Vējonis: National Guard is an important part of NAF and should be strenghtened

On March 12 during the meeting with senior commanders of the Latvian National Guard Minister of Defence  Raimonds Vējonis said: "The Home Guard is a highly important part of the NAF, it has to be strengthened and developed in order to bolster overall national security, especially considering the latest developments in Ukraine."

Raimonds Vējonis emphasized, that National Guard is an important part of the Latvian National Armed Forces (NAF) and its development is one of the defense priorities that will be formulated during work on Latvia's 2015 budget.

The Latvian Defense Ministry is set to draw up a plan for boosting the National Guard's combat capabilities. The minister also indicated that the National Guard's development will require adequate financing in order to provide the home guards with the necessary equipment and training. R.Vējonis voiced hopes that lawmakers would pass the necessary legislation intended to reinforce Latvia's security and that these amendments would be adopted by the current parliament.

Vējonis told the parliament committee that the Defense Ministry had worked out draft amendments to the National Guard Law to ensure a proper training of home guards and their possible engagement in performing various non-military functions, and to provide social guarantees for retired home guards. The draft legislation will be submitted to the government soon.

"We must stop talking only about boosting the defense budget. We must act and find money in the government budget to bolster national security. It is necessary to start with the National Guard," the minister said.

Andis Jēkabsons
PR Adviser
Phone: 67335055
E-mail: andis.jekabsons@mod.gov.lv