Zatlers critical of pig ignorance

RIGA -- Latvian President Valdis Zatlers has criticised Interior Minister Mareks Seglins over an outburst during which he called Britons "pigs."

Speaking on public radio, the president said the behaviour of some specific individuals would never make him speak critically of a country and its residents in general. "Of course, they represent a country, and maybe their behaviour is not in line with what is acceptable in their own or our country. They have to respect our laws, but that does not mean we can call them names," Zatlers said.

He also pointed out that the Freedom Monument is Latvia's most sacred symbol and "we must make sure that nobody insults our symbol and our patriotic feelings."

Offensive statements, however, cannot be helpful in any way and the issue has to be dealt with by choosing "correct words", Zatlers added.

The latest case of boorish behaviour resulted in a five-day sentence for a Briton who relieved himself on the monument.

Last week, the British embassy in Riga released a statement expressing resolve to continue their "Responsible Tourism" campaign to rein in rowdy British tourists in the Latvian capital.