• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

The Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia Minister of Defence As a result, the world already knows Latvia by Girts Valdis Kristovskis name. Th e Latvian people are valued as gift ed and skilled professionals. Th ey are valued not just as equal soldiers, but also as equal Every state and society is charged with the professionals and representatives of national essential and complex task of providing government or business. Th e results achieved stability and security. Th is endeavour demands during Latvia’s advancement towards full-fl edged huge resources and relies on the eff ort and NATO membership can be seen as Latvia’s professionalism of many people. Th e Ministry trademark, perhaps even as a certifi cate of of Defence (MoD) is the leading state institution quality. Th e development of our national defence in Latvia working to ensure that this goal is system and the National Armed Forces must, achieved. Th e MoD implements the security therefore, be continued with stout determination and defence policies set by the government so that Latvia can prove itself an equal member and it is responsible for the effi cient dispatch among NATO nations and provide a substantial of those activities required to enhance the contribution to the international security National Armed Forces (NAF) and their military environment, especially among the Baltic States capabilities. and in the region of the Baltic Sea. As the re-establishment of the Latvian defence Reconsidering the above-mentioned ideas about system only began in the last decade of the achievements made in the fi eld of defence, I previous century, the structure of the NAF is would like to stress that these achievements are being continuously improved and this process the result of the determined, patient, systematic must be pursued consistently. Th e public’s trust and hard daily work of many people. Th erefore, I in the reliability of Latvia’s national system would like to take this opportunity to once again of defence is gaining year by year, as does thank all of our partners for their co-operation the certainty that the security of the Latvian and support in helping us to reach the goals that people is sure and their future prospects are are so vital to our state! sound for the fi rst time in recent history. Th e main reason for this growing certainty is our I invite you to familiarise yourself with the rapid advancement towards membership in the tasks associated with Latvian defence to better international collective security system. understand the many-sided activities of the MoD and to gain assurance of the high degree of Th e activities aimed at integrating our national professionalism and accountability witnessed in defence system into European and trans-Atlantic its daily work. I believe that this new knowledge security structures bring certain indirect benefi ts. will cultivate a positive attitude towards the Preparatory activities have strengthened the Latvian state! Latvian state and increased the public’s readiness for membership in the family of democratic nations, while concurrently increasing Latvia’s We have traveled a long way to bring Latvia responsibility for global processes. Th ey have into the family of secure and responsible nations. also increased the national level of confi dence, which is required for the stability, security and The seminar “Defence Reform in the Baltic States”, We should be proud to have been the ones to blaze this trail. development of Latvia. June 2003 (fi rst from the right G. V. Kristovskis) Ministry of Defence are implemented by the Ministry of Defence, the structures to tackling the security issues associated integration into NATO, the increased amount of State Secretary institutions subordinate to it and the National with classifi ed information. Th ird, the Ministry work that has resulted, and the establishment and Armed Forces. Th e scope of this work is and the National Armed Forces must work on strengthening of the Corps of Latvian Military Edgars Rinkevics determined by our invitation to join NATO, the preparing our NAF units for deployment in Attachés and Representatives abroad. As the key Reform Implementation Plan and the Declaration NATO operations. Experts from their respective to the success of our staff , a great deal of attention In the last few years, the level of responsibility on the Work of the Cabinet of Ministers from fi elds will provide more details on this process is paid to personnel policy. A plan of training taken on by the MoD has increased substantially. November, 2002. First, the MoD must work later in this booklet. When the Ministry of opportunities and possible careers is developed In order to implement the planned tasks of rigorously to improve its legal base, the most Defence was established at the end of 1991, aft er for each employee. Along with NATO integration, national defence as stated by the government, the essential documents of which are the new Draft Latvia had regained its independence, it was one the work on NATO documentation and MoD develops an Annual National Programme. National Defence Concept and the Development of the smallest ministries in terms of staff . As far international contacts will increase. Also, several Th e activities of this Programme comply with Plan for the National Armed Forces. Second, there back as 1998, there were only 94 people employed representatives of the Ministry will be transferred the NATO Membership Action Plan of Latvia, is work to be done in preparation for full-fl edged in the Head Offi ce of the Ministry. Now, there to work in the Latvian Mission to NATO and the NATO Reform Implementation Plan and the NATO membership – from sending personnel to are 180 civil and military people on our team. NATO structures; therefore, special attention is Priorities and Tasks Stated by the Minister and work in the Latvian Mission to NATO and NATO Th is is directly related to our state’s practical paid to foreign language training. E. Rinkevics at a meeting of the leadership of the MoD, May, 2003 An Inter-agency meeting at the MoD, June, 2003 (on the left). The Ministry of Defence is proud of its stable staff of personnel, with most of its staff working long-term. The members of our team are characterised by their professionalism, accountability, a creative approach to their work and a willingness to develop and broaden their fi eld of vision. The Procedure for Issuing Legal Documents The State President promulgates laws passed by Parliament The Presidium forwards the laws passed by Parliament to the State President for promulgation After thorough review, the draft laws are adopted in several readings Draft laws approved or issued by the CoM in accordance with Paragraph 81 of the Latvian Constitution are submitted to Parliament. Parliament decides to forward each draft law to the appropriate committees and defi nes the committee in charge, or rejects the draft law Dz. Rasnacs Draft legal documents are submitted to Legislation through intense work to ensure the compliance the CoM for approval. In accordance with The Mobile Infantry Training Centre in Parliamentary Secretary Dzintars Rasnacs of Latvian legal documents with NATO co- Paragraph 81 of the Latvian Constitution, Adazi in May, 2003. operation principles. the CoM may issue regulations Th e basis for the implementation of the goals In the near future, there will be several by act of law and tasks defi ned by the Latvian Defence and clarifying amendments made to the laws and Security Policy is an accurate legal base in full regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers (CoM) The draft legal documents are harmonised compliance with international law. stipulating the status and operation of the with the state administrative institutions Legislation stipulates that national defence Latvian Armed Forces. A lot of things will defi ned in the meeting of the MoD State Our determined work on should be based on the political and conceptual depend on the new Defence Concept and the Secretary and also, in many cases, with improving our legal base statements of the government and the MoD. planned structure for the coming years. non-governmental organisations Since the early 90s, when Latvia started to demonstrates our serious establish its military system, our military MoD experts prepare the legal documents attitude towards the doctrine and structures have developed rapidly. (draft laws and draft regulations implementation of national Th us, enhancing our legal base is a continuous of the Cabinet of Ministers (CoM)) process. I would like to emphasise that, during defence policy. the last four years, a lot has been achieved Development Planning of system along with the development of self- development, the basic principles of the system’s National Armed Forces must be ready to react the Defence System defence capabilities. Th erefore, our goal is to further development and guidelines for the effi ciently to both changes in the international purposefully improve our defence system to development of the NAF. security environment and new types of threats Director of the Defence Policy and Planning Department ensure that Latvia becomes an effi cient member Th e priorities for the defence system’s (organised crime, international terrorism, Sintija Visnevska of the Alliance as soon as possible. development, which are based on available biological weapons). Th e planning of Latvian defence is based fi nancial resources, are defi ned annually in the Th e continued enhancement of the state’s Aft er becoming a full-fl edged member of on a range of documents, which are revised in Annual National Programme. Th is process helps level of readiness is essential to prevent any NATO, Latvia will be responsible for upholding accordance with amendments to the Latvian us to complete all of the activities required for kind of threat, overcome risks and deal with all one of the organisation’s most essential Defence Strategy or changes in the international incorporation into the NATO collective defence possible catastrophes.

Load more

  14

Copy Link