Minister Reinsalu in Rīga: We must act today, as we have had to act in the past, to preserve our common values

Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu took part today in events marking the 100th anniversary of the Rīga Peace Treaty at the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the residence of the President of the Republic of Latvia. Together with his counterparts from Latvia, Poland and Finland, Minister Reinsalu discussed the situation in Belarus, regional security, transatlantic relations and relations with Russia and the European Union.

“In the light of the presidential elections in Belarus, we can see that attempts at moving towards democracy are under threat in the country, and very close to our borders,” Minister Reinsalu remarked. “It is up to the European Union, and the free world as a whole, to pressure the Belarusian authorities to end their violence and to release all those detained for political reasons. I and my colleagues from Latvia, Finland and Poland have proposed calling an extraordinary session of the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union this week.”

Reinsalu says that the spread of false information and the influence of Russia are concerns shared throughout the European Union. “There has been an increase in the amount of disinformation coming at us from the east during the crisis,” he said. “That is why it is vital that the European Union show a united front in regard to Russia. We need to support Ukraine in particular – while the coronavirus crisis is ongoing, the country needs both economic and political help and unwavering back-up.” 

During the high-level event in Rīga, Minister Reinsalu underscored that mutual support was key. “A hundred years ago, Latvia reached an agreement with Russia that paved the way for Latvian statehood,” he said. “Since then, Latvia, like Estonia, has had to face down Russian aggression and changes in the region. We have to be able to adapt to the changing world whilst honouring the principles we have fought for. I said the same thing in February when we marked the centenary of the Tartu Peace Treaty in Estonia.” 

A recording of the press conference can be viewed here.

High-level discussions on the Peace Treaty can be viewed here.

Photographs: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmPXuPRL

Further information:
Pia Kuusik
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Media Consultant
Public Relations Department
+372 5635 7866
www.vm.ee