Judith Garber

Latvia needs to improve the investment climate by improving the Court system, because American businessmen are worried about this the most, ambassadress of USA to Latvia Judith Garber noted during a meeting of the Saeima European Affairs Committee on May 18.

Chairwoman of the Commission Zanda Kalnina-Lukashevica (Reform party) noted the lack of economic cooperation between the two countries during the meeting.

The U.S. ambassadress underlined that the economic cooperation during the last two years doubled, which «does not mean that we cannot do more and that we should do more», in order to reach the level of political and security relationships. She added that she is well informed about the fact that the Latvian parliament accentuated the issue of improving the court system.

It is important to ensure that the «contract sanctity», agreed upon with foreign investors, is being complied. Also, Latvia needs to actively fight corruption and shadow economy. «After you achieve success in these spheres of business, you will be able to improve your investment climate», – Garber points.

The ambassadress responsibly assessed the cooperation with Latvia in the Northern distribution also known as the supply network, which ensures cargo deliveries to Afghanistan. Americans never expected that after three years the proportion of cargoes going in and out would amount to 66 000.

Also, during the meeting the ambassadress noted that it is important what exactly the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) provides for, because many people are protesting against things that are not listed there. «Many fears are largely meaningless. Your parliamentary secretary to the Ministry of Justice Janis Bordans noted that nothing will change in the Latvian legislation with the ratification of ACTA», – Garber pointed during her conversation with the deputies.

When asked about the risks related to the possible limitation of access to libraries, the U.S. ambassadress said that she is not an expert on Latvian laws, but she fully trusts the words of the parliamentary secretary to the Ministry of Justice. She specifically pointed how important it is to meet and discuss the specific contents of the ACTA.

Garber directed the deputies’ attention towards the fact that in order for Latvia to develop its economy it is important to protect intellectual property.

As previously reported, the European Commission turned to the European Court of Justice asking to clarify whether the ACTA conflicts with the European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights and whether it limits the rights of European citizens. The consideration of ACTA in the Saeima has been put on hold in Latvia in accordance with the Minister of Economy Daniels Pavluts’s decision.

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