Levits in Israel calls on all democratic countries to continue supporting Ukraine

  • 2022-11-28
  • LETA/TBT Staff

RIGA - Upon arriving on a state visit to Israel on Monday, President Egils Levits had a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, calling on all democratic countries to continue supporting Ukraine, as Justine Deicmane, head of the Media Center at the President's Chancery, informed LETA.

While discussing security in Europe and Russia-Ukraine war, Levits asserted that all democratic countries are ready to continue helping Ukraine and want Russia to be held accountable for its crimes and breach of international laws.

Herzog confirmed that Israel provides Ukraine all possible humanitarian aid to help Ukrainians survive this tragedy.

This visit comes at a challenging time for global security because of Russian invasion of Ukraine, said Levits. But it is vital for deepening ties between the two countries, especially in trade, education, science, high technologies and medical tourism.

According to the president of Israel, Latvia is a special country for Herzog because his grandmother was born in Riga and mentioned Latvia quite often. As regards to deepening of bilateral relations, Herzog welcomed the recent opening of Latvian Trade Mission to Israel by Latvian Investment and Development Agency (LIAA). Trade mission will definitely have positive effect for both sides involved in mutual trade. Herzog also urged Latvia to cooperate more closely on climate issues.

Levits stressed that presence of the Latvian economics minister and impressive business delegation is a firm sign of Latvia's interest in expanding cooperation to reach new levels of partnership that will be formalized through memoranda of cooperation and networking agreements. Latvia is looking forward to closer dialog with Israel following the recent EU-Israel Association Council meeting, said Levits.

Heads of Latvia and Israel underlined the important role of diasporas in promoting bilateral ties and deepening cooperation.

Latvia pays tribute to victims of Holocaust every year on national remembrance days, Levits indicated. Holocaust research and education is also adequately supported by government, which allocates resources for this purpose.

Levits is accompanied by First Lady Andra Levite, economics minister, parliamentary secretary of the Foreign Ministry, representatives of universities and hospitals, director of LIAA and 50 entrepreneurs from different sectors.

Mrs Levite met with the first lady of Israel. Later today she will also visit the world-famous Seeba Medical Centre in Tel Aviv, as well as go to Children's Hospital to launch cooperation between Latvian and Israeli partners.