On 15 September 2022, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Gabrielius Landsbergis, met in Riga. During the meeting, the Ministers discussed bilateral relations and regional cooperation, including challenges in the energy sector, and the security situation in the region and Ukraine. The ministers reaffirmed the need to continue providing political, military and humanitarian support for Ukraine, as well as coordinating further cooperation in the matters of issuing visas to the citizens of Russia and Belarus.
During the visit, the Ministers hosted a ceremony to bestow the Balts’ Award of the Latvian and Lithuanian Foreign Ministries. This year, the Balts’ Award went to the translator Dace Meiere for outstanding achievement in the research, fostering and strengthening of the Balts’ heritage.
The Ministers, in the presence of journalists, researchers and officials from public authorities, also took part in the presentation of a Latvian-Lithuanian future cooperation report, “Strategic Commitment and Choices for Latvia and Lithuania in the Age of Disruption and Great Power Rivalry”. The study has been prepared by two former ambassadors – Gints Jegermanis, on the part of Latvia, and Neris Germanas, on the part of Lithuania. The report is an evaluation of current cooperation between the two countries, and it offers recommendations on development opportunities in the areas such as foreign policy, economy, local government cooperation, people-to-people contacts.
In conclusion of the presentation event, the Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs noted that the report would serve as a roadmap for the further strengthening of relations and development concrete cooperation projects. Lithuania has always been as good neighbour, ally and friend to Latvia; this friendship and cooperation is a great value, which we must foster and enhance, he underlined.
See Report on Latvia-Lithuania future:
Background information
The Balts’ Award bestowed by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Latvia and Lithuania to recognize excellence and achievement in research, fostering and strengthening of the Balts’ heritage was first presented in 2018. Until now, the award has been received by the linguist Prof. Laimute Balode; a long-standing head of the Latvian Studies Centre at Vytautas Magnus University, Prof. Alvydas Butkus; the diplomat and linguist, Alberts Sarkanis; and the President of the Baltic Centre at Siauliai University, linguist and lecturer Dr Regina Kvašyte.
