RIGA, April 16 (LETA) - Saeima on Wednesday passed in the final reading a bill on Latvia's withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention banning the use, storage and production of anti-personnel mines.

Saeima made the final decision on Latvia's withdrawal from the convention in two readings.

66 MPs voted for Latvia's withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention, while 14 deputies from For Stability and Latvia First parties voted against the bill.

MPs Juris Jakovins (Greens/Farmers) un Edgars Zelderis abstained, and deputies Amils Salimovs (For Stability), Maris Sprindzuks (United List) and Edmunds Teirumnieks (National Alliance) did not vote.

Latvia intends to withdraw from the convention at the same time as Estonia, Lithuania and Poland, said the Foreign Ministry. Finland has announced that it too will be withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention.

According to the Foreign Ministry, the Ottawa Convention was signed in 1997 at the end of the Cold War. The Ottawa Convention has 164 adherents, including all NATO members (except the United States).

At the time Latvia was joining the Ottawa Convention, there were no military, strategic or security considerations why Latvia should not join the convention. Now security situation in the Baltic region has changed, says the Foreign Ministry.

By launching a full-scale war in Ukraine, Russia has shown that it does not respect territorial borders of sovereign nations and international law. Therefore it is essential for Latvia to maintain freedom of choice and flexibility of action to use different weapon systems and solutions to strengthen deterrence and national security, the Foreign Ministry emphasizes.

The Foreign Ministry points out that unguided anti-personnel mines in combination with other mines and weapon systems increase lethality of the Armed Forces, delaying or stopping Russian troops' movement. Given the current security situation in the region, the Ottawa Convention limits Latvia's defense capabilities, excluding the use of an effective means of military defense - anti-personnel mines.

The Foreign Ministry adds that other countries in the region are also considering withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention.

The Ottawa Convention also provides that each member state has the right to withdraw from the convention. Other member states, the United Nations' secretary-general and the Security Council will be duly notified of Latvia's decision. Withdrawal will take effect six months from filing of the withdrawal application with the depository.

The Foreign Ministry emphasizes that Latvia will continue to fully respect international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians in armed conflicts, while ensuring its own security. Any possible acquisition, deployment and use of unguided anti-personnel mines will be based on military logic and defense capability development priorities.