MOSCOW, January 16 (RIA Novosti) - Russia has welcomed Latvia's intention not to attach an extra declaration to a border treaty and sees the decision as an opportunity to resume talks, a spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

Talks on a border treaty between Russia and Latvia stalled over territorial issues inserted by the latter into a new version of the agreement, as well as its claims for compensation over what it terms the Soviet "occupation." But on Tuesday Latvian Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis said his country will not attach any extra declarations to the treaty.

"We hail the decision as it opens a new way for talks," Mikhail Kamynin said. "We have received the proposal and will study it, as it is in interests of the two countries to legally settle the border issue."

A Latvian-Russian border treaty dating back to 1997 remains unsigned and un-ratified because Latvian politicians have sought to link the border settlement to a declaration from Russia admitting Soviet aggression during World War II, as well as concessions on other issues.

Latvia has included a unilateral explanatory declaration to the draft border treaty, which allows it to claim Russian territory - the Pytalovo District in the Pskov Region - that was part of Latvia before World War II and was annexed by Russia in 1944.