Baltic Sea border heavily politicized

RIGA- The issue of the Latvian-Lithuanian sea border treaty has been politicized too muchaccording to Lithuanian PrimeMinister Gediminas Kirkilas.

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

"Now, it is Latvia'sturn. I think, this issue has been politicized too much. It probably became asubject of election campaign or something like that... Our position is quitesimple -- Latviamust ratify the treaty just like we did, and then it will be possible to set upvarious groups that can tackle various issues," Kirkilas said.

The Lithuanianprime minister also voiced surprise over Latvia's concerns and hesitation toratify the treaty.

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

Lithuania has already ratifiedthe border treaty that was signed nine years ago, but the Latvian parliamenthas only passed the document in the first reading.
Since the treaty was notratified 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 compromisethat had been reached with Lithuania.
The Economics Ministry and geologists, meanwhile, argued that it was necessaryto conclude an agreement on economic cooperation in the economic zone and thecontinental shelf of the Baltic Sea toregulate potential oil exploration works in this territory.

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

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