Drawings of the Latvian Participants at the Prague Summit Drawing comptetion "A Safer World".

Impressions of NATO from Students in Latvia In December 2003, the Latvian Foreign Ministry invited Latvian schools to participate in an essay competition. The theme was Latvia's membership in NATO. Here are some thoughts from 8th grade students at Indra Elementary School in Latvia. The papers have been translated from Latvian to English. *** My name is Sveta. I have a brother and a sister. I think that the most important things in any family are understanding, peace and love. “Soon, very soon, Latvia will be joining NATO. What does this mean for Latvia? Our small country is like man. And a man, in a thunderstorm; and when it rains, he needs an umbrella. Can NATO really be compared to an umbrella? Yes, it can. That's how I see it. In a heavy rain – in a thunderstorm – an umbrella will keep you from getting wet, from messing up your hair, or even protect you from death itself! Why is it like this? Because by walking in the rain without an umbrella you can get chilled, soaking wet, fall ill, and….die. In the same way, Latvia, our small country, – without defence and support - could simply disappear from face of the Earth. So, then, when a thunderstorm hits, we'll need a big umbrella! But it's not that each time there's a thunderstorm, we’ll have an umbrella handy. A large umbrella without holes in it! Since in the morning, when he left home, the sun was shining, and we decided not to take an umbrella with us, because the weather was really good. But in the afternoon it started raining. Who could have foreseen that! You can never foresee what happens next. *** My name is Ilona. I’ve got a brother. Sometimes we squabble but then we always manage to make up. Sveta has said “You never foresee what happens next.” Imagine a thunderstorm with rain so heavy that you can’t see a thing. A storm, a big storm; maybe that’s putting it mildly; this one is epic! The sea is running rampant and considers itself the ruler! And somewhere in the depths of the sea, far from the coast so far out that all around there is not single living creature, there is a small small ship. What should the ship do? Of course, the ship’s captain can work a miracle and save the day, but it’s not always possible, and there are, after all, situations in which even a miracle will not suffice. And then the sea will take hold of the ship! Take hold of it forever. In such a situation, a small ship will not survive without the assistance of a larger ship, without a ship that is stronger and more powerful! For exactly this reason, it is good to have someone alongside who is stronger than you are yourself! *** Hi!!! My name is Agita. I feel best when nothing is threatening me – when there is no chance for a stranger to stab me in the back, no grownups shouting, and no classmate throwing nasty glances. “It’s good when you’ve all the time got someone alongside who is stronger than you,” Ilona presumes. But even better, if you yourself are strong; usually the strong have kind souls. Let’s take a hand, for example - it has five fingers, and each of them has its own function and task. But just imagine what would happen if the five fingers decided not to fulfil their tasks, and the little finger, for example, changed places with the thumb. Then the hand will not be hand any more, but instead a monster or something like that. And, besides, there would be chaos, and, first of all this would would irritate the hand the finger belongs to and then afterwards all the other fingers because each must do the things which it is capable of doing. *** Hello! My name is Alla. I have an older brother and an older sister. We live peacefully and calmly not only in our family but also with our neighbours because, in our house, peace predominates. “Each should do what he is capable of doing.” That’s what Agita thinks. But I cannot get a job as a teacher because I’m a student. In the same way, Latvia has its specific role in NATO. Although our armed forces are not as good as America’s armed forces, with our soul and our thoughts we will help countries that are suffering. We will live in one united house like many little pearls in a strand. And if one little pearl falls out from a long necklace, other pearls would do anything to heal the gap. Force is not the strongest or most important way to reach an understanding. You should be tolerant and kind to one another so that no talks are going on behind your back. Even if you are small your good thoughts can help others. *** Hello! I’m a girl and my name is Anastasia. I am not the only child in my family. I have a little brother whose whole life in this world is still in front of him, just as it for me. “Even if you are a small, your good thoughts can help others quite a bit,” Alla said, speaking philosophically. I fully agree because I, for example, am the smallest in my class, but in my thoughts I am trying to be bigger. Of course, I will not join the army! (But who knows?!) Nobody knows what to expect in the army and here at home. You have to be strong and calm in your soul. You don’t have to go to war in other countries, you should rather try to understand other peoples. Also our country, Latvia, will go to the aid of other countries if they become involved in a conflict. Our army is not the only army in the world, but it is the power that is able to protect our country, Latvia, and it will also provide help to other countries. The Little Prince said, “When you have finished grooming and getting yourself ready to go out in the morning, it is time to prepare the planet for the same.” *** Hello! My name is Edite. I have two nice sisters. The most important thing for me is to keep our friendship for life. “When you have finished grooming and getting yourself ready to go out in the morning, it is time to prepare the planet for the same.!” said the Little Prince and also our classmate, Nastya. I agree with them both and believe that Latvia should join NATO. Because together with strong countries also a small country will feel safer. When preparing to set out on a long journey you must take along a lot of things - pills for the sick, chocolate for the little ones, a stick for the blind and, of course, an umbrella…. which will protect all the travellers from rain and wind. At least I would take it along for my classmates when going on a hike. Why don’t our politicians take care of our country and get us with an umbrella? *** LATVIA – NATO By Janis Bekeris (a Senior at a high school in Latvia) NATO - the North Atlantic Treaty Organization – a political military alliance of western countries founded in 1949 and directed against the aggression of the USSR in Europe. Freedom, democracy, tolerance, human rights and formation of a safer world. Building up European defence capacities and strengthening of the North Atlantic Alliance. If we consider that these are the values that are common for the present nineteen NATO member countries, then Latvia's wish to accede to the organisation testifies to the fact that we are also willing to recognise these values as binding and essential for us. First of all, I say "Yes!" to security and everything deriving from the internal stability of the country. As one of the central arguments "for" joining, I would mention specialisation and raising the profile of Latvia's military forces, its internal stability and involvement in international processes - facilitation of Euro-Atlantic security and stability. First about the development of military forces. Undoubtedly, one of the basic functions of NATO is to raise to the maximum the professional capacity of the military forces of each separate country. As we know, already know extensive assistance is provided to future NATO member states (although this summer part of the financing was suspended due to some unsettled affairs , the United States Senate will take a decision on resuming it by the end of the current month) with the aim that, at the moment of accession, military forces of each country will signify more. Apart from the benefits in the defence sector, it should also be noted that we are able to provide medical staff, military police, mine sweeping and other units for NATO-led operations, which are already actively participating in peacekeeping operations abroad (the whole world is almost daily basis informed of the genuine delight we have at seeing our soldiers in Iraq). We should keep in mind the clause of the treaty between NATO member states providing that attack on one country shall be deemed an assault against all the member states. This is a perfect illustration of the situation when Latvia, in addition to the significant increase in the number of its own forces, has acquired unbreakable support from abroad. We are not going to be alone with our problems any longer. The attraction of additional financial resources, the raising of the level of education in the army. NATO should not be perceived solely as a military organisation. One should rather be aware that this basic function affects other spheres of life as well. Latvia's membership in NATO will promote the internal stability of the country. Latvia has already set a goal to combat corruption in the country and facilitate the integration of society, and this is an important aspect not only in the context of the European Union but also with regard to NATO. We will certainly feel, and we already feel the influence also in other sectors. So, for example, by involving our scientists in specific NATO programmes (as we know, the Baltic States have a high intellectual potential), membership of NATO will contribute also toward the national economy; belonging to the European transatlantic family will be a clear signal of stability and security, which will facilitate the inflow of investment in Latvia. An example: after the accession of Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic to the North Atlantic Alliance, the inflow of foreign investment due to the same reason was observed. NATO’s meaning as an international organization has grown with the increased threat of terrorism, ethnic conflicts, drugs, trafficking in human beings and smuggling. We are not “minor actors” any more who disappear in the shadow of the major actors… The time has come that we can regard our country as a full-fledged state playing an increasingly important role in regulating international relations for the purpose of ensuring security and stability in the euro-atlantic space. After becoming a NATO member state, Latvia will not only continue developing its armed forces and its own defence capabilities, but will also promote security and stability in the world and follow the principle of collective self-defence. We have become aware of the basic values, our role and abilities through involvement in peace-keeping operations. Internationally, from Latvia’s point of view, there are two other significant aspects: the Baltic States as such, and the European Union. As regards the first aspect, the Baltic States are considered among the most serious of NATO candidates. The ability to cooperate is the key to the success of these countries; in the context of NATO integration, the Baltic States are perceived as one single region. Lithuania’s position, that it was not necessary for all the three Baltic States to be admitted to NATO, generated heated debates and disputes. Life itself and the course of political processes in the world have demonstrated the logic of Latvia’s standpoint - that only simultaneous integration of all the three Baltic States into the Alliance makes sense. Regarding the second aspect – we must be aware of the opportunities offered by NATO, especially now that we have said “Yes” to the European Union. It would be appropriate to refer to a phrase from a speech by George Robertson, the present NATO Secretary General, reiterated by him more than once, - that without effective defence and military capacity the European Union "risks being an economic giant, but also a strategic midget." Recently discussions have become more intense in respect to the formation of the EU’s own military forces, but I do not consider it decisive, since currently none of the official views (excluding that of the European Union itself) can provide due argumentation or justification for it. Accession to NATO is by no means an end in itself, or the end of history. On the contrary - it is the beginning of new opportunities for all of us. Wars and conflicts should be made impossible, whereas peace and welfare - a necessity.