PERMANENT DELEGATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA TO UN, OSCE AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS IN VIENNA

Contact Details of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Latvia to the United Nations in Vienna
Address:	Stefan Esders Platz 4, A-1190 Vienna, Austria
Telephone:	(431) 328 72 90 12 (secretary)
Fax:	(431) 403 31 12 27
E-mail:	edso@mfa.gov.lv

 

List of Employees, Their Titles, Brief Job Descriptions

Nils Jansons, ambassador Vitolds Rūsis, Councillor (OSCE issues) Agnese Vilde, Second Secretary Ilze Brūvere, Secretary

International organisations (apart from OSCE) with whom contacts are maintained:

IAEA - International Atomic Energy Agency;

CTBTO - Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban-Treaty Organization;

UNODC - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime;

UNCITRAL - United Nations Commission on International Trade Law;

UNIDO - United Nations Industrial Development Organization;

UNOOSA - United Nations Office on Outer Space Affairs;

NSG - Nuclear Suppliers Group: export control regime;

Wassenaar arrangement on export controls for conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies,

HCOC - Hague Code of Conduct against ballistic missile proliferation.

 

A. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

IAEA is an independent legal entity whose relations with the UN General Assembly, Security Council and Economic and Social Council are governed by the Statute of the agency. At the moment 140 countries have joined IAEA. Latvia joined IAEA in 1997 (representation was opened in June 2004). IAEA being the only organisation that monitors compliance of the countries with the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) is a corner-stone of the nuclear non-proliferation regime.

The main tasks of the organisation are: nuclear non-proliferation and promotion of peaceful uses of nuclear energy (in energy, medicine, agriculture, a.o.).

 

B. Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO)

Apart from IAEA the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO) is the second most important organisation of the nuclear non-proliferation regime. However, the agreement about establishment of the organisation has not taken effect as yet (out of the compulsory 44 country ratifications 11 are missing). At the moment the Preparatory Commission and Provisional Technical Secretariat are established. The main task of the organisation is to develop an international monitoring system (by placing around 330 stations in 82 countries all over the world) to control that there are no nuclear tests conducted. Currently approximately half of the stations are licensed and operational.

C. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

UNODC is the main global organisation that fights distribution of illicit drugs and international organised crime, including terrorism. An essential work of UNODC is done in two ECOSOC functional commissions – Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) and Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ).

UNODC provides expertise and assistance to its member states in the introduction of the respective legislation.

In the field of drug control UNODC performs a significant educational work, promotes international co-operation, monitors the growing of the raw material of the illegal drugs, combats spreading of HIV/AIDS among drug addicts.

To combat crime and improve the work of the courts UNODC also works at the strengthening of the rule of law (there are programmes implemented in co-operation with the countries regarding strengthening of the legal system, fight against corruption, organised crime, terrorism, trafficking in people, money laundering, a.o.).

D. United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL)

At the moment Latvia is not represented in this commission, but it participates in the meetings of some UNCITRAL working groups in the capacity of observer. The work of UNCITRAL is organised in several working groups that elaborate conventions about various aspects of international trade (e-commerce, transport, arbitration, a.o.). Once a convention is elaborated it is forwarded to UN General Assembly for adoption.

E. United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) 

Latvia is not a member of UNIDO, however it participates in the most significant meetings of UNIDO in the capacity of observer.

F. United Nations Office for Outer Space Affaires (UNOOSA)

Latvia is not a member of the organisation, but maintains contacts with it.

G. Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)

The export control regime of the nuclear materials and technologies. The group is not an organisation, but rather as a consultative group. The group also does not have a secretariat of its own. The mission of Japan to Vienna is a point of contact for NSG.

H. The Wassenaar arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual-use Goods and Technologies (Wassenaar arrangement)

Latvia joined this export control regime on 9 May 2005.

I. The Hague Code of Conduct (HCOC)

The Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation.