Rinkevics stresses necessity to stand up against disinformation spread by Russia in various regions of the world

RIGA - Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics (New Unity) during a meeting with New Zealand's Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta underlined the need to stand up against disinformation spread by Russia in various regions worldwide.

As LETA was told at the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rinkevics met with Mahuta and Aupito William Sio, the Minister for Pacific Peoples and Minister for Courts, as he continued his visit to New Zealand on Thursday. 

Latvia highly values cooperation with New Zealand as a like-minded partner in regional and international formats. We are bound by common understanding of democracy, human rights, multilateralism, and a rules-based international order, currently endangered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Rinkevics told New Zealand's ministers.

The Latvian minister welcomed New Zealand’s firm stance and sanctions against the aggressor state imposed to date and called on New Zealand to continue its engagement in support of Ukraine as well as not permitting the crimes perpetrated by Russia go unpunished. Rinkevics underlined the need to stand up against disinformation spread by Russia in various regions worldwide.

The foreign ministers of Latvia and New Zealand expressed appreciation of the successful cooperation since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1991. The two ministers voiced hope that the visit would promote a political and economic dialogue. The newly opened Latvian Embassy in Canberra will provide a significant contribution and ensure greater opportunities for Latvia’s presence in the Indo-Pacific, Rinkevics noted.

The officials were in agreement that, in the current geopolitical context, democracies must cooperate, and they welcomed the fact that the relations between Latvia and New Zealand were growing increasingly closer. This is evidenced by the European Union's (EU) Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and the recently concluded negotiations on an EU-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement.

In the conversation with the minister for Pacific Peoples, views were exchanged on the latest developments concerning climate change challenges and their impact on the Pacific Island countries.