On 1 February 2020, the Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Edgars Rinkēvičs, met with the Secretary for Relations With States of the Holy See, Paul Richard Galagher, in Riga to discuss the dialogue between Latvia and the Holy See, cooperation in international organisations and topics of current importance in international relations.
I am happy to welcome you as my counterpart on the first ever visit of a Holy See Foreign Minister to Latvia, said Edgars Rinkēvičs. The visit to Latvia by His Holiness Pope Francis confirms that the Holy See has always been aware of the needs of our region and paid attention to them, including those that are political and spiritual. For instance, Latvia is grateful for the firm and consistent policy of the Holy See of always supporting Latvia and not recognising, throughout the years of occupation, Latvia’s incorporation into the USSR, Edgars Rinkēvičs underlined.
The Foreign Minister noted that 10 June 2020 will be 100 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Latvia and the Holy See, and in 2022, the centenary of signing the Concordat.
The Minister stated that Latvia would like to work on global issues, for instance, sustainable and socially responsible development, the importance of education and its policy in the context of the future of Europe, the influence of digitalisation on society, climate and multilateralism, recognised by the Holy See as essential. We see that the Holy See is actively involved in current discussions in international organisations, including at the United Nations, on climate change, migration, and conflict resolution, the Latvian Foreign Minister said.
The officials discussed the security situation in the region, especially the state of affairs in Ukraine. The Minister welcomed the commitment reached at the Normandy Summit on the stabilisation of situation in the conflict zone and the exchange of prisoners that took place on 29 December 2019. He noted that efforts must be made to implement the Minsk agreements in practice, restoring Ukraine’s control over its borders, and working on issues concerning the law on the status of Donetsk and Luhansk. We hope, said the Latvian Foreign Minister, that Russia will engage more constructively in the fulfilment of political conditions for the settlement of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Latvia will never recognise the illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea. Regardless of challenges faced by Ukraine it has made significant progress with the implementation of reforms. It is important for Ukraine’s reform achievements to be irreversible, especially in combating corruption and in the justice sector, Edgars Rinkēvičs underlined.
Latvia supports international initiatives aimed at strengthening religious freedom on a global scale and stands up against persecution on religious grounds, said the Minister. He announced that Latvia is going to join the Alliance to Advance International Religious Freedom to be launched in Washington, D.C. on 5 February, since Latvia’s national legal framework and practice are in line with the criteria of the Alliance. The work and activities of the Alliance will be an additional safeguard for the existing international mechanisms in the framework of the United Nations and other organisations, Edgars Rinkēvičs said.
During the meeting, the ministers shared views on ecumenism, preservation of sacral heritage and cooperation between the Roman Catholic Church and the Latvian state.
Background information
Paul Richard Gallagher was born in 1954 in Liverpool. He holds the current post since 8 November 2014, while being a member of the Holy See’s Foreign Service since 1984. Has held posts at the Nunciatures in Tanzania, Uruguay, the Philippines; served as the Holy See’s Permanent Observer to the Council of Europe (2000–2004), as Apostolic Nuncio to Burundi (2004–2009), Guatemala (2009–2012) and Australia (2012–2014). Fluent in English, Italian, Spanish and French.