Speech by LATO Chairman Ojārs Kalniņš , Istambul, 9-12 October, 2002
48th General Assembly of the Atlantic Treaty Association – Istanbul, Turkey
Terrorism and Public Information – Intelligence versus Media?
Intervention by Ambassador Ojārs Ēriks Kalniņš,
Chairman of the Latvian Transatlantic Organisation (LATO)
Flying down to Istanbul from Riga on Tuesday, I realised I was tracing the route of the ancient Amber Road: a thousand years ago Vikings took this same route to get from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea
I also realized that the cities of Riga and Istanbul shared something else in the past. 800 years ago we were also visited by the Crusaders – they invaded Latvia and founded the European city of Riga in 1201, and then three years later, in 1204 they captured and sacked the city of Constantinople. This early attempt to create a unified Europe by force, did not last for long, and our territories have had a diverse history ever since.
Today, Latvia and Turkey are part of a globalised world where we share a common interest in Europe, a common desire to strengthen the North Atlantic Alliance, and a common threat from international terrorism.
But the topic of today`s Committee Meeting – terrorism and public information – creates a unique set of problems for a country like Latvia. First of all, we just restored our independence and democratic systems 11 years ago. Second, we are NATO aspirants who hope to receive our invitation to join the alliance next month in Prague.
A decade ago, Latvia went from being a Soviet occupied state with a rigidly controlled press, to a sovereign, democratic country with an almost uncontrollable press. Latvians love free speech and Latvia`s journalists like to test it every chance they get.
The idea of controlling the media`s access to information in order to inhibit the capabilities of international terrorists seems to make sense. But it is fraught with contradictions and opposing tendencies.
Terrorism threatens freedom, and yet many believe that terrorism is also a product of that freedom. Terrorism works best in democratic countries, where access is easy, exposure is instant and impact can be tremendous. If a political terrorist seeks to make a statement, then the real time electronic media of the high tech globalization age offers all you need to make it big, loud and spectacular. .
It has been said that today`s political terrorists have three goals – publicity, interpretation and legitimacy building. One successful terrorist act gives a political cause instant international publicity, activates thousands of journalists who provide endless explication and interpretation, and over time, through constant exposure and repetition, begins to establish ( at least in the minds of some) legitimacy. The number of terrorists who have later become heads of state of sovereign countries is larger than we might want to admit.
Terrorists and journalists have a symbiotic relationship. Terrorists know how to use the media, and the media knows how to use terrorists. But how do countries cope with both these players, when their national interest is at stake? In order to inhibit one, you have to inhibit the other. Take away the free press and the terrorist loses his platform for public performance. But if the goal of the terrorist is to undermine a democratic country in any way that he can, then he has already succeeded to some degree if he has terrorised his victim into shutting down the free press.
For countries like Latvia, a democratic system and a free press were prerequisites for even being taken seriously as candidates for NATO membership. Today, that free press is vigorously debating the pros and cons of NATO and EU membership. Public information on these issues is essential in countries where both these organisations require changes in legislation, government policy and budget allocations. Although support for NATO membership is close to 70% in Latvia, people still want to know why we have to commit 2% of our budget to defence. Especially if we are defending ourselves against a new threat that didn`t exist a few years ago, and is much more difficult to identify today.
To maintain that support, the Latvian government as well as non-governmental organisations such as the Latvian Transatlantic Organisation, need to provide people with information. If international terrorism is indeed the major threat facing NATO countries today, then citizens need to understand the full extent and scope of that threat.
And here we return to the dilemma. To maintain strong support for NATO and NATO`s war against international terrorism, the people of Latvia – or any NATO country – need to be fully informed of that threat. They need as much information as they can get. And yet, control of information is one of the weapons that needs to be used against terrorism.
Some would like to see less press coverage on terrorism, to take away one of the terrorist`s main goals. Others simply want to control information in order to conduct their investigations of terrorist networks with minimal distraction.
In the coming years the Latvian government will be focusing its resources on ensuring that we are active, fully contributing members of NATO. We know that getting an invitation in Prague is just the beginning of a process. The next step is ensuring ratification in each of the member states. And finally, once we are in, we must make sure that we remained fully committed and engaged in shaping the new NATO and facing common threats.
Public support for each of these phases is critical. But public support is only possible if the public is informed. If NATO, the Latvian government, or non-government organisations that support NATO cannot provide this information, you can be assured that the media will fill that void with anything they can.
We live in an age where information has become a powerful tool and weapon, both for good and evil. We must learn how to use this tool, and if necessary, this weapon, to ensure the future security of our peoples, our states, and our Transatlantic alliance.
Ojars Kalnins
October 11, 2002
Istanbul, Turkey
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