On 20 September 2021, during a working visit to New York to attend the high-level week of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs, had meetings with the Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), Nasser Kamel, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Guyana, Hugh Hilton Todd. The Latvian Foreign Minister also met online with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamoud Al Busaidi.
In a discussion with the Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean, Nasser Kamel, Minister Rinkēvičs informed him about latest developments at the Latvia-Belarusian border and the hybrid attack launched by the Lukashenko regime against Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, using migration as a political weapon and instrumentalising third country nationals for the sake of the regime’s policies. The Latvian Foreign Minister urged his colleague to follow the events as well as working with the UfM member states to prevent their people from being used in the interests of the Belarusian regime.
Edgars Rinkēvičs and Nasser Kamel were in agreement that the format of a regional dialogue is essential for the UfM contributing to the security and stability of the region. The Latvian Foreign Minister underlined that it is equally important for the EU to pursue its neighbourhood policy with both its the eastern and southern neighbours. Latvia was interested in offering its experience to the Eastern Neighbourhood region in the field of digital technologies and green economies.
During the meeting with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Guyana, the Latvian Foreign Minister affirmed Latvia’s intention to build closer cooperation with Guayana, including on sustainable development, climate action and digital matters. Edgars Rinkēvičs highlighted Latvia’s resolve to strengthen multilateralism and an international rules-based world order.
The Minister also noted that Latvia wants to further expand contacts with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the headquarters of which are located in Georgetown, the capital city of Guayana.
During an online conversation with the Foreign Minister of Oman, Edgars Rinkēvičs considered possibilities for the two countries to develop their bilateral dialogue through political consultations. The Ministers were unanimous that a legal framework for bilateral agreements between Latvia and Oman should be enhanced with a view to promoting their economic cooperation. The Latvian Foreign Minister commended the good cooperation in the UN, including mutual support in elections to various UN bodies.