It is important that Latvia's international law experts support Latvia's candidacy for the UN Security Council elections - Rinkevics

RIGA - On Wednesday, Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics met with the Latvian representative to the United Nations (UN) International Law Commission (ILC), Martins Paparinskis, who will hold the title from 2023 to 2027.

The Minister wished Paparinskis good luck and productive work. He is the first Baltic representative to the UN International Law Commission and was elected on November 12, 2021 in a fiercely contested election with inter-regional support, LETA was informed by the Foreign Ministry.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed his belief that the vision and support of Latvia's international law experts is and will remain important both now and in the future, especially for Latvia's candidacy for a non-permanent membership on the UN Security Council for the 2026–2027 term. Rinkevics expressed his satisfaction with Paparinskis' willingness to continue the dialogue with representatives of small island states on the legal aspects of the effects of climate change (sea level rise) after his election to the ILC. "We would appreciate your participation in both UN thematic events and discussions organized specifically for regional groups in the future," the Minister emphasized.

The sides discussed foreign policy issues and support to Ukraine, as on 6 April this year, Latvia filed a notice of intervention as a third party in the case "Ukraine v. Russian Federation" before the UN International Court of Justice, expressing its readiness to provide an interpretation of several provisions of the 1948 UN "Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide". This was the first time in Latvia's history that it exercised its right under Article 63 of the Statute of the International Court of Justice. Moreover, Latvia submitted its declaration on July 21, 2022, thereby being the first to take such a step.

Rinkevics thanked Paparinskis for the support provided so far in drafting Latvia's declaration on intervention as a third party in the case "Ukraine v. Russian Federation" before the International Court of Justice and invited him to attend the NB8 (Nordic-Baltic Eight) meeting of heads of legal services in Latvia, planned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the spring of 2023.

The main task of the International Law Commission is the progressive development and codification of international law, the Foreign Ministry informs. The Commission was established in 1947 and brings together 34 independent experts. 

Paparinskis will have the opportunity to become more actively involved in one of the topics studied by the Commission. For example, the ILC deals with the following topics – immunity of public officials in foreign criminal jurisdictions, environmental protection and armed conflicts, state succession and state responsibility. The impact of sea-level rise on the existence of small island states could also be a topical issue.