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Excellencies!
I welcome you here today in my new capacity as Prime Minister of Latvia. I have assumed office at a time when we are approaching a major turning point in the life of this country, and this gives me a heightened sense of responsibility to ensure that our efforts are understood and acknowledged by our friends and partners overseas.
I know that you are following the current events in Latvia with great care and interest, and that you have only the best wishes for Latvia. You have made this country your home for several years and you have been able to observe first-hand how fast progress takes place in Latvia.
11 years ago Latvia finally broke free from the Soviet system of Communist rule, a command economy and isolation from the West. Today we have reached the doorstep of the European Union and NATO, and we intend to do our part to become full and active members of both in the year 2004.
NATO and EU membership will give new definition not only to our relations with the current member states, but also with our neighbours and other partners outside these bodies. The experience that we have gained in preparing for membership will benefit other states with similar aspirations.
Obviously we are well aware that we still need to make further improvements in many fields. In particular, my government is focussed on creating transparency and weeding out the corruption that keeps us from reaching our full potential. There are many honest and hardworking people in the police, the courts, the customs – and we want to encourage them.
In short, I am determined to do everything within my power so that Latvia will soon be known in the world as a highly developed, prosperous, progressive country, as a member of both EU and NATO. Much has been made in the Latvian press in recent days about my views on these foreign policy goals. I think this is a good opportunity to reassure you, and to speak very directly.
Some of you are concerned about the upcoming referendum on joining the EU. The Latvian government has a difficult challenge to inform the Latvian public about the positive implications of joining the EU and to sway the opinion polls in Latvia in favour of EU membership.
I believe the government should not be perceived as forcing the EU on the Latvian people. It is not my job to tell the Latvian people how to vote. I believe it is my job to provide them with the information so that they can make their own choice. If my government does its job properly, the majority of Latvians will vote for EU accession.
At the same time, I believe the European Commission and the EU member states will have a large influence on the outcome of the referendum. People in Latvia will not vote to join a European Union that is perceived as having created a two-tier system. They have to be convinced that the terms of Latvia’s accession to the European Union will include a fair balance of rights and responsibilities.
Excellencies,
To our return to the family!
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