Russia-Georgia conflict brings new challenges to EU-Latvia

Mar 04, 2009
TBT Staff

RIGA - Latvian officials, foreign political leaders and experts during the Baltic Black Sea Alliance's (BBSA) discussion held in Riga, reviewed democratic developments in Georgia and its Trans-Atlantic integration challenges.

Participants of the event agreed that the situation in the world after the Georgian-Russian conflict has brought new challenges, indirectly influencing the European Union (EU), including Latvia.

BBSA board chairwoman Sarmite Elerte opened the discussion and pointed at the similarities of the current situation in Georgia and the situation in Latvia during the Cold War, which makes the Georgia's situation easily understandable to Latvia. She was quoted as saying that Latvia knows well what it means to fight for its rights and how important active support is to Georgia and also to Ukraine in their way to integration in the Trans-Atlantic organizations, the EU and NATO.

Latvian Foreign Policy Institute director Andris Spruds compared the impact of the war in Georgia on the Baltic states and the EU with the Sept. 11 consequences in the US, underscoring that these events have raised many questions about the future perspectives not only of Georgia, but also of the EU, the western countries and further principles in cooperation with Russia and possibilities to guarantee security in the EU of the 21st century.

The European Union's special envoy to the South Caucasus region Peter Semneby underscored that the military conflict in Georgia was a test for security systems beyond the Georgian borders.

Semneby said at the meeting that the largest EU challenge after escalation of the Georgian-Russian conflict last summer was stabilization of the situation in the region and support to development of Georgia's economic and financial systems, attracting resources from international financial institutions.

The discussion was organized by BBSA, founded on Oct. 31, 2008. The organization unites noted politicians, media representatives, academics and representatives of non-governmental organizations. The organization aims to promote the integration of Georgia and Ukraine in NATO and the EU.

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