Doha, 8 March 2023 (TDI): The Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Gunda Reire, met representatives of Cape Verde, the Solomon Islands, and the United States of America.
The Latvian Parliamentary Secretary was in Doha to attend the United Nations 5th Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LCD5).
The issues of mutual interests, ranging from the impacts of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on developing countries and rule-based world order to current developments in bilateral cooperation were discussed.
The Parliamentary Secretary expressed her gratitude to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Cape Verde, Miryan Djamila Sena Vieira for its principles-based support to Ukraine.
Gunde Reire acknowledged the potential bilateral cooperation between Latvia and Cape Verde on matters of climate, seas and oceans, gender equality and digitalization, and in promoting good governance.
The security situation in the Sahel region was also discussed by both parties.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade of the Solomon Islands, Jeremiah Manele, and Latvian representative exchanged views about the challenges posed by climate change and rising sea levels.
The potential cooperation between Latvia and Solomon Island in the science and smart technology sphere, to address the climate change hazards was also highlighted.
Gunde Reire, as well, emphasized the possibilities of bilateral partnership offered by the opening of the Latvian Embassy in Australia and the appointment of the Latvian Investment and Development Agency in the region.
The officials from both sides noted the impacts of the Russian aggression in Ukraine on global security and further agreed on the compelling need to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries in the international system.
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Latvia’s unfaltering support for the strengthening of international law in the protection of the sovereignty of the islands’ countries as well as its involvement in the UN ministerial conference of Small Island Development States was highly lauded by delegates of Cape Verde and the Solomon Islands.
Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs at the United States Department of State, Michele Sison also met Latvian Parliamentary Secretary.
Both representatives discussed support for least-developed countries with respect to the food crisis and climate crisis. Latvia’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council was also brought to discussion.
Lastly, Latvia expressed its resolve to work with the United States in helping least-developed countries in areas such as good governance, gender equality, digitalization, and technologies to address climate challenges and strengthen public administration.
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