Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga is surprised that Latvian-Russian relations have such a slow progress despite determination shown by both countries.
In an interview to the Latvian public radio on Sept. 1, president said that during her last negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin a year ago, both officials agreed that exchange at the level of ministers and prime ministers should be organized between both countries, and "it would be good to forward a number of agreements."
"It is surprising that both parties are so ready to forward things, and how is that possible that there is no progress. However, one should never lose patience in politics," said Vike-Freiberga.
She said that Latvia should also show readiness to sign agreements with Russia. "At the moment we have something significant to do, Latvia will be ready to invite Russian president for an official visit as a neighbor," said the president, when asked about Russian president's possible visit to Latvia.
Vike-Freiberga noted that no participation of Russian representatives is planned for the NATO summit this fall. "NATO secretary general has already announced that only member countries will participate in the summit, and thus guests from other countries will not take part in the summit," she said.
Asked whether Putin might visit Latvia before the end of her term in the office in the middle of next year, the president said that "the time is short, and such visits need long preparations, so I cannot offer any detailed information."
Asked about the possibility to sign the border treaty, Vike-Freiberga said that it is the authority of politicians and foreign ministers.
"The arguments heard from the Latvian Foreign Ministry and Russian Foreign Ministry are still in force and therefore I think that both foreign ministries should continue negotiations and find a solution," said Latvian president.
"Latvia has declared that it has come to a legal deadlock. If the country says that it is at legal deadlock, how can anything move further? Our politicians should find a way out of the deadlock, at the same time keeping on negotiations with Russia. We have told our partners in Europe that we are ready to sign it. Russia also has said that it is ready to sign it," said the president.
Latvian-Russian relations had several significant events happening in the past few months. Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis met with his Russian counterpart Mikhail Fradkov in Iceland in early summer and talked with the Russian president in St.Petersburg. Russian ex-president Boris Yeltsin visited Latvia in late August.
Several Latvian-Russian draft agreements in different fields are to be signed. In June draft agreements on economic cooperation and principles for the work of inter-governmental commission have been coordinated in Moscow.
