Paternieki border checkpoint will not be closed; NATO forces to be deployed near border for military exercise

RIGA - The government will not consider the Interior Ministry's proposal to suspend operations of Paternieki border checkpoint on the Latvian-Belarusian border, however, allied forces will take part in military exercises near the eastern border, according to statements made to the media by Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs (United List) and Interior Minister Janis Dombrava (National Alliance).

Kulbergs told reporters today during a break in the government meeting that significant preventive measures would be taken in August by the Interior Ministry and the Defense Ministry to minimize the influx of illegal migrants crossing from Belarus into Latvia, which is also the European Union's external border.

The prime minister also emphasized that, in order to maintain national security, the government was considering all possible options for addressing the problem of illegal migration.

This means that closing the Paternieki border checkpoint is one of the options, although "we are not confirming this at the moment, as the flow of illegal migrants is not at that specific border checkpoint but elsewhere," said Kulbergs.

When asked to what extent economic considerations are influencing the decision not to close the Paternieki checkpoint yet, the prime minister replied that security was the primary concern.

Dombrava also confirmed that an agreement had been reached on even closer cooperation with the Defense Ministry and the National Armed Forces to prevent attempts to cross into Latvia from Belarus illegally.

"We are also evaluating various other options for how we can act to reduce this number [of illegal migrants] to zero," the minister said.

When asked to comment on the fact that the government has not yet decided on his proposal to close Paternieki border checkpoint, Dombrava replied that suspending operations at that specific border checkpoint was one of the options. At the same time, it is very good that the views of various institutions on this issue have been taken into account.

"It is not on the table right now, but it is one of several options we can consider," Dombrava added.

Speaking about the circumstances under which the government might revisit this issue, Dombrava said that similar decisions had been made in other countries when problems at border checkpoints escalated.

Kulbergs agreed, noting that it was necessary to assess which methods were most effective in achieving the goal. However, "we will never reach zero," he said commenting on Dombrava's opinion.

At the same time, the greatest effort must go into the use of technical means at the border. Information on the planned activities, which will also involve the National Armed Forces, will be provided later in August.

"In this regard, the defense minister has announced that exercises will also be conducted, and allied forces will be deployed much closer to the border. These military exercises will be used to strengthen the border," the prime minister emphasized.

The Defense Ministry informed LETA that several military exercises would be held in Selija and Latgale regions of Latvia in August and September. However, the exercises will not specifically focus on the prevention of illegal migration, said the ministry.

Technical problems identified last Friday at Paternieki have not been resolved but, according to information available to Dombrava, efforts will be made today to resolve them completely. The specific problems are reportedly related to mobile network coverage.

As reported, the Interior Ministry called on the government to suspend operations at Paternieki border checkpoint on Latvian-Belarusian border. If the government supported the ministry's proposal, it would effectively mean that residents and freight trucks would no longer be able to travel from Latvia to Belarus.

Paternieki is currently the only official border checkpoint on the Latvian-Belarusian border established along a highway. At the same time, Indra border crossing, which is used exclusively by freight trains, remains in operation. Passengers have been unable to travel to Belarus by air for several years now.

LETA also reported, technical malfunctions in the information systems have been observed at the Paternieki border checkpoint, making it impossible to conduct border checks.