Cablegate: Latvia Appreciates U.S. Role in Haitian Relief

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OO RUEHIK
DE RUEHRA #0042 0251451
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 251451Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY RIGA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6255
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS RIGA 000042

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PREF EAID ECON HA LG
SUBJECT: LATVIA APPRECIATES U.S. ROLE IN HAITIAN RELIEF

REF: A) SECSTATE 6918 B) RIGA 31

1. (SBU) MFA Head of the Americas and Caribbean Division Dace
Rutka told us the Government of Latvia appreciated the role
the U.S. had played in assisting Haitian authorities and our
support and collaboration with the UN to provide assistance
to the people of Haiti. She appreciated receipt of ref A
points, and said she expected Latvia's Finance Ministry would
soon transfer Latvia's own contribution of 15,000 Euros (ref
B). Latvia has undergone a severe economic contraction,
losing over 20% of its GDP over the past two years. The
national budget has been cut back severely, under the terms
of agreements with the IMF and other international lenders.

2. (SBU) The has been little coverage of the Haitian
earthquake and international relief efforts in Latvian media.
What coverage there is has remained factual.
GARBER

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