After two hours of deliberation Latvian lawmakers on May 17 passed the bill on the ratification of the Latvian-Russian border treaty through its final reading. The long-awaited border treaty, which was inked in Moscow on March 27, was ratified with 70 votes to 25.
The treaty will take effect after its ratification by the Russian parliament and after both sides have exchanged ratification documents. Russian ambassador to Latvia Viktor Kalyuzny predicted that ratification of the treaty by Russia's Duma might be completed by the end of June.
The treaty has not been without controversy however.
The nationalist alliance For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK (TB/LNNK) and center-right New Era party both submitted proposals regarding the bill ahead of the reading. These proposals were ultimately rejected but each one of them prompted heated debates among MPs.
Dzintars Rasnacs, an MP from TB/LNNK, called on parliamentarians to add an explanatory declaration to the border treaty, saying that the proposed "document is extremely correct, legally precise and diplomatically relevant."
Karlis Sadurskis from New Era, for his part, reproached the government and Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis for their haste in pushing the ratification without waiting for the Constitutional Court's ruling on the legitimacy of the treaty. The MP said the government wanted to "conclude the agreement at all costs" neglecting its legitimacy.
Boriss Cilevics, an MP from the leftist Harmony Center, as well as Vents Krauklis from the ruling People's Party, slammed New Era for opposing the ratification in order to get into the government and gain popularity.
Latvian Foreign Minister Artis Pabriks, who also addressed the parliament, reiterated his call for the ratification of the treaty, underscoring the need to reinforce the border. The minister also pointed out that Russia's position in relations with the Baltics and Latvia in the longer run could be predicted.
"We do not know how much time we have to conclude this border treaty successfully," Pabriks said.
Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis said after taking the floor that the ratification of the document is essential in Latvia's relations with its international partners.
Former New Era leader Einars Repse, meanwhile, compared the positions of Latvia and Estonia in their relations with Russia, adding: "I am ashamed for the Latvian government."
Initiators of the border treaty bill note that the signing of the document will "facilitate the solution of several issues concerning economic development. The treaty will lay foundations for improvements on the Latvian-Russian border." Although the existing border is functioning, settling the legal issues would help upgrade and improve its infrastructure, as well as resolve the legal problems authorities encounter at the border.
The Latvian Constitutional Court earlier rejected a request by the opposition New Era party to suspend the ratification before the court had ruled on the treaty's legitimacy.
Constitutional Court chairman Gunars Kutris told the press that the decision had been made because the court is not allowed to interfere with legislative procedures, therefore the court is not entitled to suspend the ratification process.
