On 19 September 2022, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs, took part in the unveiling of a commemorative plaque for the organisation BATUN (Baltic Appeal to the United Nations) at the Daugavas Vanagi house in New York.
“On 17 September, we marked the 31st anniversary since Latvia joined the family of the United Nations after fifty years of subjection. I would like to offer my thanks to the Latvian organisations in exile – Daugavas Vanagi and the World Federation of Free Latvians, as well as the Baltic movement of BATUN, which helped Latvia to return to international community in the status of a full-fledged sovereign state. We are grateful for your close connection with Latvia and support provided for Latvia’s development,” Edgars Rinkēvičs said in his address.
The Latvian Foreign Minister highlighted the fact that keeping the “Baltic issue” high on the international agenda, the path was paved to the restoration of the Baltic States’ independence. The Minister thanked the long-time members of BATUN for their assistance to the Latvian, Estonian and Lithuanian delegations as they began their work in the United Nations system.
The Minister underlined that from the outset the mission of the Latvian diplomats in the United Nations was to “put Latvia on the world map” again, including to obtain support from the international community for the withdrawal of Russian troops from the Baltic States. At present, Latvia is at the forefront of supporting Ukraine in its fight against the aggressor state, Russia.
Background information
BATUN was one of the most influential Baltic exile organisations, which sustained Baltic aspirations for freedom during a 25-year period – from the 1960s to the restoration of independence of the Baltic States in 1991 – by reminding UN members of the occupation of the Baltic States and their rights to self-determination.
BATUN was founded on 9 February 1966. The impetus came from Baltic activists who staged a Baltic Freedom Rally in New York on 13 November 1965, when an estimated 15,000 North Americans of Baltic descent, mostly young people, marched to the United Nations Headquarters with posters demanding independence for the Baltic States.
From July 1988, the office of BATUN was located in the Latvian Welfare Association Daugavas Vanagi house. From December 1991 to July 1992, the first Permanent Mission of the Republic of Latvia to the United Nations was housed in the office of BATUN.