As a non-permanent member of UN Security Council, Latvia will have opportunity to defend international system based on rule of law - Rinkevics

RIGA - The status of Latvia as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council will provide an opportunity to defend the international system based on the rule of law, democratic values, strengthen its international prestige, and emphasize issues relevant to the security of Latvia and the Baltic region, said Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics (New Unity).

In the annual foreign policy report, the Minister emphasized that in the 2025 elections to the UN Security Council, Latvia will run for the position of a non-permanent member state for the term 2026-2027.

He noted that an inter-institutional working group chaired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was defining the campaign's thematic priorities, but that the campaign was being led and coordinated by a specially appointed ambassador for that purpose. According to Rinkevics, in order to take over the experience, close cooperation is taking place with Estonia, which has brought up security issues important to the region during its membership in the UN Security Council.

The Minister explained that in recent years Latvia has strengthened its recognition, authority and expertise in the field of international justice, equality and combating disinformation at the UN. In preparation for the active lobbying phase of Latvia's election to the UN Security Council, it is important for Latvia to ensure wide recognition in all regions of the world, strengthening the image of an internationally responsible, green-minded and technologically developed democracy alongside existing areas of expertise.

Rinkevics emphasized that the active phase of Latvia's candidacy lobby campaign would begin in 2023 and last until the elections in 2025. During the campaign, it is planned to increase Latvia's international recognition and establish in-depth contacts with countries further away in both bilateral and multilateral formats.

In addition to nominating its candidacy to the UN Security Council, Latvia also advocates significant reforms of this institution, according to the Minister. Latvia, like a growing number of other countries, has called for constructive talks on a reform of the UN Security Council, characterized by a more equal representation of countries based on the current international environment and a renunciation of the veto in the event of serious violations of international law.

"Latvia is in favor of expanding the Security Council of both permanent and non-permanent member states, providing additional representation to the Eastern European group, as well as Latin America, Africa and Asia,'' the minister emphasized, while adding there must be greater transparency in decision making.