ACCESSION NUMBER:351842
FILE ID:EUR308
DATE:07/06/94
TITLE:EXPANDED MILITARY AND DEFENSE COOPERATION WITH THE BALTIC STATES (07/06/94)
TEXT:*94070601.PFE
*EUR308   07/06/94
EXPANDED MILITARY AND DEFENSE COOPERATION WITH THE BALTIC STATES
(Text: White House statement) (300)
Riga, Latvia -- The following statement was released July 6 by the traveling
White House Office of the Press Secretary in Riga, Latvia:

(Begin text)
EXPANDED MILITARY AND DEFENSE COOPERATION WITH THE BALTIC STATES
During his meetings today in Riga, the president informed the presidents of
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania that he has proposed to Congress a $10
million request in the 1995 budget to support regional peacekeeping efforts
in Central and Eastern Europe, and in particular the Baltic Peacekeeping
Battalion.  The Baltic Battalion constitutes the first example of voluntary
regional peacekeeping cooperation in the area.  Through material and
technical support, this program would recognize regional cooperation,
encourage Baltic efforts to improve NATO interoperability and enable the
battalion to take part effectively in joint field exercises with U.S. and
NATO units.

Support for the Baltic Battalion is part of the expanded level of defense
and security cooperation the United States has undertaken with Estonia,
Latvia and Lithuania.  In May 1994, the U.S. conducted its first annual
bilateral Working Groups on Defense and Military Relations in each of the
Baltic capitals.  This followed earlier determinations making the three
Baltic states eligible to take part in the U.S. Foreign Military Sales
program, and facilitating their ability to make commercial purchase of U.S.
defense articles, subject to case-by-case review.

The United States looks forward to working with Estonia, Latvia and
Lithuania through NATO's Partnership for Peace, which will allow for the
development of joint procedures and the conduct of joint planning, training
and exercises.  We will continue to consult with the Baltic States and
their Nordic and other neighbors about ways to encourage greater regional
cooperation in the defense and military fields.

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