Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage thanked Latvia for its "courageous efforts" in Iraq and Afghanistan and said the United States will remain "a reliable and steadfast partner."

Speaking at a news conference in Riga with Latvian Prime Minister Indulis Emsis following their meeting, Armitage said Russian President Vladimir Putin's September 13 announcement of a sweeping political overhaul "seems to be out of step with the way that we had hoped that Russia was heading — that is, to a much more open and democratic society."

Prime Minister Emsis praised relations between the two countries on common efforts such as stabilizing Iraq and fighting terrorism, and he noted that the Saeima -- the Latvian parliament -- had supported the participation of Latvian forces in Iraq with a majority vote.

September 14, 2004
Riga, Latvia

TRANSCRIPT OF PRESS CONFERENCE WITH LATVIAN PRIME
MINISTER INDULIS EMSIS AND U.S. DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE RICHARD ARMITAGE

State Chancery

Latvian National TV: Please tell us what issues were discussed at the meeting?

Indulis Emsis: We discussed cooperation between the United States and Latvia — the positive results stemming from the great stability of our relationship and our long-standing cooperation on various issues, including our common efforts to fight terrorism in the world. I also mentioned the recent vote in the Saeima [Latvian parliament] where we supported the participation of our forces in Iraq with a majority vote. We discussed issues related to economy and education, as well as further support to strengthen Latvia's military capabilities and promote cooperation in other areas, including NATO air policing and many others. We reaffirmed that the United States will support Latvia in this partnership. We owe much gratitude to the United States for our independence, economic and military development.

Richard Armitage: For our part, I was very pleased to be able to thank the prime minister and through the prime minister the people of Latvia for your courageous efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan and also to prove that we are going to be a reliable and steadfast partner with Latvia. I have offered to the prime minister and his colleagues to be one hundred percent open and clear on our policies in the region and beyond. I think it's very important that Latvia have a full understanding of what the United States is doing and what we are thinking, and to that end I've made it very clear that in the Department of State in the United States we are open 24 hours a day for business with Latvia.

Latvian National TV: Are you promising any military assistance to the Armed Forces of Latvia for the campaigns and operations against terrorists?

Armitage: I don't want to reduce the courageous efforts of the Latvian Armed Forces to dollars and cents, but the short answer is yes. I had brought some money with me to make available to the Ministry of Defense. Each year in our appropriation we will continue to have money for the Latvian military. In addition to that, in Iraq we have helped with the equipment support and with individual solders' equipment.

Associated Press: Is the State Department concerned about Vladimir Putin's announcement yesterday about the consolidation of power?

Armitage: I saw the announcement. I have not studied it, but it appeared to me that Mr. Putin was announcing that he would not have popularly elected governors but rather appointed ones. This seems to be out of step with the way that we had hoped that Russia was heading—that is, to a much more open and democratic society. But I haven't looked carefully into his entire remarks.

Latvian daily Diena: There are continued concerns that Latvia is fighting corruption too slowly. Did you discuss these concerns during this visit?

Armitage: Yes, we did discuss this, particularly wanting to be attentive to the banking industry. This was related to what we call terrorist financing in the global war on terror.

Latvian National TV: You also mentioned education. What exactly did you discuss?

Armitage: The prime minister made it very clear that there are many Latvian students who would like to study in the United States, and that we should find a way to make it easier for them to do so. We also have programs in which we offer scholarships to Latvian students, and I believe it is fair to say that the prime minister would like us to increase the number of those that we provide to Latvians. The prime minister was very strong on this, as well as very strong on the need for more direct investment from the United States — something that we'd like to do.

Latvian National TV: What about the possibilities of visa free traveling?

Armitage: Without a visa fee? The prime minister did raise this with me. I said I thought it very unlikely that visas would be issued free — but I could understand the bad feelings that might come when people pay money for a visa and then are turned down and don't get their money back, so that's something we have to look at.

Thank you.