Russia-CE relationship in Latvian hands

RIGA - The tables have turned. After being on the receiving end of what has been a decade of criticism from Russia, Latvia now finds itself in an unusual position of power. Russia is depending on Latvia to stand up for it in the European community.

Latvian Foreign Minister Indulis Berzins, who is also currently acting as chairman of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers, returned from Russia on Jan. 19 where he met with human rights representatives and top Russian officials.

Key issues like Chechnya and the Russian minority in Latvia were discussed in Moscow, and Berzins also had a chance to improve Latvia's image in the Russian media, where it is somewhat tainted.

Berzins said at a press conference in Moscow that there are too many myths about Latvia in Russia. One dominant rumor is that Russian war veterans don't receive any state benefits while former Waffen SS men are more or less hailed as heroes.

"This is wrong. It doesn't happen in Latvia," the minister told journalists.

Upon his return to Latvia, Berzins said he was not out to attack Russia and would be as objective as possible in his report, which he is expected to present in Strasbourg, France before the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on Jan. 25.

"It is very difficult to predict how Russia will react to the report," the minister said, and added, "Russia should accept any decision of the Council of Europe courageously."

The report will be used, among other data, to decide whether or not to restore Russia's voting rights in the council.

Berzins declined to foretell what decision the council might choose, but he stressed that Russia should accept the decision no matter which way the pendulum swings.

"The official powers in Russia will view the assessment calmly and with understanding, because they themselves have no illusions," the minister said.

Berzins noted that there has been progress in Chechnya. In Russia he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin's special representative on human rights in Chechnya, Vladimir Kalamanov.

Kalamanov confirmed to Berzins that his office will continue to evaluate the situation in Chechnya and fight against human rights violations.

Berzins also met with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, who accepted an official invitation to visit Riga. But it's not decided as yet when Ivanov will come.

It may soon be possible to see Putin on Latvian soil. He has a standing invitation from Latvian President Vaira-Vike Freiberga. But the Russian president has a very tight schedule for now, Ivanov said.

While Berzins evaluates the situation in Chechnya on the assembly's behalf, Vike-Freiberga is trying to halt the assembly's monitoring of Latvia. She herself will go to Strasbourg on Jan. 25 to listen to the council's assessment.

"Latvia has been under appraisal for a lengthy period of time. All processes have been carefully followed," Freiberga told reporters Jan. 22. "We have been closely cooperating with experts from these institutions on amendments to our citizenship law, developing the naturalization procedure and amendments to our language law."

Latvia has been reproached for not ratifying Europe's Social Charter and the Universal Minorities Protection Convention. Latvia has also been recommended to encourage non-citizens to more actively seek Latvian citizenship through naturalization.

The parliamentary assembly's monitoring commission has hailed the amendments to the language law but has urged Latvia to continue dialogue with the non-citizen population on the introduction of Latvian as the only language to be used in secondary schools from 2004.

Latvia is the last of the three Baltic states where the assembly is still monitoring developments. This involves regular visits by officials from the Council of Europe, but Freiberga is convinced that this procedure will be over soon.

The monitoring was launched in 1997, following strong lobbying by Russian representatives who said that Latvia constantly violated the rights of its non-citizens.