Diplomacy
As Russia's war in Ukraine continues, Latvia's task is to help not only materially, but also diplomatically by carrying Ukraine's messages internationally, said Katrīna Kaktiņa, Ambassador to the UN, OSCE, and other international organizations in Vienna, in an interview on Latvian Television's "Morning Panorama" program February 23.
On February 20, Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Krišjānis Kariņš, at the beginning of his working visit to India, took part in the Inaugural Session of the CII India Europe Business and Sustainability Conclave, titled “India and Europe: Partners in Growth and Sustainability”.
The Foreign Ministers of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia on February 19 issued a joint statement condemning Russia's plans to hold presidential elections in temporarily occupied Ukrainian territory. The ministers pointed out that Russia is "gravely violating Ukraine’s sovereignty, international law and the United Nations Charter" with its actions. The full statement is reproduced below.
The senior diplomat on duty at the Russian Embassy was summoned to the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs February 19 – his second short walk across the park from embassy to ministry in less than a week.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia issued a statement on February 2 calling for authorities to double check whether there could be Russia-supporting individuals in high positions of Latvian enterprises.
On January 23, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Krišjānis Kariņš, launched the annual meeting of the heads of diplomatic missions of Latvia, telling them that special attention and targeted efforts were necessary to strengthen transatlantic relations, and cooperation with like-minded countries in the security policy field.
Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament) of Estonia Marko Mihkelson, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Saeima of Latvia Rihards Kols and Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Seimas of Lithuania Žygimantas Pavilionis said in a Joint Statement released January 13 that at the legislative and presidential elections held Saturday in Taiwan had demonstrated the strength of its "robust democratic system".
On December 22, the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced a financial contribution of EUR 35,000 into the European Endowment for Democracy with the funds to be channelled to the International Accountability Platform for Belarus, which collects and preserves evidence of human rights violations in Belarus, as well as providing support to victims of political repression.
Israel and the USA have condemned the UN General assembly's resolution passed Tuesday demanding an immediate ceasefire in the war between Israel and the terrorist group “Hamas”. Latvia was among the countries that supported the resolution. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs explains that this was done for humanitarian reasons, Latvian Radio reported.
Latvian Television's Brussels correspondent Ilze Nagla has secured an interesting interview with the United States' ambassador to NATO, Julianne Smith. Ambassador Smith assumed her position as the U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO in November 2021. Prior to her current position, she served as a Senior Advisor at the Department of State.
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania said they will boycott the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's (OSCE) Ministerial Council in Skopje, North Macedonia later this week because Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has also been invited, reported ERR News November 28.
On November 24 the 42nd Session of the Baltic Assembly was held in Tallinn, Estonia. The Resolution adopted at the Session emphasises that it is necessary to further strengthen the defence cooperation of the Baltic States, as well as cooperation in the fields of crisis management, civil defence, media and information space, energy, transport infrastructure and protection of biodiversity.
On 21 November 2023, the first ever political consultations between Latvia and Senegal were held in Dakar. The consultations were chaired by Andžejs Viļumsons, Under-Secretary of State – Political Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, and Ousmane Camara Ndiongue, Head of the Europe, America and Oceania Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Senegal.