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“We are looking forward to recovery” – Latvian president
Published: 07 June, 2010, 09:58
Edited: 07 June, 2010, 22:59
TAGS: EU, Crisis, Politics, Europe, Crisis Chronicle, Baltic states, Economy
Latvian President Valdis Zatlers believes that the biggest task towards stabilization of the economy and Latvian financial system is complete, but the goal to recover and get back to growth has not been achieved yet.
In 2014, Latvia will join the Eurozone as planned, and there are no obstacles that could possibly interfere, shared the president. “I do not like the division: young members [of EU] and old members, big members and the small members, because the EU was created to be a common market for 500 million people and everyone has to benefit from that. For the small and open economy like Latvia, being in EU market is very important.”
“Of course there was some euphoria because of all the time catching up with the welfare level of the big states, but when the crisis come, we are in a position that we really also get the benefits of being in the EU, because our assistance was effective and very quick,” he continued.
“Frankly, there are no disadvantages [in joining the EU]. We are happy with what we have done, but we are not happy with our homework, how we managed our country and our economy in 2005-2008,” acknowledged Valdis Zatlers, adding that “the crisis now is a good chance to correct mistakes.”
The Latvian president assured that there is no loss of national identity for a small country like Latvia in joining the EU, because a person that belongs to Latvia also belongs to the Baltic and to Europe itself. “It is the 21st Century. We have to live in double-layer identities,” he added.
Answering a question about marches of the former Latvian Waffen SS in the country’s capital, Riga, Valdis Zatlers said that “we are living in a democratic state and have the freedom of free, peaceful assembly.” He pointed out that “if there would be any sign of Nazi ideology – they will be outlawed immediately. But we have the decisions of the court that they are peaceful assembly.”
Valdis Zatlers assured that there is no rise of nationalism in his country, because “in EU the diversity of nationalities is so high we should not speak about nationalism,” and that “in Europe we are all Europeans.”
The president believes that the situation with the Russian minority in the country, who do not have full citizens’ rights, has greatly improved over the last five years, and put forth the idea that the improvement of relations between Russia and Latvia lies in the field of security, saying that “we should really have the same goals in [the] relationship [between] Europe-Russia [and] Latvia-Russia.”
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3 comments
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"In 2014, Latvia will join the Eurozone as planned...." ....assuming the Eurozone still exists in 2014. Keeping a single currency amongst countries with quite different fiscal policies is not working and the Euro has only just started unravelling. It remains to be seen whether the populations of countries who spend more than they earn will accept the necessary fiscal constraints that are about to be applied. Certainly German taxpayers don't see why they should be made to work until 67 before retiring, in order to subsidise Greek public sector workers who retire at 55. The idea of |Germany deserting the Euro is popular in Germany, despite the attempts of politicians to discourage such views. As they have substantial debts with banks in Sweden and elsewhere, Latvia seems likely to be viewed in the same light as Greece, Portugal and other "problem" EU states. I think Latvia would be smart to keep their currency - it allows for the possibility for devaluation that discourages imports and encourages exports - something which helped pull Britain out of recession in the 90s.
I would like to express my appreciation to RT for publishing a lengthy article on a subject related to the Baltics that is factual and free of political barbs. Perhaps RT has noticed the radically anti-Baltic attitudes which most contributors to the Comments sections of Baltics-related articles display.While not as sophisticated as most Russian media output, their contributions nevertheless faithfully reflect the same underlying attitude of disparagement bordering on outright contempt, and the same disdain for facts that seem to characterize so much of Russia's media and official expressions regarding BAltic countris. Over many years the media has conditioned Russians and Russian apologists to consider such demonizing to be factual, justified and "normal", and this has set up a huge barrier hindering Russia to heal relations with the Baltics. Contrasting articles like the current one need to appear as the norm not just in foreign-language Russian media outlets, but much more importantly, in domestic Russian publications and broadcasts.
Check that off the list of tihgns I was confused about.