Latvian Government Endorses Anti-terrorism Measures

The Latvian government endorsed Tuesday a program of anti-terrorism measures worked out at the proposal of US Secretary of State Colin Powell from his letter to Latvian Prime Minister Andris Berzins of September 24. This long-term program of a terrorism preventive campaign inside the country and assistance to relevant world efforts plans over 60 activities aimed at reinforcing the security of strategic facilities and frontier control, enhancing air communication safety and preparing the population for emergency situations. Besides, amendments will be introduced into the laws on state security institutions, on prevention of money laundering and on the lending institutions, a move to bar Latvia from financing terrorists. Latvia also intends to ratify a number of UN conventions on international anti-terrorist battles to cooperate closely with other countries, above all the United States and neighboring states, including Russia. It is wider contacts with Russia in this sphere that Colin Powell has called Latvia for in his message. He noted that Russia should be an integral part of a united and free Europe.