'We must be ready for the worst'-Ambassador to NATO

BRUSSELS 's The Latvian ambassador to NATO is urging Latvia tobe ready to act against terrorism.

 "The threat of terrorism in Latvia isa broad issue, but from the military point of view, Latviamust be ready to respond to the worst case scenario," Latvian ambassador toNATO Janis Eichmanis said.

When asked if internationalterrorists pose a threat to Latvia, the Eichmanis said:

 "You know, I would like to answer thisquestion with a question. Did anybody anticipate anything like this before theSeptember 11 events in the US? Did anybody anticipate anythinglike this before the economic crisis, even in the worst nightmare?

However, the NATO diplomatstated that in order to be prepared, one must assume the worst.

"That's human nature. Ifsomebody says the worst is possible, he is unlikely to be heeded. That's thehuman nature. But it is the task of security experts to assess the threats.Security experts must assume that the worst in possible and actaccordingly."

Eichmanis quoted former USDefense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, saying that '"There are things we knowthat we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say there are things that wenow know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are thingswe do not know we don't know." It is important to analyze the direction ofdevelopments to lessen our ignorance,' the ambassador said.

Eichmanis has been the permanent Latvianrepresentative to NATO since 2006.