Two OSCE Permanent Council decisions on Russian-Latvian agreements

VIENNA, 23 February 1995 - The OSCE Permanent Council adopted two important decisions at its session on 23 February 1995:

- Rules and modalities for the regime of OSCE inspection on the implementation of the agreement between the Government of the Republic of Latvia and the Russian Federation on the Skrunda radar station during its temporary operation and dismantling;

- A decision on an OSCE representative and alternate representative to assist the implementation of the Latvian-Russian Agreement on the social welfare of retired military pensioners and their family members.

Both decisions are based on the Russian-Latvian Agreements signed in April 1994, which are due to enter into force shortly.

The negotiations were marked by a businesslike and positive spirit, by a desire to achieve a common position in a constructive and co-operative mood. The decisions reached will affect positively the general political situation and stability in the region. It is also hoped that they will speed up the entry into force of the Russian-Latvian Agreements.

The agreed documents - by themselves major transparency and confidence-building measures - are a clear expression of a political will of the most interested parties to co-operate as well as of the OSCE's readiness to contribute to this process. They constitute a new development of the OSCE's possibilities in providing for OSCE inspections of a foreign radar installation as well as for OSCE active participation in following up the implementation of a bilateral agreement in the human dimension sphere.

The OSCE is prepared to provide the necessary support for the speedy implementation of the agreements, i.a. by appointing the OSCE representatives and establishing the list of inspectors without delay.