Pabriks does not exclude possibility that ambassador to Belarus could be recalled :: Charter'97 :: News

Speaking to reporters, Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks (People`s Party) neither denied nor confirmed today that Latvian Ambassador to Belarus Maira Mora could be recalled. Pabriks is planning to meet with Mora in the near future, and will make a decision after the meeting.

"I want to know what she told the Foreign Affairs Committee`s members, which is the reason why I called her to a meeting," Pabriks said.

Every ambassador from Latvia represents his/her country, but the ambassador must also show respect for the countries they work in, Pabriks said.

Pabriks will also speak to the Foreign Affairs Committee`s members who participated in the meeting with Mora.

Pabriks will meet with Mora to hear her reaction to Saeima left-wing deputies` allegations of financing for Belarussian non-governmental organizations allotted from Latvia`s national budget.

What was discussed at the last meeting of Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee, which took place while Pabriks was not in Latvia, has caused a misunderstanding, Pabriks told LETA. The Foreign Affairs Ministry has not financed any Belarussian non-governmental organizations, no such financing is envisaged in the ministry`s budget, Pabriks stressed.

The Latvian State Television`s newscast "Panorama" reported that Belarus had demanded Latvia explain the ambassador`s statements. According to Pabriks, two statements made by Mora were incompatible with diplomatic language.

Deputies from left-wing parliamentary groups earlier said they would demand Pabriks explain whether state money was used to finance non-governmental organizations in Belarus.

Mora allegedly told the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee last week that Latvia financed Belarussian non-governmental organizations, as deputy Aleksandrs Golubovs (Latvia`s Socialist Party) reported.

The Foreign Affairs Committee`s deputy Oskars Kastens (Latvia`s First Party) denied to LETA that Mora had said during the committee`s meeting that Latvia financed any non-governmental organizations in Belarus.