Moscow, 24 February 1997 (RFE/RL) -- Border talks between Russia and Latvia are scheduled to resume in Moscow today after an interval of more than three months.
At the previous round of talks in Riga last November, the two sides made little progress towards signing a final treaty officially delineating their common border. Russia rejected a Latvian demand to recognize the 1920 Riga Peace Treaty, which could mean the return of 2,000 square kilometers of current Russian territory to Latvia. The territory in question was appropriated by Russia in 1944, after it annexed the Baltic country.
Since November, Latvian Prime Minister Andris Skele has indicated he would be willing to negotiate on the issue. Russia has not officially reacted to the new Latvian position.
The negotiations will be led by Latvian Ambassador-at-Large Aivars Vovers and Russia's former Ambassador to Japan, Valery Chizov.
At the previous round of talks in Riga last November, the two sides made little progress towards signing a final treaty officially delineating their common border. Russia rejected a Latvian demand to recognize the 1920 Riga Peace Treaty, which could mean the return of 2,000 square kilometers of current Russian territory to Latvia. The territory in question was appropriated by Russia in 1944, after it annexed the Baltic country.
Since November, Latvian Prime Minister Andris Skele has indicated he would be willing to negotiate on the issue. Russia has not officially reacted to the new Latvian position.
The negotiations will be led by Latvian Ambassador-at-Large Aivars Vovers and Russia's former Ambassador to Japan, Valery Chizov.