(L-R) Xavier Bettel, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs; Baiba Braže, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia.;
Credit: MAE
On Tuesday 30 July 2024, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Xavier Bettel, paid an official visit to Latvia, where he was received for working meetings by the President of the Republic of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs, and the Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braže.
According to Luxembourg’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, the meeting with President Edgars Rinkēvičs was an opportunity to discuss the “excellent bilateral relations” between Luxembourg and Latvia and ways to further strengthen them, particularly in terms of economic cooperation. Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister and President Rinkēvičs also exchanged views on the current challenges facing the European Union and NATO, particularly in the face of the ongoing Russian war of aggression in Ukraine. In this context, Minister Bettel highlighted the common values of Luxembourg and Latvia in terms of transatlantic security: "Even though our countries do not have the same history or the same geographical location on the European continent, I am proud that Luxembourg and Latvia are united by a common commitment to European values and transatlantic security, which is essential to address today's many global challenges."
The meeting between Minister Bettel and his Latvian counterpart Baiba Braže provided an opportunity to discuss bilateral relations between Luxembourg and Latvia as well as major current European and international issues, including the war in Ukraine, the enlargement of the European Union and the situation in the Middle East, the ministry added.
As part of this exchange, the two ministers stressed the importance of continuing long-term military support to Ukraine, both bilaterally and at the European level. On this occasion, Xavier Bettel recalled Luxembourg's continued commitment to militarily support Ukraine, reiterated by signing a bilateral security agreement with Ukraine on the sidelines of the 2024 NATO Summit in Washington.
In Riga, Minister Bettel also participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Freedom Monument, erected in honour of the troops who died during the Latvian War of Independence.
The programme ended with a visit to the Latvian National Museum of Art in the presence of the former President of the Republic of Latvia, Egils Levits, and a visit to the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia.
