As the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed LETA, in a conversation with the Ambassador, the State Secretary emphasized that this year marks 30 years since Latvia became a member of the UN, and North Korea and South Korea became members of the UN on the same day as Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.
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The Secretary of State expressed Latvia’s support for peace and security efforts on the Korean Peninsula and called on North Korea to return to negotiations on nuclear disarmament. Attention was also drawn to the need to address the international community’s human rights concerns in North Korea.
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The Ambassador confirmed his readiness to strengthen the dialogue between Latvia and North Korea and the need for an exchange of visits to promote understanding of the situation in both countries. At the same time, the ambassador acknowledged the need for the EU to review its policy towards North Korea. The North Korean Ambassador resides in Stockholm, Sweden, and is accredited in all Nordic countries and Lithuania.
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Today, Plešs also received the new ambassadors of Lithuania and Japan to Latvia on accreditation visits.
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Pelšs and the Ambassador of Lithuania Valdis Lastauskas praised the close dialogue between the two countries and the exchange of visits by active officials, emphasizing that co-operation between Latvia and Lithuania has a strong tradition. During the meeting, topical issues of international politics were also discussed, including the meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers held in Riga.
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The officials agreed to continue close contacts and coordination on the current situation at the EU’s external borders and developments in Belarus and Ukraine. The interlocutors agreed that the Rail Baltica project and the synchronization of the Baltic electricity grids with Europe should be worked together.
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During the meeting with the Ambassador of Japan Yasusi Takasi, the excellent co-operation between Latvia and Japan in the field of politics, economy, culture and education was appreciated, and the interlocutors undertook to further promote the exchange of high-level visits. Bilateral relations between Latvia and Japan have seen positive dynamics in recent years, and this year marked the centenary of friendship between the two countries.
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An active economic dialogue has also developed between the countries, which opens up opportunities for further cooperation projects in the fields of information and communication technologies, transport, logistics and renewable energy. Pelsch emphasized the importance not only of bilateral but also of regional cooperation, and drew attention to the Three Seas Initiative (TJI). The Secretary of State invited a high-level representative of Japan to participate in the TJI Summit and Business Forum scheduled for June 2022 in Riga.
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Pelšs emphasized Latvia’s co-operation with Japan as a like-minded partner in the strategically important region of India and the Pacific. Ambassador Takase also noted the successful cooperation to date in international organizations characterized by common values and principles, including an understanding of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
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