On 20 April 2023, the Under-Secretary of State at the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Political Director Andžejs Viļumsons, welcomed the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine, Anatolii Kutsevol, and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Colombia, Assad José Jater Peña, who had arrived on accreditation visits.
Ukraine’s Ambassador commended the relationship between the two countries. He thanked Latvia for its support for Ukraine and recognised that during the war, Latvia had been often named as an example when it comes to finding answers to difficult questions.
During the meeting, the officials discussed Ukraine’s integration with the European Union and cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). They also highlighted the need for tightening sanctions and holding Russia accountable for its aggression against Ukraine by setting up an international tribunal as well as seeking solutions to the use of Russia’s frozen assets.
In a meeting with the Colombian Ambassador, Andžejs Viļumsons expressed appreciation of the relationship between Latvia and Colombia over more than 100 years. The diplomats affirmed their interest in intensifying political dialogue and strengthening cooperation in the sectors of environment, forestry, agriculture, green energy, information and communication technologies, education and trade.
Other topics discussed were cooperation between the European Union and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean State (Comunidad de Estados Latinoamericanos y Caribeños/CELAC), the EU-CELAC Summit scheduled for July, as well as the security climate in the region and current developments in Latin America.