The West launches Baltic defense plans

RIGA- Western partners have launched preparation of the Baltic defense plan. The plan is not however a response to Russia's military aggression in Georgia.

Latvian Defense Minister Vinets Veldre confirmed in an interview with Latvian daily Diena that such a plan has been launched before the events in Georgia.

The minister declined to reveal whether this plan is being prepared together with NATO or any alliance's members, saying that it is a state secret.

 The NATO press service reported that there had been no such discussions.

Defense Ministry's spokesman Edgars Rinkevics underscored that NATO at present has no such plans as during the cold war, therefore the new member states have been left without any defense plans.

 
He declined to name any principles which should be included in the new defense plans.

"Conclusions have been drawn in spring when we received information about large-scale military exercise in Northern Caucasus," said the minister.

Meanwhile, Rinkevics said that Latviahas to seriously consider possibilities of cyber-attacks.

Former Latvian ambassador to the UN Aivis Ronis noted that closer Baltic cooperation in air-defense and closer military cooperation with Nordic countries should be promoted.