Egils Levits looked back at the history of Latvian representation at the Global Baku Forum, thanking President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga (President of Latvia from 1999 until 2007) for leadership and other presidents of Latvia for active participation, which reflects the successful relations between Latvia and Azerbaijan and commitment to maintain constant geopolitical dialogue.
President of Latvia praised Azerbaijan for successful coordination of UN Non-Aligned Movement countries. This movement unites 120 countries and has been internationally recognised as a platform that supports cross-cultural dialogue. Cooperation with Azerbaijan in the scope of the United Nations is an efficient way to advance goals important for both countries, i.e., ensure the adherence to international law and respect for territorial integrity, President of Latvia said.
In the harsh reality where states and individuals are faced with existential threats, this forum must first and foremost seek to find answers to the question of how we can ensure greater resilience, President underlined. According to Egils Levits, we must first address external threats, which are currently exacerbated by full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine and have been at the fore even before Crimean annexation. ‘We must do everything we can to ensure supremacy of international law, the rules-based international order that emerged in 1945,’ President of Latvia said in his address to the participants.
President underlined that special international ad hoc tribunal must be created to hold Russia accountable for its crimes of aggression against Ukraine.
Climate change is another emerging existential threat to countries and individuals, President of Latvia pointed out. Rising ocean and sea levels are threatening future of numerous states. It is a legal and existential challenge for societies. It is unacceptable that some countries are partially or heavily exposed to climate risks, Egils Levits concluded.
President Levits also mentioned the importance of resilience of nations and steps needed to significantly boost this resilience. Human securitability depends on how well we implement human rights, democracy and rule of law, he stressed. These are the values promoted and supported by Council of Europe. ‘Very soon, this May, Latvia will assume the chairmanship of the Council of Europe. It is our special duty to take care of democratic values and stronger rule of law,’ Egils Levits concluded.
