years ago, but the Latvian parliament has only passed the document in the first reading.
Since the treaty was not ratified in the parliament, it now has to undergo a full legislative circle, from the government to the parliament.

The Latvian Foreign Ministry once regarded the signed treaty as a compromise that had been reached with Lithuania.
The Economics Ministry and geologists, meanwhile, argued that it was necessary to conclude an agreement on economic cooperation in the economic zone and the continental shelf of the Baltic Sea to regulate potential oil exploration works in this territory.

The ratification of the document in the Latvian parliament was also hampered by the protests of Latvian fishermen who feared they might lose their traditional fishing territories.

These concerns, however, were dispelled after the two countries joined the EU, which allowed fishermen of both countries to fish in each other's territory.


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