Latvia hosts the first UN counter-terrorism assessment visit

RIGA - From 13 to 17 October 2022, Riga hosted an expert level assessment visit from the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate. 

Such visits involve assessment of the legal framework in the country, coordination between competent authorities, international cooperation, and response capacities in the implementation of counter-terrorism measures, as well as providing recommendations for capacity building in counter-terrorism, LETA was informed by the Foreign Ministry.

In his address to the participants of the visit, the Director of the Security Policy Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Raimonds Oskalns, noted: “Although the level of terrorist threat is low in Latvia, we are also affected by any geopolitical change and increasing instability.” Latvia has developed a legal framework for a comprehensive enforcement of legal and administrative instruments against radicalization, violent extremism and terrorism. The UN delegation also noted with appreciation the Best Egmont Case Award 2022 bestowed on Financial Intelligence Unit of Latvia (FIU Latvia) for exceptional work in the field of financial intelligence.

This is the first visit by UN experts to Latvia, and it also covers other Baltic States. The first part of the visit took place online from June 28 to July 2 last year. The UN delegation also includes representatives from the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee of the United Nations Security Council, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism (Moneyval), and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

The visit was coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in association with the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Transport, the Financial Intelligence Unit, and the State Security Service, with more than twenty institutions being involved in its preparation and events. The work accomplished by Latvia’s competent authorities will be presented in a report to the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee.