RIGA, Oct 17 (LETA) – The influence of Ventspils Mayor Aivars Lembergs and the People’s Party (TP) rank-and-file member Andris Skele on the processes in Latvia is being exaggerated, as Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis (TP) said in an interview on the “Latvijas Neatkariga televizija” television’s broadcast “900 sekundes” this morning.
“You can well see that these two persons do not participate in any processes. Mr. Skele has as much influence as any other member of TP,” said Kalvitis.
Commenting on U.S. Ambassador Catherine Todd Bailey’s speech, where she mentioned “instructions from unelected officials in the clouds [Skele] or down by the sea [Lembergs]”, Kalvitis explained that the alleged influence of Lembergs and Skele is being exaggerated all the time in Latvia, which is why the ambassador could have such an impression.
RIGA, Oct 17 (LETA) – The conflict between Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis (People’s Party) and Corruption Prevention Bureau Chief Aleksejs Loskutovs is damaging to the nation’s interests, and Saeima, in voting on Loskutovs, will have to be “politically responsible”, believes President Valdis Zatlers.
Zatlers told reporters after meeting with Kalvitis today: “Now it is Saeima’s turn to demonstrate its political responsibility, responsibility to every voter, it is a critical moment for the government.”
In its vote, Saeima will show whether it has confidence in the government or not, Zatlers said.
The government could have acted much more vigorously in tackling the Corruption Prevention Bureau’s shortcomings in bookkeeping, and the penalty for Loskutovs, in Zatlers’ opinion, could have been much less severe – for instance, he could have been reprimanded.
Loskutovs’ matter, however, must be settled in accordance with the law, that is, Saeima must vote on it. Zatlers himself will remain neutral.
The government is in a critical situation, Zatlers admitted. Zatlers believes that if the community believes that Loskutovs makes the Corruption Prevention Bureau stronger, he could continue as the bureau’s head. However, in Zatlers’ opinion, the bureau is strong enough, with or without Loskutovs.
Kalvitis admitted to reporters that his lengthy conflict with Loskutovs was a problem that had to be solved.
“If the government gets Loskutovs and the 2008 budget over with, the community’s confidence could be restored in the government. If not, the government cannot function,” Kalvitis said.
As reported, the government decided yesterday to propose dismissing suspended Corruption Prevention Bureau Chief Loskutovs. The ministers made the decision after acquainting themselves with the report prepared by the investigative committee, headed by Prosecutor General Janis Maizitis.
The probe was launched after the State Audit Office said it had ascertained violations with registration and spending of funds for special operations at the Corruption Prevention Bureau in 2006. Since information on special operations is classified, full information on the violations ascertained has not been released so far.
As reported, Saeima appointed Loskutovs (born 1962) the head of the Corruption Prevention Bureau in May 2004 for a five-year term.
RIGA, Oct 17 (LETA) – The decision of For Fatherland And Freedom/LNNK’s Einars Ciliniskis not to accept nomination for the office of economy minister has created a highly critical situation for the Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis People’s Party), believes President Valdis Zatlers.
“That is a very critical moment for the government’s head,” Zatlers said, adding Cilinskis’ decision to decline the offer was quite worrisome.
Kalvitis, on the other hand, said it is up to any nominee to decide whether he will or will not accept the offer. “I can only say that I respect his opinion,” Kalvitis said.
As reported, LETA has information that Riga City Councilman Einars Cilinskis has decided to reject the nomination by his TB/LNNK for the vacant office of economy minister.
As LETA was told, Cilinskis made the decision in wake of reports that Kalvitis agreed to nominating him for the post in return for TB/LNNK’s support for the ruling coalition’s decision to sack Corruption Prevention Bureau Chief Aleksejs Loskutovs.
Cilinskis made the decision so his party would not be suspected of agreeing to such a deal behind the scenes.
As reported, Kalvitis and TB/LNNK agreed yesterday that Cilinskis would be nominated for economy minister, whereas the post of the minister for administration of European Union funds, currently held by TB/LNNK’s Normunds Broks, would be liquidated.
The mass media reported afterwards that Kalvitis had probably exchanged the economy minister’s post for TB/LNNK’s support for Loskutovs’ ouster.
RIGA, Oct 17 (LETA) – The Saeima plenary will decide on the dismissal of suspended Corruption Prevention Bureau Chief Aleksejs Loskutovs no sooner than next week, as LETA was informed by the Saeima’s presidium.
As reported, the government decided yesterday to propose dismissing Loskutovs. The ministers made the decision after acquainting themselves with the report prepared by the investigative committee, headed by Prosecutor General Janis Maizitis.
The Saeima plenary will make the final decision on Loskutovs.
The State Audit Office had reported to the government about the violations.
Before that, the prosecutor’s office said that it had not ascertained any noteworthy violations after a probe into suspected violations of Loskutovs.
There are no grounds for opening a criminal probe against Loskutovs because there have been no criminal offences at the Corruption Prevention Bureau, Maizitis said.
Kalvitis suspended Loskutovs from office on September 24, pending investigation.
The State Audit Office reported that it had ascertained violations in accounting procedures and with registration and spending of funds for special operations at the Corruption Prevention Bureau in 2006. Since information on special operations is classified, full information on the violations ascertained has not been released so far.
According to the State Audit Office’s audit on the Corruption Prevention Bureau’s spending of funds for special operations in 2006, failure to define the procedure how materials are purchased and utilized, as well as a lack of a clear reflection of the use of these purchases in accountancy records, borders on fraudulent activity.
The audit also comes to the conclusion that Corruption Prevention Bureau expenditures, which appear due to the purchase of the various materials, were made according to instructions and are legal.
The material items, which the Corruption Prevention Bureau has obtained from funds meant for special operations useable for more than a year, declared as expenditures in the audit period, instead of as long-term investments, do not offer a clear overview of the Corruption Prevention Bureau’s financial report on the bureau’s assets, the State Audit Office stated.
As reported, Saeima appointed Loskutovs (born 1962) the head of the Corruption Prevention Bureau in May 2004 for a five-year term.
RIGA, Oct 17 (LETA) – Ex-Prime Minister Andris Skele, now a rank-and-file member of the People’s Party (TP), believes that someone is manipulating U.S. Ambassador to Latvia Catherine Todd Bailey.
Speaking about Bailey’s speech at the University of Latvia yesterday, Skele said in an interview on Latvian State Radio today that perhaps the ambassador had the best intentions, but it is possible that someone is manipulating her for achieving his/her political goals.
As for Bailey’s insinuation about “unelected officials in the clouds or down by the sea”, Skele said that Bailey might have meant him, but in that case, she was wrong.
“The American lady is wrong, very wrong,” said Skele.
President Valdis Zatlers told reporters earlier today, when asked whether Bailey had initially intended to give a yet-more straightforward speech, that her address should be perceived as it was read, and its subtext should also be understood.
Whereas Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis (TP) said that it would be wrong to single out just a few sentences from the speech, and the speech should be considered in context.
As reported, Bailey said in her speech, “Preserving our Common Values” at the University of Latvia yesterday: “government exists to serve the people – all the people, not just a select few.”
Bailey also said, “I have tremendous respect for so many Latvians, that I have met, and have especially enjoyed your culture, history and traditions, and I have formed solid relationships based on trust. We will always honor those friendships. These are hardworking, committed individuals who want to see Latvia succeed and prosper. But, I have to say, I have also seen them beaten down by having to take instructions from unelected officials in the clouds or down by the sea.”
In Bailey’s opinion, there have been several events in Latvia recently that go against the common values of Latvia and the United States.
“We have seen a pattern of events that appear to be inconsistent with our shared values. For example: attempts to pack the courts, with judges who “will know what to do,” efforts to manipulate the laws governing the security services to allow greater avenues for political interference in their operations, and, public campaigns to discredit the institutions of justice and the rule of law in the country,” the ambassador said.
Bailey delivered her address to a full house in the University of Latvia’s Aula Magna, to students as well as many prominent members of the community – Saeima deputies from the opposition political parties, and fewer from the ruling coalition, many foreign ambassadors, the heads of the Corruption Prevention Bureau, “Parex banka” chief Valerijs Kargins, also the mass media and others.
