On 20 July 2022, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Edgars Rinkēvičs, met with the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Rebecca Grynspan, in Riga.
Edgars Rinkēvičs noted that the role and challenges faced by UNCTAD have become more important, as the gap between countries in terms of social security, education, gender equality and nutrition, especially due to Russia's aggression against Ukraine, is increasing.
The officials discussed the current sanctions and their relation to the export of grain and mineral fertilizers from Ukraine. “We support searching for global solutions to ensure the export of grain from Ukraine, but those solutions regarding grain and mineral fertilizer export cannot be adopted without Ukraine’s support and consent,” the Minister of Foreign Affairs emphasized.
During the meeting, Edgars Rinkēvičs stressed that sanctions against Russia should remain in place until all Russian forces have been withdrawn from Ukraine.
UNCTAD oversees the promotion of economic development and sustainable development, focusing on trade, finance, investment and technology. As a country that has itself implemented reforms facilitating economic transition, Latvia strongly supports UNCTAD’s mission of strengthening the economic development capacity of developing countries.
Background information
UNCTAD was established in 1964. UNCTAD acts as a forum for intergovernmental deliberations on economic development; conducts research, policy analysis and data collection; provides substantial technical assistance, mainly to developing countries, and with special attention to the needs of the least developed countries and of economies in transition.
On 20 June 2022, UNCTAD’s Trade and Development Board unanimously appointed the Ambassador of Latvia to the United Nations in Geneva, Bahtijors Hasans, as its president for a one-year term.