Latvia, Legislation, Markets and Companies, Security, Transport

During a Saeima Defense, Internal Affairs and Corruption Prevention Committee meeting yesterday, Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis (Unity) said that in order to strengthen national security and the work of interior structures, the weapons used by Interior Ministry sub-structures should be similar to the ones used by the National Armed Forces, so that in a time of crisis they are able to assist the NAF.

At the moment, border guards and soldiers have different weapons systems, thus they must be unified. He said that soldiers have rifles and weapons that are in accordance with NATO standards.

''For example, the State Border Guard is the main reserve of the National Armed Forces, and would be part of the NAF in case of war. That is why it is logical to synchronize these weapons systems,'' the minister emphasized.

LETA found out from the State Border Guard that they have various ''Kalashnikov'' types rifles in their arsenal.

The Interior Ministry has been allocated an additional EUR 1.1 million to update and modernize the weapons used by officers and border guards.