Latvia plans to contribute 4,666 lats (6,666 euros) to the Trust Fund for Georgia of the NATO Partnership for Peace program to expand a demilitarization project. To provide the contribution, Latvia will sign a deal with the NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency (NAMSA).The Latvian Defense Ministry, whose draft resolution will be presented at a meeting of state secretaries on Nov. 27, noted that Georgia is one of NATO partners receiving Latvia's support in defense reforms and cooperation. Given the recent military conflict between Georgia and Russia, the Baltic states have proposed expanding the project in order to find and destroy explosives that remain in Georgian territory in the wake of the conflict. It will cost a total of 20,000 euros to expand the project.
According to a recent survey by DnB NORD Bank, most of Latvia's residents are aware of the ways to lead an environment-friendly life, yet more than a half of them fail to pursue this lifestyle due to a variety of practical obstacles. The conclusion from the survey was that the majority of the population knows that sorting one's waste, using shopping bags made of paper or fabric, consuming natural products and abstaining from use of private cars would contribute to a cleaner environment but less than a half of them take these actions on a daily basis. There is a 20 percent gap on average between what a green person should do and what the respondents actually do on a daily basis. Walking on foot, riding the bicycle or public transport instead of a private motor vehicle, as well as preference for paper or fabric bags over plastic bags were mentioned among the green activities that the respondents practice most frequently (47.4 percent and 42.9 percent respectively). About half of the respondents said they did not sort waste due to the absence of waste sorting containers near their homes. Another 9.4 percent reported finding waste sorting inconvenient.
The government plans to substantially cut spending of state institutions at the end of the year, putting a stop to trips, premiums, Christmas parties and paper Christmas greeting cards, according to documents of a government meeting. The Finance Ministry has prepared proposals to ministries and other state administration institutions on cutting expenditures in November and December, and the government plans to decide on these proposals on Dec. 3. When signing agreements on services or goods for 2009, no advance payments are to be made in 2008. Trips to seminars, conferences, training and experience exchange trips will be fully banned, unless the host covers 50 percent of expenses or expenses are covered by the EU funds or other foreign financial assistance resources. State institutions at the end of the year will have to maximally reduce administrative costs. The restrictions do not refer to expenditures financed from emergency resources with particular orders of the government or the finance minister to meet international liabilities, implementation of state budget investment projects, including EU political instruments and other foreign assistance projects, financed from revenues for paid services and other self-revenues or foreign financial assistance revenues or resources meant for payment of social benefits, social insurance benefits and pensions.
