RIGA, March 29 (LETA) - Like Latvia, Sweden and Poland have also been asked by Russian authorities to close parts of their airspace, Latvian Defense Ministry State Secretary Janis Garisons said commenting to LNT commercial TV channel Russia’s plan to test fire missiles over the Baltic Sea in Latvia’s exclusive economic zone next week.

Garisons said that Colonel Andrey Lobov, Russia’s Military Attache to Latvia, who was summoned over the news to the Latvian Defense Ministry, was unable to explain how the Russian Navy is going to fire the missiles but promised to communicate Latvia’s questions to Moscow and provide the answers before the exercise begins.

Garisins said that previously similar missile tests have been held off Norway’s coast. Since the details of the upcoming drills are not known and taking into consideration that Russia has shooting grounds in its territory where such firing exercises are held on a regular basis, it seems strange that Russia has to do this over Latvia’s exclusive economic zone, the state secretary said.

He added that people in Latvia should not worry, but that the ministry has told the military attache that Latvia would like Russia to guarantee the security of civil aviation during the exercise.

Garisons also indicated that in such cases the Civil Aviation Agency (CAA) diverts civil flights away from the territory where the military exercise is being held. He also agreed with the CAA that international law does not forbid Russia from holding such exercise.

As reported, the Main Air Traffic Management Center of Russia has informed Latvia that the Russian Navy will be performing missile tests over Latvia’s exclusive economic zone in the Baltic Sea from April 4 to 6, LETA was told at the Latvian Defense Ministry.

The Russian side has asked Latvia to close part of its airspace on the 18-kilometer altitude around 40 kilometers from Latvia’s seacoast for the tests.

The Latvian Defense Ministry has summoned Russian Military Attache to Latvia, Colonel Andrey Lobov, and expressed its discontent with the situation, noting that although international agreements do not prohibit Russia from holding such exercises in this territory, such activities are provocative and can be regarded as a demonstration of force. Moreover, such missile tests can threaten traffic of civilian ships and aircraft in the area.

Responding to Russia’s request, the Civil Aviation Agency (CAA) has agreed to close part of Latvian airspace in an 18-kilometer altitude and 40 kilometers from Latvia’s seacoast where the Russian Navy is planning to fire missiles during an exercise next week, CAA director Maris Gorodcovs told LETA.