Latvia’s candidacy for UN Security Council highlighted in Canberra

On 20 February 2025, Canberra Grammar School, a secondary school in the Australian capital, hosted an event and a presentation organised by the Embassy of Latvia on Latvia’s candidacy for the United Nations Security Council. Ambassador Marģers Krams gave a presentation on Latvia’s candidacy, its thematic priorities and objectives, as well as Latvia's achievements and contributions to international organisations. In his capacity of Special Envoy for the Pacific Islands, the Ambassador addressed representatives from island countries, highlighting their role in promoting peace and resilience in the Indo-Pacific region. The Ambassador noted that environmental and climate change issues are priorities for Latvia and will be addressed at the UN Security Council, including the impact of climate change on Pacific Island countries and their sovereignty (border change) as a result of rising water levels.

Marģers Krams: “The motto of the Latvian campaign is Together for Peace and Resilience. We believe that the voice of each UN member country matters regardless of the size, power or influence of the country, and it has every right to be represented on the UN Security Council.”

The Ambassador also referred to events in the world and, in the presence of the Ukrainian Ambassador, emphasised: “Ukraine must not be put in a position where it has to blindly accept an agreement being imposed upon it. Any agreement must offer a guarantee for Ukraine independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and the possibility of joining the European Union and NATO.”

The event was attended by High Commissioners and representatives from the Pacific Island and Asian countries, the Ambassadors of the Baltic States, Nordic countries and Ukraine, as well as officials from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department of Defence.

After the presentation, the audiences were invited to a concert given by distinguished Latvian musicians, the Balanas Sisters, which took place in the recently opened Snow Concert Hall. Sisters Kristīne and Margarita Balanas opened the autumn season of the concert venue playing the listeners’ favourite compositions by Hendel, Bach, Ravel and Vivaldi, as well as a piece by the prominent Latvian composer Pēteris Vasks, Castillo Interior. With a concert in Canberra, the Balanas Sisters wrapped up their Australian tour, which carried Latvia’s name far across the continent: the duo had performed in major Australian cities and venues, including in the Sydney Opera House.

The Embassy would like to thank all Latvians who came to the concert and gave a cordial welcome to the performers. It is not so often that musicians from Latvia arrive to the distant Australia; therefore, the recital was a special event for Latvians living here.

The event organised by the Embassy was implemented as part of the public diplomacy programme in support of the lobby campaign of Latvia’s candidacy for the United Nations Security Council.

The campaign under the motto of “Together for Peace and Resilience” aims at ensuring that Latvia is elected to the United Nations Security Council for the 2026–2027 term in the 2025 election, at which Latvia is running for an elected member’s seat for the first time. Membership of the UNSC would be a key instrument in pursuit and protection of Latvia’s foreign policy interests, as well as enabling Latvia to expand its international cooperation, thereby contributing to world peace and resilience.

Photo: Embassy of Latvia in Australia