Limiting Russia's capacity to wage war is and will be one of Latvia's priorities - Braze

RIGA - Limiting Russia's capacity to wage war is and will be one of Latvia's priorities, Foreign Minister Baiba Braze (New Unity) stressed as she opened the 3rd Forum of Latvian Professionals Working for International Organizations.

The minister said that this applies not only to sanctions but also to cooperation with countries in which sanctions are knowingly or unknowingly circumvented. The foreign minister indicated that this involves exchange of information, cooperation between intelligence services, researching open sources, and cooperation with experts in Latvia and abroad who are researching specific Russia related topics.

Braze said that Latvia's priority is and will remain assistance to Ukraine. Addressing participants of the forum, the minister asked them to remember that Ukraine is a priority for all organizations, and that it is therefore necessary to work to ensure that international organizations' documents contain positions that are important for both Ukraine and Latvia. In her view, it is also necessary to identify ways to channel practical resources to Ukraine.

"Latvia's assistance to Ukraine makes up around 1 percent of GDP, but I believe that the amount of practical assistance is probably bigger, considering that people, entrepreneurs and organizations provide it on an individual basis," the minister said, stressing that the assistance must continue. 

Braze underlined that cooperation with partners outside the EU and NATO is also Latvia's priority. Latvia is a candidate for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council so that its foreign policy agenda did remain confined to local halls and discussions.

"It is about convincing and finding common ground among as many countries as possible, with different arguments, different understandings. This, in turn, is important for Latvia's priorities to have international support," said Braze.

The minister mentioned that Latvia's priorities are also security, economic development and people. On security, Braze pointed out that it is also related to the security and resilience of society at the level of individuals and groups, practical work on the development of civil protection, i.e. how municipalities, organizations working in the area and people living there will further develop the understanding of internal security and the common protection of society.

Braze said that her wish for every diplomat is to find a way to provide a practical contribution through agreements with local companies. In her address, the foreign minister also mentioned consular work and the importance of relations with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in this work.

The forum brings together more than 80 Latvian professionals working at various international organizations – the Council of Europe, the European Parliament, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the European External Action Service, the European Commission, the United Nations, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and others.