Update 16:56
Diplomacy
The departing United States Ambassador to Latvia, John Carwile, posted a farewell message on the U.S. embassy website January 27. It reads:
Moscow announced on Friday, January 27, that it has given Latvian ambassador Māris Riekstiņš two weeks to leave Russia, accusing Rīga of “absolute russophobia.”
On January 27, 2023, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Sweden, Tobias Billström, was on a working visit to Latvia, meeting the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia.
Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs said January 25 that controversial demonstrations in Sweden that have caused an eleventh-hour delay to NATO membership for Sweden and Finland might have a "third country" behind them.
January 25 sees the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs, welcoming a working visit from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland, Pekka Haavisto.
On January 23, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs, took part in the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union in Brussels, at which the EU Foreign Affairs Ministers discussed continuing Russian brutality in Ukraine, and exchanged views on Africa.
Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs (New Unity) announced on Monday, January 23 that from February 24, Latvia will lower the level of its diplomatic representation in Russia, demanding that Russia do the same.
Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs made an unequivocal plea Saturday morning to Germany: send tanks to Ukraine now.
January 5 saw the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs, welcoming a working visit to Rīga from the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova, Nicu Popescu.
In Russia, people grumble about the situation caused by the country's war in Ukraine, but there will be no revolution at the moment, according to Ambassador of Latvia to Russia Māris Riekstiņš said in an interview on Latvian Television's 'Today's Question' show, December 22.
As previously reported by LSM, leaders of countries participating in the Joint Expeditionary Force initiative met in Rīga on December 19. After several hours of talks, they emerged with the following joint statement:
The Latvian Institute of International Affairs (LIIA), in cooperation with the NATO Public Diplomacy Division, Friedrich-Ebert Foundation, the embassies of Poland, Canada, and Spain in Latvia, as well as the StrategEast Center for a New Economy and 5G Techritory platform will be holding a debate December 19 to close its Riga Security Forum 2022 series of discussions.
On December 14, the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs opened a seminar, “Latvia in the Arctic”, which brought together scientists, business people, public figures and members of public administration, as well as representatives from other countries.
There is a new publication out from the Latvian Institute for International Affairs (LIIA) tracing relations between Latvia and the United States.
Latvia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on December 6 cautioned officials abroad to be wary of Russia's latest shady international intentions.
On November 29 2022, at the 27th Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention in The Hague, Latvia and Croatia were elected to the high-ranking post of Vice-Chairperson from the Eastern Europe regional group.
On November 28, Latvia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Edgars Rinkēvičs, together with the Baltic and Nordic Ministers of Foreign Affairs visited Kyiv, Ukraine. In the course of their visit, the Foreign Ministers met with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Olha Stefanishyna, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba.
On November 14, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Edgars Rinkēvičs, took part in the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union in Brussels, at which the foreign minister discussed support for Ukraine, further sanctions against Russia, and the latest developments in the Western Balkans.
November 12-13 will see Rīga host a session of training on Negotiation Skills for women-professionals from the Baltic States representing the security and foreign affairs sector as well as academia and non-governmental organisations.
After Russia threatened Latvia with “asymmetric response steps” to the demolition of Soviet monuments, Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs (New Unity) said in an interview on Latvian Television's broadcast “Today's Question” November 10 that an adequate and stern response from Latvia would follow any Russian step.
International pariah state Russia reacted with yet another fit of self-righteous, indignant fury November 10 to Latvia's ongoing removal of Soviet monuments.
Latvia's Minister of Foreign Affairs issued a thinly-veiled rebuke November 8 to the mayor of the country's second-largest city in response to comments made by the Chairman of the Daugavpils City Council, Andrejs Elksniņš, concerning Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has named its new Parliamentary Secretary as Gunda Reire. The appointment comes after the previous Parliamentary Secretary, Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica was appointed to the Saeima Presidium becoming, in effect, a deputy speaker of parliament.
From October 21-24, Latvia hosted a visit from a delegation of the United States Congressional Staff, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said October 24.
October 20 and 21, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committees of the three Baltic states parliaments are visiting Georgia.
On 18 October 2022, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs, participated in the meeting of the General Affairs Council of the European Union (EU) in Luxembourg, using the opportunity to raise objections to a proposal concerning reform of European Parliament elections.
Before discussions at European Union (EU) level about the war launched by Russia in Ukraine, the Baltic Foreign Ministers issues a joint statement October 16 once again emphasizing Russia must be held accountable for the heinous crimes.
Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs issued a stern rebuke to international human rights group Amnesty International October 13 after Amnesty published a highly critical report on the treatment of refugees at Latvia's border with Belarus.
On October 18, Latvian diaspora experts and Riga Business School lecturers and professors together
with African partners will launch the country's first development cooperation project in Africa, which it is hoped" will open up new horizons and cooperation opportunities" for the countries involved.
with African partners will launch the country's first development cooperation project in Africa, which it is hoped" will open up new horizons and cooperation opportunities" for the countries involved.
Latvian leaders joined the rest of the civilized world October 10 in condemning Russia's latest nauseating actions in Ukraine.
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