European Union member states' justice and home affairs ministers will decide on establishing a Joint EU Resettlement Program, reports LETA. "Migration policy is among the priorities of the Swedish EU Presidency, taking in consideration the large number of asylum seekers in Southern Europe," Saeima Committee Chairwoman Vaira Paegle (People's Party) said. There are currently 10 EU member states carrying out resettlement. Interior Minister Linda Murniece (New Era) said Latvia supports the program, but, insists on participation in the program being a voluntary choice. The minister pointed out that at the moment Latvia would find it very difficult to take in any resettled persons as this would create additional strain on its already tight budget.
Latvian Defense Minister Imants Liegis expresses concerns that the Russian Parliament has passed, in its first reading, an amendment to its defense laws, which would legitimize a Russian invasion of its neighbors, reports LETA. The defense minister believes that by passing such amendments, suspicions arise on Russia's attempts to legalize military actions, such as last year's invasion of sovereign neighbor Georgia. Liegis says that "Such a decision does not contribute to mutual trust and cooperation." On Sept. 15, NATO fighter jets on patrol intercepted and had to escort a Russian military plane out of Latvian airspace. Liegis said this was Russia's move in trying to evaluate "our ability to react." German flyboys are currently patrolling Baltic airspace. The NATO Council has already extended the alliance's patrol of Baltic airspace until 2014.
Even though this year is a year of austerity measures, taxpayer money is still not being used properly in public administration, says Auditor General Inguna Sudraba, reports LETA. The State Audit Office is conducting a number of investigations to determine how well taxpayer money is being used in public administration, "but we can see already that public institutions have been cynical and irrational, even at a time when nationwide austerity measures have been announced," said Sudraba. She declined to enlarge on the results of the findings, as they are ongoing and will be completed in October. Sudraba said she "insists that the prosecutor's office take action [on the 2008 report], as there is enough information to hold someone responsible," she said.
