Latvia to Back Up US in War Against Iraq

Latvia will back up the United States in the war against Iraq even if it is not authorised by the United Nations, Latvia's President Vaira Vike-Freiberga said speaking on the national television. She believes that most European countries will do the same, including the now hesitating Germany and France.

Vike-Freiberga explained the need to back up the US war against Iraq by saying that the United States was "most supportive of Latvia." Vike-Freiberga said that she respected the opinion of Latvian intellectuals who had condemned the war against Iraq. However, the President said she must act "in the country's interests." Latvia intends to send its Armed Forces representative for coordinating the country's actions in the planned military operation in Iraq. In Mid-February, he is to leave for Florida where the US Armed Forces Central Headquarters are located for co-ordinating operations in the Middle East, namely Afghanistan and Iraq.