New storm brews over sea border

RIGA - A disagreement over the sea border between Latvia and Lithuania, which has remained unsolved since negotiations began in 1993, took a turn for the worse last week. The head of the Latvian Fisheries Association, Inarijs Voits, returned from a meeting of fisheries officials and industry representatives in Vilnius claiming that a Lithuanian official had threatened to use force against Latvian vessels fishing in a contested area.

Voits reported the comments by Jonas Paskonis, deputy director of the Lithuanian Ministry of Agriculture's fisheries department, after the meeting on May 15. In unofficial discussions in Vilnius, Paskonis threatened to use warships against the fishermen, who regard the disputed 500 square kilometer area as part of their traditional fishing ground, said Voits. Lithuania ratified a treaty establishing a new border between the two countries' economic zones in the autumn of 1999, but Latvia has so far delayed ratification.

Voits rejected criticisms of his comments made by Latvian Prime Minister Andris Berzins, who was of the opinion that making such extreme comments public was unnecessary and could only undermine relations with Lithuania.

"It's a very negative development when a neighboring country makes statements like this," said Voits. "Latvia cannot possibly ratify the border treaty. Our two sides are coming from absolutely opposite positions."

Lithuanian Foreign Ministry's spokesman Petras Zapolskas denied that the comments had been made.

"Our officials never mentioned using the navy. We can solve all these problems with our neighbors around the table. We had quite a satisfactory meeting, which clarified both sides' positions."

Lithuania has rejected Latvian proposals for an additional cooperation protocol, which would allow its fishing vessels to continue to operate in the zone.

"We must separate the fishing problem from Latvia's ratification of the border treaty," said Zapolskas. "The border treaty should be ratified."

As evidence of what he said pointed to Lithuanian foul play Voits cited information from the Baltic Sea Fisheries Commission. It says that last year Lithuania exceeded the quota of cod its vessels are allowed to catch in the Baltic Sea by 33 percent.

"If they break their international obligations, it means they'll also break agreements with Latvia," said Voits.

The Vilnius meeting followed a similar one in Riga on May 9. The meetings were instigated by Berzins and his Lithuanian counterpart Rolandas Paksas after a summit meeting of the prime ministers of the three Baltic countries in February.