On 10 January 2020 in Riga, the Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Edgars Rinkēvičs, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, Péter Szijjártó who was in Latvia on a brief working visit to discuss bilateral relations between Latvia and Hungary, their cooperation in the matters of security policy and economy, and issues important for the European Union in its relations with neighbouring countries.
Edgars Rinkēvičs expressed satisfaction with the close bilateral relations, with a special focus on the centenary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between Latvia and Hungary to be marked in 2021. The Foreign Minister thanked Hungary for its involvement in NATO’s collective defence measures in the region and for the decision to continue participation in the Baltic Air Policing mission.
Minister Rinkēvičs placed an emphasis on the constant cooperation in the EU and NATO and he noted this regular cooperation and dialogue in multilateral formats are important for the growth of the relations between Latvia and Hungary.
Edgars Rinkēvičs expressed appreciation for Hungary’s decision to join the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence and he underlined that the fight against disinformation needs a coordinated and systematic long-term approach, that the EU strategic communication should be reinforced, including the East StratCom Task Force, and that a higher responsibility and transparency of the media should be achieved.
The Ministers discussed and exchanged opinions on topics high on the EU agenda, such as the rule of law, migration, the Multiannual Financial Framework, Brexit and the EU’s future.
During his visit, the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade also met with the Metropolitan Archbishop of Riga, Zbigņevs Stankevičs, the Minister of Economy, Ralfs Nemiro, and the Director of the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence, Jānis Sārts, as well as giving an interview to Ansis Bogustovs of the Rīga TV 24 “Globuss” programme.