VZCZCXRO4959
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHRA #0535 2480744
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 040744Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY RIGA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5213
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS RIGA 000535
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM LG
SUBJECT: LATVIAN RESPONSE ON NON-GEORGIA TOPICS FOCUSED ON
GEORGIA (GYMNICH)
REF: SECSTATE 93272
Latvian response to reftel demarche on non-Georgia topics was
reserved, as they described their priorities for the Gymnich
meetings as "Georgia, Georgia, and Georgia." PolEconOff
delivered reftel points to Kristaps Brusbardis, European
Correspondent for the MFA Policy Directorate. Brusbardis
said that Latvia will push for any revisions in the EU
Security Strategy to reflect threats emerging from the crisis
in Georgia, including a more active role in other potential
crisis areas in the post-Soviet republics. On transatlantic
relations he expected Latvia's focus to remain on areas of
cooperation. Regarding the Middle East Peace Process and
Afghanistan, he suggested Latvia would follow EU concensus.
He did not expect Serbia to be discussed at the Gymnich
meeting.
LARSON