Letland ziet Rusland als toetssteen voor geloofwaardig Europees buitenlands beleid (en)

Russia is going to "divide and rule" the EU, if the 25-nation bloc does not define a uniform policy towards the country, Latvian president Vaira Vike-Freiberga has warned.

Speaking to Dagens Nyheter during an official visit to Sweden, the Latvian President described EU relations to Russia as a "test-case" on whether the EU is able to form a foreign policy which is not just decided by the large member states.

"It is a litmus-test for the EU's ability to form a common position. In relation to Russia, it is of the utmost importance, as we would otherwise get a 'divide and rule' situation, which Russia might try to benefit from as much as possible", she said.

"If the EU wants to see itself as an actor on the world scene it must learn to develop a foreign policy through dialogue with the members of the Union", Mrs Vike-Freiberga added.

"I think Sweden and Latvia are in line on this. Lativa is a small country and Sweden is a mid-sized country and we consider, if we are to have a common foreign policy, that our opinion is exactly as important as is, for example, the French or German opinion".

Bush trip

Before a scheduled trip to Moscow to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany on 9 May, US president George W. Bush is to visit Latvia from May 6 to 7 at the invitation of Mrs Vike-Freiberga.

Mr Bush will meet with the presidents of the three Baltic countries in Riga and may also stopover in the Netherlands and Georgia, according to the Baltic Times.

These countries were heartened by President Bush's criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin's anti-democratic moves during his last visit to Europe in February.

Mrs Vike-Freiberga announced in January that she would attend the ceremony in Moscow despite critics at home saying the 9 May celebrations were tantamount to celebrating Soviet rule.