Pievienots
Speech by Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs at annual Foreign Policy Debate in the Latvian Parliament (Saeima), 26 January 2017.
We should not expect the world to end in 2017! And a military offensive against Latvia is also not in the cards. Each and every one of us must understand that it depends on us and only on us in what kind of country, and in what kind of environment – secure or insecure – we shall continue to live.
In a globalised world, it is beyond the power of any single country to stand up to challenges all by itself – be they related to safeguarding peace and security, or the fight against terrorism, or migration flows, or climate change. It is only by working closely together that we can achieve results.
We often hear that Latvia should keep a low profile – like a little rabbit hiding under a fir tree, while a big bad wolf prowls nearby. We acted like this once in the past, and lost our independence for a while. We must not stand to the side and just watch what is happening around us! Latvia’s foreign policy must become more visible and Latvia’s voice – more vocal and audible in the global arena – day by day, and every step of the way. Latvia must not be weak in either its internal policy or its foreign policy.
Although Latvia has many friends and allies, who will come to our assistance in times of need, first of all, it is we who must take care of the growth, development and security of our country. Latvia’s international reputation, competitiveness, prosperity, as well as its political culture and maturity are in our own hands.
Nobody in Brussels nor in any other capital city is to blame if we are unable or do not want to take decisions in favour of the further development of our country.
Indeed, this year is going to be a rigorous time of trial – in Europe and across the globe. This year in the international policy is going to be full of sharp twists and turns – which remind some of us of a rollercoaster ride, and others – of a bobsleigh track. I am sure that Latvia, being a powerhouse in skeleton and bobsleigh, will also be able to overcome these challenges.
Elections are coming up in the Netherlands, France and Germany. The United Kingdom is launching negotiations on leaving the European Union. The crisis in Syria, as well as the conflict in the east of Ukraine shows no signs of abating. Regrettably, we’ll have to confront the mindset and actions of some countries denying the right of nations to decide their own destiny.
We witness international tensions in many regions across the world, and the huge numbers of refugees in the European Union and at EU borders have not decreased over the past year. The threat of terrorism has grown dramatically. World peace is threatened by state-of-the-art weapons in the hands of irresponsible or weak governments.
Foreign policy issues are becoming a means and a pretext to address domestic problems and exacerbate internal political rhetoric.
In 2016, more acutely than ever, we were exposed to targeted and controlled online campaigns of slander and disinformation. The non-stop flow of information via various media sources is becoming increasingly fragmented and superficial. The number of half-truths, deliberate disinformation and blatant lies propagated by the global and local social networks and media are on the rise.
This phenomenon has become a tool in internal and external policy. The governments are just starting to muster for action to counter this phenomenon; however, the involvement of civil society is also crucial.
With this in mind today, I wish to thank both the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence and the East StratCom Task Force of the European External Action Service for their active work.
Special thanks go to Internet blogger Jānis Polis and other enthusiasts. On their own initiative, they have explored the devastating power of propaganda in Latvia’s social media. An effective remedy in the fight against disinformation is an educated society with well-developed skills of analysis and critical thinking.
Full text of Mr. Rinkēvičs speech to Parliament: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Kaut arī pasaules gals un militārs uzbrukums nav gaidāms, Latvija nedrīkst atļauties būt vāja iekšpolitiski un ārpolitiski. Tā gadskārtējās ārpolitikas debatēs Saeimā sacīja ārlietu ministrs Edgars Rinkēvičs. Deputātu redzējums par šā gada ārpolitiskajiem uzdevumiem bija dažāds – no nepieciešamības paredzēt papildu līdzekļus aizsardzībai, līdz kibertelpas stiprināšanai un Triju Zvaigžņu ordeņa piešķiršanai bijušajam ASV prezidentam Barakam Obamam.
Sekosim līdzi notikumiem Latvijas politikā!
Ārlietu ministra Edgara Rinkēviča uzruna Saeimas ārpolitikas debatēs 2017. gada 26. janvārī. Ārlietu ministrija
