LM Report 2001

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LATVIA

Mine Ban Policy

Latvia has not signed the Mine Ban Treaty, but as in previous years has stated that it “is fully aware about the global problem caused by the anti-personnel landmines (APLs) and welcomes the efforts of the international community to stop the use of this weapon and, eventually, to eliminate all planted and stockpiled APLs. Although having not yet signed the Ottawa Convention, Latvia does meet the requirements of the Convention and in no way aggravates the problem of landmines.”^[1] Similar sentiments were expressed by the Latvian President in a letter to the United Nations Secretary-General on 5 May 2000, adding that the country’s position “should be viewed within the regional context, having in mind that not all the neighboring countries have acceded to the Ottawa Convention.”^[2]

In January 2001, the Baltic International Center for Human Education wrote to Defense Minister Girts Valdis Kristovskis urging him to initiate Latvia’s accession to the Mine Ban Treaty. The Defense Ministry’s response was then discussed with Normunds Peterkops, Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Defense, who said that the letter had been considered and passed to the Ministry’s Department of International Relations. He added that the Estonian and Finnish experiences are being examined to indicate the consequences of Latvia joining Amended Protocol II to the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW). At present, “the potential use of landmines is still considered as a tool to defend the national territory. Not having any other means, Latvia should have a right to keep such a tool, until other alternatives are provided.”^[3]

Latvia did not attend, as an observer, the Second Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty in September 2000. In December 2000, for the first time, a Latvian delegation attended the intersessional Standing Committee meetings in Geneva, but Latvia did not attend the Standing Committee meetings in May 2001.

At the UN General Assembly in November 2000 Latvia voted in favor of Resolution 55/33V, which calls for universalization and full implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty. Latvia has voted for similar UN resolutions in previous years.

Latvia has not yet ratified CCW Amended Protocol II. The Ministry of Defense is currently examining technical issues with a view to possible ratification.^[4]

The official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs newly responsible for monitoring the Mine Ban Treaty praised Landmine Monitor Report 2000 as a good source of information on mine-ban issues.^[5]

Production, Transfer, Stockpiling and Use

In May 2000, Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga repeated previous assurances that Latvia does not produce antipersonnel mines in the following terms: “anti-personnel landmines are not produced or manufactured in Latvia. Latvia maintains no active mine fields at the borders or elsewhere. Latvian national export control authorities prohibited the export of all types of mines already in September 1995.”^[6] The prohibition of export or transfer of landmines is again included in the Strategic Goods list,^[7] in force from 15 March 2001.^[8]

No further information has been provided on the size of Latvian stockpiles, previously reported by different officials as containing either 20,000 or 4,500 antipersonnel mines.^[9]

No new use of mines in Latvia has been reported, but criminal use of explosives continues (at a lower rate in 2000 than in previous years, but encompassing major incidents nonetheless).^[10]

Landmine Problem and Mine Action

There is significant contamination by mines and other explosives from World Wars I and II and from the Soviet occupation, estimated to cover an area of 100,000 hectares (1 billion square meters).^[11] One area severely contaminated is the Cekule suburb of Riga, the capital, where one young man was killed and another severely injured in July 2000.^[12] In September 2000, two mines and a grenade were found near Paparde train station in northeastern Latvia.^[13]

The joint Norwegian-Latvian project to set up an Explosive Ordnance Training Center progressed, with completion of project-documentation in 2000, and around US$500,000 was received from Norway for the purchase of equipment. The Center plans to open in 2004.^[14] In 2000, a special explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) unit of twelve persons was trained in Norway, who will participate in international mine clearance operations after certification. Further units will be sent for training in 2001 and 2002.^[15] The mine awareness project initiated by the Baltic International Center of Human Education in 2000 attracted attention from interested organizations in Germany and Sweden.

^[1] Report of the Latvian Delegation to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), 7 February 2001, p. 2.
^[2] Letter from Vaira Vike-Freiberga, President of Latvia, to Kofi Annan, UN Secretary-General, 5 May 2000; this is repeated in the Report to the OSCE, 7 February 2001, p. 3.
^[3] Interview with Normunds Peterkops, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Defense, Riga, 15 February 2001.
^[4] Interviews with Dina Podvinska, Regional and Arms Control Departments, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Riga, 28 November 2000 and 16 February 2001, and with Guntis Aizporietis, Ministry of Defense, Riga, 5 April 2001.
^[5] Interview with Dina Podvinska, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Riga, 16 February 2001.
^[6] Letter to Kofi Annan, 5 May 2000. See also Landmine Monitor Report 2000, p. 830.
^[7] According to an email from Dina Podvinska, Latvian Foreign Ministry, 18 June 200: “In Regulation on Control of Strategic Goods, ‘Strategic Goods’ are defined as goods, materials, equipment, technologies, software and services which could be used for the production, delivery etc. of nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction, or could threatening the peace and stability (armament) and these goods are subject to export control. The latest version of the lists of strategic goods was adopted by decision of the Committee (Control Committee of Strategic Goods) on 14 February 2001. By the decision of the Committee (National Export Control Authority) the lists of dual-use goods has additional Category 10 - National Lists. This category contains also antipersonnel mines. According to these Lists export and transit of antipersonnel mines are banned.”
^[8] Interview with Dina Podvinska, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 16 February 2001.
^[9] See Landmine Monitor Report 2000, p. 830.
^[10] Telephone interviews with Krists Leiškalns, State Police Press Centre, 5 May 2000 and 5 March 2001.
^[11] Report to the OSCE, 7 February 2001, p. 3.
^[12] Kristine Kalnina, “Nelaimes gadijumi Cekule var atkartoties” (Accidents in Cekule May Repeat), Rigas Balss, (Latvian daily newspaper), 14 July 2000.
^[13] Gaida Liepina, ”Pirms banisa svetkiem Paprdes stacija atrod divas minas” (Two Mines Found in Paparde Station Before Train Festivity), Diena (Latvian daily newspaper), 13 September 2000.
^[14] Interview with Guntis Aizporietis, Ministry of Defense, Riga, 5 April 2001. See Landmine Monitor Report 2000, pp. 831-832 for details of mine clearance resources.
^[15] Telephone interviews with Dina Podvinska, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Guntis Aizporietis, Ministry of Defense, 14 May 2001.

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