World Reacts to Iran Events: Karosta Veterans Offer Diplomatic Consultations

While the world nervously gestures and comments on events in Iran, veteran Kārlis Bērziņš by the Karosta shore in Liepāja offers his expertise: "Look, kid, I've been toughened up in Karosta for 30 years, so I know how to deal with difficult cases. All those US, Chinese and Russian diplomats should come to our beach, breathe the sea air and understand that everything can be solved with a good conversation at Pērkons pub."

Meanwhile, Riga residents are trying to understand why their foreign policy experts aren't as wise as Karosta pensioners. "We have these complicated analysts with degrees up there in the capital," says Maija, a trader at Liepāja Central Market, "but nobody understands the situation as clearly as our Kārlis. He already predicted back in 1992 that nothing good would come from confrontation."

China strongly condemns, Russia expresses sympathy, North Korea talks about gangsters, but in Liepāja at a café on Jūrmalas prospekts, local residents have long since solved all the world's problems. "You just need to pull everyone to one table, give each a shot of vodka and say - well, let's talk like civilized people," explains pensioner Gunārs. "We do this here in Liepāja every day, and look - no wars."

Meanwhile, the US President and Israeli Prime Minister could take lessons from Liepāja's experience - here people of different nationalities have been living peacefully side by side for years, and the only discussions arise over whether "Fontaine Palace" or "Promenade Hotel" is better. And even those end in compromise - both places are good, as long as you don't have to go to Riga.