On 23 January 2023, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs, took part in the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union in Brussels, at which the EU Foreign Affairs Ministers discussed the Russian aggression against Ukraine, and exchanged views on Sahel and costal countries in West Africa.
The meeting also included an informal exchange with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh. The Foreign Affairs Council then approved the establishment of an EU civilian observation mission in Armenia.
Edgars Rinkēvičs expressed an opinion that all possible support for Ukraine should be continued in response to Russia’s attacks on critical infrastructure and to challenges posed by winter. Focus should be placed on the deliveries of military equipment, including tanks and ammunition, as well as the reconstruction of the destroyed infrastructure, energy systems in particular, and the provision of the urgent humanitarian assistance.
Work should also continue on the establishment of an international coordination mechanism in support of Ukraine’s reconstruction, and a dialogue should be intensified with countries in the southern regions of the globe to counter Russian disinformation and explain the repercussions of Russia’s war in Ukraine, the causes of an increase in the prices of food and energy, as well as providing practical support for dealing with the consequences of the crisis.
In Latvia’s opinion, the establishment of an ad hoc international tribunal in the United Nations would be the most appropriate solution to investigation into and adjudication of the aggression perpetrated by Russia, the Latvian Foreign Minister noted. The unity of the EU in the matters of an ad hoc special tribunal would send an unequivocal signal to Russia and other subjects of international law that impunity would not be tolerated, as well as reaffirming the EU’s readiness to safeguard international rule of law, the minister said.
The Foreign Minister called for a legal mechanism to be developed to enable the use of Russia’s frozen assets and economic resources for the rebuilding of Ukraine. Edgars Rinkēvičs expressed his conviction that the EU should continue political, economic and diplomatic pressure on Russia, including by adopting new sanctions, effectively imposing and extending the adopted sanctions, and preventing their circumvention.
Photo: EU Newsroom, Anxhela Shaka