Latvia: President expresses pride over restoration of independence

Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics expressed pride and happiness on the 34th anniversary of the restoration of Latvia’s independence, LETA reported. He noted that a new generation had since grown up that only learned about authoritarianism in history books. However, Rinkevics reminded that freedom was not self-evident. He thanked the members of Latvia’s Supreme Council who…

Read More

Latvia: President backs unilateral ban on Russian grain imports

Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics backed a unilateral ban on Russian grain imports without waiting for a joint EU decision, LETA reported. Speaking after a meeting with Prime Minister Evika Silina, Rinkevics pointed out that some of the Russian grain was stolen from occupied Ukrainian territory and that Russia was using food as a “hybrid weapon.”…

Read More

Latvia: Construction of Baltic Defence Line should be coordinated with Finland, Poland: President

Building unified Baltic defence infrastructure should be coordinated with Finnish and Polish military experts, Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics stated, LETA reports. Baltic cooperation with Finland and Poland was necessary to create an effective defence mechanism, he said. At the same time, Rinkevics reminded that Latvia was part of NATO’s defence planning. He discussed the issue…

Read More

Latvia: Russia wants to restore empire: President Rinkevics

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin dreams of restoring the Russian Empire, as indicated by Russian propaganda and hybrid warfare, Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics stated, LETA reported. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Rinkevics said that the Latvian government should remember that peacetime was over, stressing the need to boost the defence industry and defence…

Read More

Latvia: President pledges support for Ukraine until total victory

Latvia will support Ukraine until total victory, Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics vowed, LSM reported. Speaking at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Riga, Rinkevics called for shifting the strategic focus. “We have to support Ukraine until complete victory, not, like some say, as long as necessary,” he stated. Complete victory means…

Read More

Latvia: President Rinkevics urges positive action, sense of unity

In his New Year’s message, Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics reflected on the anticipation of the “moment before” the new year, filled with aspirations for change and new goals, LSM reported. Acknowledging that past resolutions may not have been fully realised, the President encouraged carrying over hopes into the new year, turning them into concrete goals…

Read More

Latvia: President, Foreign Minister stress Israel’s right to defend itself

Latvia’s President Edgars Rinkevics and Foreign Minister Krisjanis Karins strongly condemned the indiscriminate terrorist attacks by Palestinian group Hamas against Israeli citizens. They stressed that Israel had the right to defend its people. Latvia stands in solidarity with the people of Israel, Rinkevics stated. Karins insisted that the violence must stop. At the same time,…

Read More

Latvia: President Rinkevics pays working visit to Finland

Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics is paying a working visit to Finland on 28 September 2023, YLE reports. Speaking at a joint press conference with Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, Rinkevics noted that Latvia and Finland were “like-minded countries” that were “facing similar geopolitical challenges.” The two presidents discussed bilateral relations, including a joint plan to begin…

Read More

Latvia: Pres. Rinkevics urges formation of broadest possible coalition government

Latvia’s President, Edgars Rinkevics, met with representatives of the United List alliance to discuss the formation of a new coalition government, LETA reports. He said that forming a government with the broadest possible parliamentary majority was still possible. Earlier, United List refused an invitation from prime minister-designate Evika Silina to form a four-party coalition government…

Read More