On 21 September 2022, in New York, during the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Edgars Rinkēvičs, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Palau, Gustav N. Aitaro. The officials discussed bilateral relations, recent international developments, the issues of climate change and environmental pollution, and cooperation in international organisations.
Edgars Rinkēvičs informed his counterpart that a Latvian Embassy had been opened in Canberra, which would facilitate a more active cooperation with the Pacific island countries. The Minister underlined the importance of the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific in seeking opportunities for practical cooperation to foster growth and development in the Oceania.
A representative from Latvia, Professor Dr.iur. Mārtiņš Paparinskis, will be working in the United Nations’ International Law Committee for the period from 2023 to 2027. From the perspective of international law, he will provide expertise concerning the disappearing territories of island states in the Pacific, caused by climate change.
The Minister also pointed out that Latvia was standing as a candidate for elections to the United Nations Security Council in 2025.
Background information
Priorities for Palau in the United Nations are climate action and its funding, ocean protection, sea-level rise, and fighting plastic pollution of waters.
The diplomatic relations between Latvia and Palau were established on 20 March 2015.