On 5 May 2021, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, who was in Latvia on a working visit.
During the meeting, the ministers discussed bilateral cooperation between Latvia and Cyprus and the latest developments in Europe and beyond.
This coming 20 December will mark 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Latvia and Cyprus. The ministers commended the friendly relations between their two countries, as well as expressing interest in continuing bilateral dialogue at the government level, between Parliaments, and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs as well as for expanding cooperation in the areas of common interests, including in science and research, trade, tourism and addressing the consequences of the pandemic. Cooperation in international organisations was also discussed.
The ministers focused in particular on the issue of Cyprus and the relationship between the EU and Turkey. Nikos Christodoulides informed his Latvian host about the outcome of the informal 5+1 meeting on Cyprus held in Geneva at the end of April, and he underlined that there is no future for a two-state solution. Edgars Rinkēvičs expressed support for the efforts to resume negotiations on Cyprus in the framework of the process led by the United Nations and to achieve a long-term solution in line with the principles that the UN has set out.
Edgars Rinkēvičs and Nikos Christodoulides shared opinions on the current state of affairs in the eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, and the Eastern Partnership countries, on transatlantic cooperation and other issues of international importance. The ministers underlined the need for a uniform and effective EU foreign policy and the strengthening of the European External Action Service.
During his visit, the Foreign Minister of Cyprus also met with the President of Latvia, Egils Levits, and the Speaker of the Saeima (Latvian Parliament), Ināra Mūrniece.