International policy issues discussed at the Latvian and Lithuanian Foreign Ministries’ seminar

On 13 September 2023, the senior officials of the Latvian and Lithuanian Ministries of Foreign Affairs met for their seventh informal seminar at Jelgava Palace.

Officials from the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed their counterparts about the progress and main priorities of the Latvian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

During the seminar, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Andris Pelšs, met with the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Jovita Neliupšiene, to discuss the relations between Latvia and Lithuania, cooperation in the Baltic and Nordic (NB8) format, providing support to Ukraine, as well as holding Russia accountable for the crime of aggression.

As he commended the excellent cooperation between the two countries in international organisations, the State Secretary Andris Pelšs expressed gratitude to Lithuania for supporting Latvia’s candidacy in the United Nations Security Council elections in 2025. He also wished Lithuania good luck in preparations for its presidency of the Baltic Council of Ministers in 2024 and the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers from May to November next year.

The seminar also featured an exchange of views on the development of regional transport infrastructure and energy market, as well as on topics high on the European Union agenda.