On 21 March 2024, Foreign Minister Krišjānis Kariņš met with the High Commissioner on National Minorities of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Kairat Abdrakhmanov, who has arrived in Latvia on a working visit.
The Foreign Minister appreciated the current constructive cooperation on the part of the OSCE High Commissioner and he thanked the Commissioner for his interest in getting acquainted with Latvia’s progress in the field of social integration. The officials discussed Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the impact of related disinformation on the security situation in the region and Latvia.
Krišjānis Kariņš called on the OSCE Commissioner to take up the opportunities offered by his mandate in order to address the risks posed by Russian disinformation. The Foreign Minister emphasized that in the current geopolitical situation it was more important than ever for Latvia to strengthen its national security, create a single information space, strengthen the role of the official language and the resilience of society, and promote integration and sense of belonging to Latvia.
The OSCE Commissioner commended the dialogue with Latvian institutions and the non-governmental sector. Kairat Abdrakhmanov also thanked Latvia for support provided to the Ukrainian refugees.
Background information
The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities shall, within the framework of his mandate, regularly visit, support and advise OSCE Member States in the field of the protection of national minorities and public integration.
Kayrat Abdrahmanov has been serving as OSCE High Commissioner since 4 December 2020. Kayrat Abdrahmanov is visiting Latvia from 18 to 21 March and has met with member of the Saeima, officials from line ministries, the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, the State Language Centre, the National Electronic Mass Media Council, the Ombudsman’s Office, national minority schools and non-governmental organisations, as well as visiting Daugavpils.
