News
Foreign Minister Rinkēvičs welcomes decision by the NATO North Atlantic Council to further authorise NATO Air Policing in Baltic states [08 Feb 2012]
Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs welcomes the decision taken today by the NATO North Atlantic Council to further authorise NATO Air Policing in the Baltic states with a continuous presence of fighters. “This is the main priority for Latvia at the upcoming NATO Summit in Chicago on 20-21 May, and the decision reached today will enable to officially announce at the Summit that the NATO Air Policing mission in the Baltic states is to be continued,” Minister Rinkēvičs indicates.
Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Defence and Transport discuss Chicago Summit priorities with NATO Secretary General [23 Jan 2012]
On 20 January at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs, Defence Minister Artis Pabriks and Transport Minister Aivis Ronis met with the NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. The ministers discussed with Secretary General the upcoming NATO Summit to be held this year in Chicago and expressed support for priorities put forward by Secretary General for this meeting of the Alliance’s leaders.
MFA Secretary of State and NATO Deputy Secretary General discuss smart defence initiative [16 Dec 2011]
On 16 December, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Andris Teikmanis met with NATO Deputy Secretary General Ambassador Claudio Bisogniero. During the meeting the officials discussed preparations for the NATO Summit in Chicago in May 2012, which is to place focus on NATO’s Enduring Partnership with Afghanistan, the development of a missile defence system, as well as partnerships policy and the enhancement of military capabilities.
Foreign Minister meets with the Saeima delegation to NATO Parliamentary Assembly [12 Dec 2011]
On 12 December, Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs met with the delegation of the Saeima to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly with the aim of discussing priorities and topical matters of importance to Latvia on the NATO PA next year’s agenda.
Foreign Minister: working on long-term involvement of international community in Afghanistan, region’s neighbouring countries must be considered [08 Dec 2011]
On 7-8 December, NATO Foreign ministers convened for their regular meeting in Brussels, Belgium. On 7 December, the ministers reviewed the operations in Afghanistan and Kosovo, the development of a NATO partnership policy, as well the course of setting up the NATO anti-missile defence system. In his address, Foreign Minister Rinkēvičs emphasised that, while considering the enagement of the international community in Afghanistan after 2014, it is vital to ensure the involvement of neighbouring regions, including the Central Asian countries.
Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs and Hillary Clinton discuss preparation of NATO Summit in Chicago [08 Dec 2011]
On 8 December, during the NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting in Brussels, Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs met with the United States Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Minister Rinkēvičs expresses gratitude for the United States consistent support in all fields, notably, in strengthening the independence and security of Latvia. ”We are proud of the excellent relations with the USA and will continue to expand those, among other areas, also in the field of economic cooperation. Latvia is interested in the U.S. support towards the enhancement of energy security and source diversification,” the minister accentuated.
Foreign Minister Rinkēvičs to take part in NATO foreign ministers’ meeting [07 Dec 2011]
On 7-8 December, Foreign Minister Rinkēvičs will take part in NATO Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Brussels. The ministers will talk about NATO operations in Afghanistan and Kosovo and also turn to partnership issues. Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs will accentuate the necessity of considering a broader involvement of the Central Asian countries in joint efforts to enable a sustainable Afghanistan.
NATO resolves to complete operation in Libya by end of October [28 Oct 2011]
On 28 October, the NATO North Atlantic Council took a decision to end the NATO operation in Libya, Unified Protector, on 31 October 2011. It is envisaged that in the meantime NATO will monitor the situation and retain the capacity of responding to threats to Libyan civilians, if needed. The decision on winding down the operation has been taken in consultation with the United Nations and the National Transitional Council of Libya.
Foreign Minister Kristovskis and NATO General discuss cooperation within Alliance [29 Sep 2011]
On 29 September, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis met with NATO Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, Gen. Mieczysław Bieniek. During the meeting the parties discussed NATO’s Steadfast Pyramid 2011 and Steadfast Pinnacle 2011 exercises, currently held in Latvia, as part of which, senior staff and commanders of the Alliance increase their command and control capabilities during the planning, preparation and conduct of operations.
Andris Teikmanis to participate in French-Baltic Security Seminar [29 Sep 2011]
On 29-30 September, the Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Andris Teikmanis will participate in the French-Baltic Security Seminar held in Vilnius this year. Mr Teikmanis will speak about possibilities for cooperation with Russia and will meet with Evaldas Ignatavicius, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, in order to discuss current bilateral cooperation matters.
Foreign Ministry Secretary of State Teikmanis voices support to NATO exercise in Latvia [27 Sep 2011]
On 26 September, the Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Andris Teikmanis met with General Sir Richard Shirreff, Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe who is on a visit in Latvia during a NATO exercise from 22 to 30 September. At the meeting, the Secretary of State expressed support to the NATO exercise currently taking place in Latvia.
Foreign Minister at UN accentuates importance of assisting Afghanistan and Central Asia countries to counter terrorism [20 Sep 2011]
On 19 September in New York Foreign Minister Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis spoke at the Symposium on International Counter-terrorism Co-operation organised by the UN Secretary General. „Terrorism does not recognise state borders; therefore, fighting terrorism is our global task. At the same time, human rights must be safeguarded,” indicated the Foreign Minister.
Foreign Minister takes part in annual Riga Conference 2011 [16 Sep 2011]
On 16-17 September, the Foreign Minister Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis takes part in the annual Riga Conference, the largest security policy and foreign policy forum in Northern Europe. Foreign Minister Kristovskis is to open a discussion dedicated to Afghanistan and the Central Asian region. Contributing to the panel are also Head of the EU Representation in Afghanistan Vygaudas Ušackas, the Ambassador of Afghanistan to Nordic countries Manizha Bakhtiari and Ambassador-at-Large at the Foreign Ministry of Kazakhstan Madina Jarbussynova.
Ambassador Elita Kuzma meets delegation of Swiss reserve officers group [05 Aug 2011]
On 4 August, Ambassador at the European Union Directorate Elita Kuzma met a delegation of the Swiss reserve officers group that has arrived in Latvia on an acquaintance visit. The Swiss visitors were interested in Latvia’s experience and lessons learned following the country’s accession to the European Union and NATO, as well as in regional cooperation.
MFA welcomes US strike against international terrorism [02 May 2011]
We welcome the operation by relevant US services, as the result of which Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden has been killed. This step holds a great symbolic significance; it must be regarded as a major blow to Al-Qaeda and should, in the long term perspective, reduce the threat of international terrorism in the world
At NATO Summit Simulation game, young people demonstrate understanding and erudition on NATO agenda in Afghanistan [02 May 2011]
On 29 April, Foreign Minister Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis opened the NATO Summit Simulation game 2011, "Afghanistan 2014: NATO's further role in the stabilization of the region". Ambassador-at-Large, former ambassador of Latvia to NATO Jānis Eichmanis moderated the event and lived the part of NATO’s Secretary General.
Exhibition of drawings in Foreign Ministry features Afghanistan as seen by children [29 Apr 2011]
On 29 April, the Foreign Ministry hosted the opening of an exhibition of drawings by pupils from the girls’ school of the town of Meymaneh in Faryab Province, Afghanistan, organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ogre District Council
Foreign Ministry to host NATO Summit simulation game Afghanistan 2014: NATO's further role in stabilisation of region [29 Apr 2011]
On 29 April, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will host the NATO Summit Simulation game 2011 to be launched by Foreign Minister Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis. Ambassador- at-Large, former ambassador of Latvia to NATO Jānis Eichmanis, for his part, will live the part of NATO’s Secretary General
Foreign Minister of Latvia voices support to enhancement of NATO partnership policy [18 Apr 2011]
On 14 April in Berlin, Germany, Foreign Minister Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis continued his participation in the informal meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs. During the event, separate sessions also took place for the North Atlantic Treaty Council, the NATO-Georgia Commission, the NATO-Ukraine Commission and the NATO-Russia Council
Ambassador to NATO Māris Riekstiņš and NATO Supreme Allied Commander for Europe discuss current NATO operations and regional co-operation [14 Apr 2011]
On 13 April, Ambassador of Latvia to NATO Māris Riekstiņš and NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Admiral James Stavridis had their introductory meeting. During the meeting, the parties discussed the current matters: NATO operations in Libya and Afghanistan, the NATO Command Structure review and military co-operation of the Allied states with Latvia and other Baltic states
