From 18 to 24 September 2022, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Edgars Rinkēvičs, will stay in New York to take part in the High Level Week events during the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
On 19 September, the Foreign Minister will attend the opening of the UN Transforming Education Summit, and on 20 September he will be present at the main event of the UNGA 77 High Level Week – the opening of the General Debate, at which, on 21 September, remarks will be delivered by the President of Latvia, Egils Levits.
Edgars Rinkēvičs will take part in the conversation of the three Baltic States’ Presidents with the UN Secretary General, António Guterres, as well as having a meeting with the President of the UNGA 77th Session, Csaba Kőrösi.
The Minister is to participate in a meeting of the European Union’s Foreign Ministers and in events organised by several other countries and addressing Russia’s responsibility for aggression against Ukraine, the crisis in Belarus and its regional and global security impacts, as well as disinformation and mediation. Alongside the High Level Events, Edgars Rinkēvičs will have bilateral meetings with a number of foreign ministers from countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region.
During his visit, the Foreign Minister will also meet with members of the Latvian community and representatives from Latvian exile organisations to unveil a commemorative plaque at the Daugavas Vanagi Latvian Association house in New York, which once hosted the office of an organisation, Baltic Appeal to the United Nations (BATUN), and Latvia’s first Permanent Mission to the United Nations.
Background information
The High Level Week of the UNGA 77th session is taking place from 19 to 26 September. At the High Level Events, Latvia will be represented by the President of Latvia, Egils Levits, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Edgars Rinkēvičs.