On 17 January 2020, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Edgars Rinkēvičs hosted a working lunch for non-resident Ambassadors to Latvia representing Afghanistan, Armenia, Belgium, Benin, Bulgaria, Brazil, Croatia, the Holy See, India, Egypt, Iran, Libya, Namibia, Nigeria, Palestine, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, and Vietnam.
Edgars Rinkēvičs drew the Ambassadors’ attention to the persisting fragile security situation in Afghanistan and the need to maintain a presence of NATO forces. Latvia continues its participation in the Resolute Support mission with approximately 40 troops. It is important for Latvia that the government of Afghanistan be included in the peace negotiations.
Latvia has established good cooperation with Armenia characterised by a regular political dialogue and inter-parliamentary cooperation. Cooperation between line ministries should also be developed. The Minister expressed satisfaction that the bilateral relations between Latvia and Armenia will be facilitated by direct flights connecting Riga and Yerevan to be resumed by airBaltic airlines this coming May.
In his address to Ambassadors of African countries to Latvia, the Minister expressed appreciation for the invitation from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Benin, Aurelien Agbenonci, to make a working visit to Cotonou and expressed satisfaction with the visit by the Vice President of Namibia to Riga in September 2019. So as to formulate common interests more effectively and to foster bilateral relations, the Latvian Foreign Minister encouraged Namibia to consider signing a Memorandum of Understanding on political consultations.
We are also interested in building a political and economic dialogue with Nigeria and expanding cooperation in education and science. We propose that the next political consultations be organised in Latvia, said the Latvian Foreign Minister.
Referring to the situation in Libya, the Minister expressed hope that an agreement on a ceasefire will be achieved as a matter of urgency in order to return to the UN-led peace process. We fully support all international initiatives complying with UN guidelines, including the Berlin process, and hope that the conference in Berlin this Sunday, on 19 January, will be successful, said the Minister. He noted that Latvia condemns all actions undermining the process, including the violations of the arms embargo set by the UN. Under these conditions that cause immeasurable suffering to civilians, it is vital to ensure unheeded access for humanitarian aid, Edgars Rinkēvičs underlined.
The Minister also noted the friendly bilateral relations between Latvia and Egypt. We are happy about exchanges of visits, especially the first visit by the Egyptian Foreign Minister to Latvia in October 2019, said the Latvian Foreign Minister and highlighted potential for expanding the dialogue.
In a conversation with the Ambassador of India, the Foreign Minister spoke with appreciation of his successful visit to India and participation in the Raisina Conference held in New Delhi between 13 and 15 January. The Minister also invited the Foreign Minister of India, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, to make a working visit to Latvia.
The Latvian Foreign Minister thanked the Ambassador of Iran for cooperation on the part of Iranian authorities in protecting the rights of the Latvian citizen, a crew member on the Stena Impero, during detention and for his release on humanitarian grounds last summer. The Minister also thanked the Ambassador for his contribution to shaping of a constructive bilateral political dialogue.
Edgars Rinkēvičs welcomed the successful political dialogue with Palestine and urged the Palestinian Ambassador to engage actively in the establishment of a cooperation group in the Latvian Parliament.
Edgars Rinkēvičs underlined that the political dialogue between Latvia and Vietnam is evolving positively and Latvia welcomes the agreement on cooperation in the education sector signed between Latvia and Vietnam during his visit to Vietnam in July 2019. The next step is work on the development of an agreement on the mutual recognition of diplomas, degrees and qualifications, he noted.
The Latvian Foreign Minister drew the Ambassadors’ attention to the launch of ratification of the first inter-governmental agreement between Latvia and Saudi Arabia, namely, the Convention for the Avoidance of Double Taxation signed on 7 November 2019, and he expressed hope that Saudi Arabia will take all measures required for its ratification.
The Minister commended the bilateral relations between Latvia and Bulgaria, which have a great potential for growth, and he expressed interest in intensifying the political dialogue.
In the first part of 2019, Romania successfully ran its first presidency of the Council of the European Union, Edgars Rinkēvičs recalled, adding that relations between Latvia and Romania are considered good at all levels, especially concerning the development of parliamentary contacts.
Latvia highly appreciates friendly relations with Slovenia, and an active political dialogue must continue since we see potential for business cooperation, he said. I would like to thank Slovenia for its cooperation in the NATO battlegroup in Latvia. Slovenia’s involvement strengthens security across the Baltic region as a whole and it is a clear proof of Slovenia’s contribution to NATO’s deterrence and defence efforts, the Latvian Foreign Minister underlined.
The Minster drew attention to the visit to Latvia by the Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States within the Holy See’s Secretariat of State, scheduled to take place end of January.
The Latvian Foreign Minister discussed cooperation in international organisations with the Ambassador of Portugal and invited the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal, Augusto Santos Silva, to visit Latvia.
Cooperation in business and trade was underlined in the conversation with the Belgian Ambassador, and contacts in education and logistics services was the main topic taken up with the Brazilian Ambassador to Latvia.