“Even though Latvia is free and independent, that does not mean that Latvia is alone”

By Thorsten Chr. Pohlmann. Freelance Journalist.

It had been cold in Liepāja, with temperatures just below the zero degrees Celsius. A bright late autumn sun searched it’s path into the auditorium of the University of Liepāja as Judith G. Garber – U.S. Ambassador to Latvia – arrived to hold a speech on national and international security issues.

In her speech, Garber reminded the faithful periods Latvia went through before the country regained its independence back in 1991.

“Fortunately, the occupation is over. In a few days we will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. That great event helped set in motion the renewal of Latvia’s independence.” yet “I am proud” she said “that the US never recognized the Soviet occupation of Latvia, and that we continued to host your diplomats in Washington through the entire occupation.”

During the last 12 month, Latvia’s Economy contracted by double digit numbers and is believed to fall by 18% by the end of the year on a year to year basis. As a result, the country is undergoing some major changes that are putting strong burdens on social cohesion.

“Even though Latvia is free and independent, that does not mean that Latvia is alone” she said “The United States and Latvia are close friends and the United States stands by Latvia in this time of economic crisis.“

The Embassy is currently working to encourage new investments in Latvia “I believe that the bilateral cooperation between Latvia and the United States could be further intensified”.

Ambassador Garber mentioned also Latvia’s commitment within NATO “serving together with the Michigan National Guard to train Afghans forces” and fighting in the most dangerous regions within Afghanistan, side by side with US Troops.

“We give our highest respect to the Latvian soldiers that have paid the ultimate price in Afghanistan” she said.

Just weeks earlier, Russia and Belarus held some major military exercises in the Baltic Sea Region. The maneuvers renewed old fairs within the baltic states about Russia. The president of Lithuania, Dalia Grybauskaite, requested NATO “contingency plans” for the Baltic States.

They are full members of the alliance and active providers of security within the framework on NATO and other Missions, Grybauskaite said, “We deserve to have security guarantees and concrete defense plans for our countries”.

Within the baltic States, some people are questioning the war in Afghanistan and the commitments of NATO to help the baltic States in time of trouble. Though Latvia hopes to expand its mission by next year, in Lithuania there have been real considerations to withdraw from Afghanistan. “

This is likely also the case in Estonia when we see higher number of casualties” said a participant during the Riga Conference 2009.

“There have been casualties and there will no doubt be more casualties in the future. But too much is at stake to abandon Afghanistan to the Taliban. We must demonstrate honor, courage and resolve. Latvia’s history shows us how important fighting for freedom is” Garber said.

“we are improving the lives of the Afghani people” and with “accomplishing our goals in Afghanistan (we) will greatly enhance our own security.”

“We should never forget the tragedies that took place under the Taliban regime” the Ambassador emphasized “Today, where the Taliban once ruled, we are building the foundations of a representative government in Afghanistan.”

“Since the fall of the Taliban, Afghanistan has drafted a new constitution … , held democratic elections and Afghans are just beginning to taste the freedom that Latvia and America now have” while “Under the Taliban, only 900,000 boys – and no girls – attended school. Today, over 6 million children are in school and about 2 million of them are girls.”

Remarkable is the drop in infant mortality and the access to general health care. “Today, over 80% does have access to health care, and the infant mortality rate has dropped by 22%.“

Yet, there is a long way to go and there have been set backs. “Al Queda still exists in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan” the Ambassador recalled.

Today people are questioning if the real problem could found at all within Afghanistan, or that the roots of the problem are in the Indian – Pakistan conflict and the Kashmir region. As a Latvian politician and Afghanistan Expert noticed “Afghanistan is just part of a bigger triangle, and Pakistan and India are important elements of that triangle as well”

“Afghanistan will also help create a stable and prosperous Pakistan, by denying radical militants a base from which they can destabilize Pakistan” Garber noticed during her speech “al Qaeda and its extremist allies are a cancer that risks killing Pakistan from within.”

“A stable Pakistan is in turn vital to a prosperous and peaceful India and security on the Indian sub-continent should be of great concern to nations everywhere, because the possibility of an unstable nuclear-armed state or a nuclear conflict is terribly frightening.”

“NATO’s performance will prove that NATO is a capable, experienced and unified alliance that has the resolve to make difficult choices and finish what it started, not only in Afghanistan, but in Europe” The importance for NATO to succeed in Afghanistan is for Latvia and the baltic States particular important as they have still disputes and unsolved issues with Russia. “ any future enemy of NATO will be deterred.”

The scope and magnitude of Garbers speech at the university of Latvia was for some of the students overwhelming. The call for questions from the audience resulted in a long silence. Leaving the impression that “Students Liepaja are the shiest” Garber said, who had to change an earlier comment that Students from Latvia do not differ from Americans Students.

Later that day, the Ambassador visited the Holocaust Memorial at the northern outskirts of the City, just meters away from the beach. A strong wind blowed over the dunes, the temperatures dropped way below the freezing point. A surreal monotonous moaning of the near by water treatment plant was as disturbing as the toll of the many victims of the past occupations.