Remarks by Ambassador CatherinRemarks by Ambassador Catherine Todd Bailey to the Press At the release of the Riga Freeport Report, September 12, 2006

September 12, 2006
Riga Castle

Press Statement As Prepared

Madam President, Prime Minister Kalvitis, Minister Peters, Mayor Aksenoks, members of the media.

I think we have come out of a very good meeting this morning in my reporting to all of you about the U.S. Department of State's six- member team of experts that were here in Riga the week of March 13th of this year. This team was sent under a report by the U.S. Senate committee on appropriations relating to the foreign operations, export financing and related programs appropriations act, 2006. This visit was called a bilateral exchange of best practices and it demonstrated our two countries sharing ideas and working together to address common challenges and further better cooperation. The report on the Riga free port that is publicly released today, and this grant from the United States trade and development agency, are excellent examples of such cooperation.

The team that was here greatly appreciated you madam president, the government of Latvia, especially the prime minister, the ministry of transport and the Riga municipal government all placing high priority on enhancing the efficiency, security, and the growing economic opportunity and viability of the port, which they rightly consider to be an extremely valuable national asset. To put it bluntly as I read the report, and, if I may say so, they see that you are sitting on a potential gold mine for your country. However, there are certain measures that need to fall in place.

In a post 9/11 world transportation security is an essential component of the overall effort to combat terrorism—both to protect our citizens and economies. As NATO allies, it is natural that we work together to help secure key strategic assets such as our ports. You will find in the report specific recommendations to help implement Riga Freeport security and transparency. The money that is being issued to Latvia today, close to $400,000 dollars by USTDA, is an example of how the United States is working with partners around the globe to improve port security and to assist in helping strengthen overall governing procedures. Since 2001, the United States trade and development agency has provided close to 12.5 million grants to 14 countries, including one of your fellow Baltic countries, Lithuania. That project was completed in 2005. Some of this global funding has been granted to some of your neighbors in Lithuania in the past year as well.

So I am very pleased today to be able to officially present to the ministry of transport this grant from the united states trade and development agency that will help the ministry develop an integrated master port security plan for not only the Riga Freeport but for Ventspils and Liepaja as well.

In closing, I would like to thank the government of Latvia and those officials present today for their close cooperation on this issue. I look forward to further cooperation between the United States and Latvia.