“Despite of the difficult circumstances, our patriotism and our determination to protect and nurture our country have not been reduced. We must be ready to defend our country today and tomorrow. And we can only achieve that by continued investment in our capabilities, our security, as well as through tireless diplomatic efforts,” the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braže, said at the celebratory reception on 19 November 2024 in honour of the 106th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Latvia.
The Minister offered special gratitude to her colleagues in the Foreign Service:
“We have every reason to be proud of our diplomats. You are working tirelessly so that our voice and that of Ukraine is heard on every international stage, in every organisation, every meeting, behind every closed door. Our mission is clear and we will continue to pursue it with passionate hearts and a cool mind!”
The Foreign Minister also highlighted Latvia’s historical experience of breaking free from imperial, colonial occupation and reclaiming its place in the core of Europe.
“It is by this spirit that we set an example in supporting our Ukrainian friends in their fight for freedom and the right to determine their own future. Especially because today we mark 1,000 days since Ukraine has been fiercely resisting a full-scale invasion,” Baiba Braže underlined.
Latvia will continue providing all forms of military, economic and financial assistance to strengthen Ukraine’s resistance and rebuild the country.
The invited guests included members of the Presidium of the Saeima, the Saeima Foreign Affairs Commission and the European Affairs Commission, ministers, state secretaries of line ministries, foreign resident and non-resident ambassadors accredited to Latvia, representatives of international organisations, Members of the European Parliament, businesspeople and organisations representing them, officials from public authorities and courts, non-governmental organisations and other cooperation partners of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The festive reception also featured the performance of the Latvian Diplomatic Choir, which presented songs by Latvian composers: Nevis slinkojot un pūstot (Not in Indolence) by Andrejs Jurjāns with the lyrics translated into Latvian by Juris Alunāns, Rakstu raksti (Pattern on Pattern) by Imants Kalniņš with the lyrics by Broņislava Martuževa, and Apkal manu kumeliņu (Shoe My Horse) by Juris Vaivods with the lyrics by Rūdolfs Blaumanis.
