YouSaid · the spoken record

Pildegovičs

lines on the record: 135
first: 2018-11-09
most recent: 2023-08-03
sittings or episodes: 20
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“That endeavour is ever more critical in a post-pandemic world that needs to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change, which poses new risks and can therefore further reinforce the vicious cycle of conflict and food insecurity. Latvia will continue to support multilateral efforts to address those challenges and to share our know-how with developing countries, including smart solutions for sustainable agriculture and water management.”
2023-08-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9392Resumption1 (2023) · source
“That includes unhampered humanitarian access to effectively address growing humanitarian needs and the threat of famine in armed conflicts. It is crucial that the international community mobilize under the United Nations leadership to respond to the food, energy and financial crisis exacerbated by Russia’s war. We commend the efforts of the Secretary-General, António Guterres, and the United Nations agencies that are at the forefront of fighting food insecurity and ensuring the continuous flow of foodstuff. In the meantime, there is a great need for continuous efforts to build up resilient and sustainable agricultural and food systems and reliable supply chains.”
2023-08-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9392Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Such actions highlight Russia’s willingness and intention to employ food as a weapon of war, rather than an essential humanitarian commodity to prevent starvation and hunger around the globe. The Russian Federation must immediately cease its unlawful military activities to ensure the resumption of shipments of food and agricultural commodities to and from Ukraine. Disruptions in the agricultural market are easily avoidable, and the international system based on international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, must not tolerate deliberate attacks on global agricultural supply chains and global food markets. We need quick and decisive action to ensure that the supply of food is available when it is needed the most and to minimize the effects of conflicts on food security.”
2023-08-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9392Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Given the central role of Ukraine in the global food supply chain, the Black Sea Grain Initiative has been critical to addressing the heightened food crisis caused by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. However, most regrettably, Russia has taken further steps to push more people into poverty, hunger and starvation. We condemn Russia’s decision to terminate its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative and the subsequent barrage of attacks on Ukrainian port facilities and agricultural warehouses, which have destroyed tens of thousands of tons of foodstuff. Russia has gone so far as to declare that it will consider any cargo ships traveling to Ukraine’s Black Sea ports to be a military target.”
2023-08-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9392Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Somalia, Yemen, Afghanistan, Haiti, Burkina Faso, Mali, South Sudan, the Sudan and Nigeria are at the highest concern level. The Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2417 (2018) five years ago, but we have yet to succeed in breaking the vicious cycle of armed conflict and food insecurity. Five years later, one of the permanent members of the Council, namely, the Russian Federation, is deliberately deepening food insecurity and significantly adding to the suffering of the most vulnerable people across the globe. By invading Ukraine and weaponizing food, and through destroying Ukraine’s agricultural lands, crippling its agricultural economy and blocking its exports, Russia has disrupted grain deliveries worldwide and fuelled a surge in food prices globally.”
2023-08-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9392Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Mr. Pildegovičs (Latvia): I would like to thank the United States for organizing this open debate and the briefers for their statements. Latvia also commends the United States for presenting the joint communiqué condemning the use of food as a weapon of war. Latvia has joined the signatories of that document. Latvia aligns itself with the statement delivered by the representative of the European Union. The staggering number of people who are food- insecure keeps increasing, reaching record levels. The growing number of armed conflicts in different geographic areas is alarming. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Food Programme are both warning us of acute food insecurity being likely to deteriorate even further in 18 hunger hotspots around the world.”
2023-08-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9392Resumption1 (2023) · source
“The best way to limit the risks that climate change poses to international peace and security is by keeping the goal of 1.5°C alive. Latvia is determined to reach climate neutrality by 2050 and is committed to the European Union’s target of reducing greenhouse-gas emissions by at least 55 per cent by 2030. We look forward to the twenty-eighth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, to be held in Dubai, as a decisive moment for stepping up ambition, and we encourage all to arrive prepared. In conclusion, let me say that Latvia will support future debates on the climate, peace and security nexus if it is elected to the Security Council as a non-permanent member in June 2025.”
2023-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9345Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Furthermore, the systematic sharing of findings, analyses and results with Member States through briefings and regular reports by the Secretary- General would contribute to a fuller understanding of how climate change plays out and contribute to building our planning and early-warning capacities. It will be important to continue the efforts aimed at greening the Blue Helmets. United Nations peacekeeping missions should implement sound environmental practices and solutions so as to reduce the footprint of United Nations peacekeeping activities. Using clean energy and reducing waste production and the use of plastic, along with enhancing environmental awareness, are just a few examples. The Council can play an instrumental role in that regard by factoring environment aspects into the renewal process for missions’ mandates.”
2023-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9345Resumption1 (2023) · source
“They range from the existential threat that sea level rise poses to small island developing States to the increased water and food insecurity created by extreme-weather events. United Nations missions mandated by the Security Council should have the capability to fully understand the context in which they operate and to address climate-related risks and contribute to building resilience. We commend the work already undertaken, and we believe that a more systematic integration of climate risk management and resilience strategies into conflict prevention and peacebuilding efforts is needed.”
2023-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9345Resumption1 (2023) · source
“It is clear for all to see that nature too is a casualty of Russia’s war. Climate change is indeed the defining challenge of our time. In order to address it, we need collective action, and we need all parts of the United Nations to join in. We were therefore pleased to be a sponsor of General Assembly resolution 77/276, which asked the International Court of Justice for an advisory opinion on climate change. We are confident that the Court’s advisory opinion will bring greater legal clarity with regard to the climate crisis. We are equally confident that by integrating climate-change considerations into its conflict-prevention, conflict-resolution and peacebuilding efforts, the Security Council will be better attuned to a world in climate crisis. Climate risks are highly context-specific.”
2023-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9345Resumption1 (2023) · source
“It is high time — as it was on 13 December 2021 when a draft resolution (S/2021/990) on the matter was sponsored by 113 Member States and vetoed by one — for the Security Council to be actively seized of this matter. Through their inherently destructive nature, wars and armed conflicts also put the opportunity to secure a sustainable future further out of reach. That is evident in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, which has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions, caused widespread environmental damage and created a toxic legacy. The destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam in the Kherson region of Ukraine by the Russian Federation is the most recent and devastating example, which has created not just another humanitarian crisis but an environmental disaster of proportions that are only gradually being revealed.”
2023-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9345Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Mr. Pildegovičs (Latvia): At the outset, let me thank the United Arab Emirates for organizing today’s open debate and the briefers for their valuable presentations on the current challenges related to climate change and peace and security. Latvia aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the European Union. The sixth synthesis report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, published in March, is stark in its assessment: “Climate change is a threat to human well-being and planetary health ... [There is] a rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a liveable and sustainable future for all”. With such an assessment, it is evident that climate change and its adverse impacts pose risks to peace and security.”
2023-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9345Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Launching the Council of Europe’s International Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine is a concrete step in this direction. Importantly, we need to prosecute Russia’s leadership for their crime of aggression at the special tribunal for the crime of aggression. The sooner Russia realizes it has lost the war, the better. It is a choice that Russia can make not to make things worse before it is too late. We call on Russia today to withdraw its troops from Ukraine and stop this criminal war now.”
2023-06-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9340 (2023) · source
“The Emergency Response Coordination Centre of the European Commission is actively monitoring the situation and in close contact with the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. Ukraine can request assistance under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. Dams like the Dnipro dam, in Nova Kahkovka, are protected by the laws of war and the Geneva Conventions. Destroying it is considered a grave violation of article 56 of Protocol Additional I and would amount to a war crime. The international community simply must not allow the Russian Federation to cause yet another disaster with catastrophic consequences. Russia must bear responsibility for the devastating consequences for thousands of innocent civilians and civilian infrastructure. We need to make every effort to ensure accountability.”
2023-06-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9340 (2023) · source
“The destruction of the dam has led to a significant reduction in the level of the reservoir used to supply cooling water to the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant. Russia must immediately return control of the plant to Ukraine, which would allow for effective crisis management efforts, with full involvement of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Against that backdrop, we commend the humanitarians who are providing life-saving assistance to people in need. It is crucial to maintain safe and secure humanitarian access. As stressed in the today by High Representative Josep Borrell Fontelles and Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič, the European Union (EU) is ready to provide immediate assistance to Ukrainian authorities and address any immediate needs, including food and drinking water.”
2023-06-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9340 (2023) · source
“It is the most vulnerable groups, including children, women, disabled persons and the elderly, who are suffering and will continue to suffer the most from the consequences of this illegal war. This is another war crime that cannot go unanswered. Attacks against civilians and critical civilian infrastructure must stop now. We are also concerned about the potential hazardous consequences for energy security, food security and nuclear safety, which may go beyond Ukraine’s borders. To quote President Zelenskyy, Russia has detonated a bomb of mass environmental destruction. This act further complicates the already dire situation at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, which is illegally occupied by Russia, with complete disregard for the nuclear safety concerns expressed numerous times by the international community.”
2023-06-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9340 (2023) · source
“Russia has a track record of violating international humanitarian law and committing countless war crimes, including attacks against civilians and critical civilian infrastructure. This irresponsible and barbaric act of the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam has prompted the displacement of thousands of civilians, creating another humanitarian crisis and an environmental disaster of proportions still to be fully revealed. Indeed, we might be witnessing an ecocide. As a direct consequence of Russia’s attack today, at least 17,000 people have already lost their homes, and there will be many more to come. Safe and clean drinking water supplies are at risk for the whole region. Newly planted crops have been destroyed.”
2023-06-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9340 (2023) · source
“Mr. Pildegovičs (Latvia): I speak on behalf of the Baltic States — Estonia, Lithuania and my own country, Latvia. We thank Under-Secretary-General Martin Griffiths for his briefing. Just two weeks ago, we gathered here for the annual Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians (see S/PV.9327). Nevertheless, we are here to today, sadly, to condemn in the strongest terms another deliberate attack on civilians and civilian infrastructure by the Russian Federation — namely, the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam, in the Kherson region of Ukraine. It is another piece in the chain of war crimes committed by Russia. The Nova Kakhovka dam has been under the occupation of the Russian Federation since it started the unjustified and unprovoked aggression against Ukraine.”
2023-06-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9340 (2023) · source
“Before I conclude, let me assure you, Madam President, of Latvia’s commitment to continue contributing to our collective efforts to build trust as a central element of sustaining peace.”
2023-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9315Resumption1 (2023) · source
“As a donor to the Peacebuilding Fund and a former member of the Peacebuilding Commission, we have noted that in many successful peacebuilding cases accountability and justice has played a key role in post-conflict transition, helping communities to reconcile with the past and to focus on building a peaceful future — while, on the contrary, impunity always creates fertile ground for more crimes, violence and suffering. Therefore, in our view, the theme of accountability deserves more attention in the peacebuilding and New Agenda for Peace deliberations, which should aim at closer collaboration among the Security Council, the Peacebuilding Commission and the Human Rights Council. Ensuring adequate funding for the respective peacebuilding and human rights mandates and activities is equally important.”
2023-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9315Resumption1 (2023) · source
“While acknowledging the importance of national efforts in building resilience, the international community, and the United Nations in particular, has an important role to play in supporting and coordinating those efforts in various areas, including cyber security, sustainable energy, media and information literacy and others. Thirdly, Latvia strongly believes in the importance of ensuring accountability as a vehicle for building trust and sustaining peace.”
2023-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9315Resumption1 (2023) · source
“The international community, by having entrusted significant powers to the Council, has every reason to expect from its members, in particular the five permanent Member States, to hold international norms to their highest standard, rather than brutally trample upon them. Secondly, trust goes hand in hand with confidence in the ability of the international community to successfully manage and overcome crises and challenges. From the coronavirus disease pandemic to the climate crisis, we have seen inconsistent responses, which often leave vulnerable groups, including women and girls, as the most exposed. Therefore, we believe that strengthening resilience is an important priority in the context of improving governance at local, regional and global levels, as it can help to absorb shocks, manage crises and prevent further disruption.”
2023-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9315Resumption1 (2023) · source
“The international rules-based order was established to prevent the darkest pages of the history of the twentieth century from ever repeating themselves again. Therefore, every case when a State attempts to divert from that order should cause the deepest alarm in the global community. One clear example is Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, which constitutes a blatant violation of the Charter of the United Nations, as well as other key tenets of international law and international humanitarian law. It is imperative that all members of the Security Council strictly reject such behaviour by Russia and continue efforts to stop its aggression in order to preserve the trust and credibility of this body.”
2023-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9315Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Mr. Pildegovičs (Latvia): Latvia welcomes this high-level open debate on building and sustaining peace. We appreciate Switzerland’s leadership in organizing this meeting and thank all the briefers for their valuable insight. Latvia aligns itself with the statement to be delivered by the observer of the European Union. Latvia shares the view that trust is a key ingredient when it comes to building and sustaining peace. We all know well that trust takes a long time and patience to develop; at the same time, it is very easy to break. Therefore, we should focus on solid building blocks of trust, which in turn can play a crucial role in upholding global peace and security. First of all, trust depends on adherence to rules and norms by everyone who has signed up to them.”
2023-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9315Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Latvia is strongly committed to fulfilling its climate targets and achieving climate neutrality by 2050. Additionally, we are currently working on the implementation of more ambitious 2030 greenhouse-gas emissions targets. Latvia encourages all countries to commit to more ambitious climate targets in their new and updated nationally determined contributions before the twenty- eighth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Latvia recently contributed to the United Nations Development Programme Climate Promise, which helps countries reach their climate goals. As we continue to respond to the crises unfolding across the world, we must ensure that we build back better and greener for a sustainable, climate-resilient and peaceful future.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260Resumption1 (2023) · source
“It will be important to see the Security Council demonstrate its full flexibility so as to embrace the existing climate challenges and ensure that the impact of sea level rise is considered in a cross-cutting manner in its work, activities and mandates that can also enable a response to the specific threat of sea level rise itself. We regret that the important draft resolution S/2021/990, which framed the problem of climate change as a threat to international peace and security and was sponsored by a majority of the United Nations membership, failed to be adopted in 2021 owing to the veto of one permanent member of the Council (see S/PV.8926). In conclusion, ambitious and urgent climate mitigation action continues to be the crucial element in managing climate risks and limiting sea level rise.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260Resumption1 (2023) · source
“With respect to the legal implications of sea level rise, we believe that international courts and tribunals play an important role in clarifying the rules that guide the conduct of States and other actors in dealing with the causes and implications of the climate crisis. We therefore express our appreciation for Vanuatu’s historic initiative in requesting an advisory opinion on climate change from the International Court of Justice, as well as the request by the Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law for an advisory opinion from the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. Latvia will consider participating in those advisory proceedings to contribute to the development of international law.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Sea level rise poses significant questions about the suitability of established concepts and institutions of the international law of the sea, international human rights law and statehood law for addressing the interests of specially affected actors. While the way those questions are framed may be new, international law is not unfamiliar with the phenomenon of legally recognized and existing States having limited factual control over their territory, and the historical experience of the Baltic States gives us an informed perspective and sympathy for the arguments of States thus affected. Latvia is also looking forward to reading the materials of the third issues paper of the Study Group and its discussion by the ILC later this year.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260Resumption1 (2023) · source
“We also look forward to the holding of the fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States and its preparatory process, which could also provide an opportunity to reflect on the topic from a sustainable development perspective. Latvia has put forward its candidacy to the Bureau of the Preparatory Committee and stands ready to contribute to the process. Latvia is closely following the work of the International Law Commission’s (ILC) Study Group on sea level rise in relation to international law. We have reflected upon it and provided our response during the yearly discussion of the ILC’s report in the General Assembly’s Sixth Committee.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260Resumption1 (2023) · source
“It is necessary to urgently develop, update and implement adaptation strategies that are holistic and based on the best available science. International cooperation has a crucial role to play in climate action. In the Baltic region, we pay special attention to regional cooperation, for instance within the Council of the Baltic Sea States. On a global scale, we fully support the ongoing work under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in scaling up climate action and enhancing the resilience of countries on the front lines of the climate crisis and facing the existential threat of sea level rise. In that regard, we look forward to the forthcoming report on the multidimensional vulnerability index.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Mr. Pildegovičs (Latvia): Latvia thanks Malta for organizing this important meeting on global climate action. We thank the briefers for their insightful presentations. Latvia aligns itself with the statement to be delivered by the representative of the European Union. We often speak of the next generations that will suffer greatly from climate change, but we have to listen to science here — it might be our generation that needs saving first, and that might be sooner than we expected. Latvia, too, has identified sea level rise as a significant threat in its 2030 national plan for adaption to climate change, which was adopted in 2019. With the impacts of climate change increasing in occurrence and strength, such adaptation plans and measures will determine the resilience of countries and communities.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260Resumption1 (2023) · source
“In that regard, Latvia is presenting its candidacy for a 2026–2027 term on the Security Council. It our collective task and duty to strengthen the effectiveness of our multilateral system so that it is ready to address various security challenges.”
2022-12-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9220Resumption1 (2022) · source
“We strongly believe that effective multilateralism is about more than just interaction among States and stakeholders. While dialogue has value in itself, in our view, multilateralism is — first and foremost — about collective good faith efforts to achieve concrete goals. It is possible only when actors are credible and their words match their deeds. The task ahead of us might seem daunting at times, but respecting the Charter of the United Nations means that we step up to defend it during times of instability. We must reject any attempt to erase sovereign States from the map or to use threats to bully the international community. Our discussion today is an opportunity for us to look deeper into our common interests deriving from our common appreciation of the multilateral system.”
2022-12-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9220Resumption1 (2022) · source
“We regret that in 2021 the Security Council, with two votes against, failed to adopt a draft resolution (S/2021/990) that would have been a historic achievement (see S/PV.8926) by integrating climate-related security risk as a central component of United Nations conflict-prevention strategies. Thirdly, the information space is increasingly becoming a part of global peace and security. Disinformation has become a global phenomenon used to undermine a scientific approach to information, but also to question the validity of the current international order. Building resilience to disinformation by supporting independent and pluralistic media, as well as fostering media literacy, becomes increasingly important in international peace and security efforts.”
2022-12-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9220Resumption1 (2022) · source
“First, it is necessary to take a multi-stakeholder approach. Latvia recognizes the strong link between the equal participation of women and global security and remains steadfast in its support for the women and peace and security agenda. As a current member of the Peacebuilding Commission and the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women and its Bureau and a member-elect of the UN-Women Executive Board, Latvia has been an active participant in international efforts to promote gender equality. Secondly, climate change is increasingly becoming an international peace and security issue that multilateralism has to address in order to remain effective. Therefore, combating climate change will continue to be a strategic priority in diplomacy for the coming decades.”
2022-12-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9220Resumption1 (2022) · source
“While the investigation opened by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court regarding alleged atrocity crimes in Ukraine proves the Court’s commitment to supporting the rules- based international order, the Court is unable to exercise jurisdiction over the crime of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. To prevent impunity, that accountability gap must be closed. We therefore believe that an ad hoc special tribunal would be the most appropriate tool for complementing the Court’s jurisdiction. While making our strong contribution to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, we also need to address key areas such as gender equality, climate change and the fight against disinformation as crucial parts of effective multilateralism.”
2022-12-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9220Resumption1 (2022) · source
“As a member of the ACT group, Latvia believes that the Council would better represent the interests of the United Nations membership if we could demand more accountability, legitimacy and transparency, including regarding its working methods. Furthermore, as a co-founder of the Group of Friends of Accountability, Latvia is dedicated to strengthening accountability, fighting impunity and gathering the support of the international community for establishing a special tribunal that will bring justice to Ukraine. We are currently witnessing the most serious crimes of international concern being committed in Ukraine, with unimaginable consequences that should horrify the international community.”
2022-12-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9220Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Russia’s aggression proves that reform of the Security Council is not just long overdue but more essential than ever if we are to respond adequately to our current and future challenges. We fully support the French- Mexican initiative on veto restraint in cases of mass atrocities, as well as the Accountability, Coherency and Transparency (ACT) group’s code of conduct regarding Security Council action against genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The adoption of the so-called veto initiative (resolution 76/262) has contributed to efforts aimed at empowering the General Assembly and ensuring that the United Nations is not voiceless when the Council appears deadlocked.”
2022-12-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9220Resumption1 (2022) · source
“When the United Nations was established, world leaders conferred a particular responsibility on five major global players for the preservation and advancement of international peace and security. Most regrettably, it is one of those five countries that has chosen to utterly disregard the most basic principles of the international system that it helped to create. The current situation whereby one of the permanent members of the Council is committing mass atrocities in a neighbouring country and is able to veto resolutions that would allow the Council to take action is an oxymoron. People all over the globe are watching as the Security Council fails to act decisively. We cannot expect faith in the United Nations system to last if the Security Council’s hands are tied and its voices silenced.”
2022-12-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9220Resumption1 (2022) · source
“The international community has taken concrete steps towards upholding the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and supporting the right of Ukraine to defend itself, including through General Assembly resolutions. The strong global response to that flagrant breach of international norms sends a powerful message that multilateralism and the international rules-based order must prevail. We created it together and we must defend it together. The changing of borders by force has no place in our twenty-first-century world. Recent shocks such as Russia’s aggression and the coronavirus disease pandemic have demonstrated that certain aspects of the multilateral system urgently need revisiting.”
2022-12-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9220Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Mr. Pildegovičs (Latvia): I thank the briefers for their presentations and the Indian presidency for convening this meeting. Latvia aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the European Union. Russia’s military aggression against a sovereign neighbouring country has shaken the very foundations on which the current international system stands. That system is a hard-won achievement and the result of two world wars, after which the world decided that a “might makes right” attitude is in no one’s interests. While aggressors like Russia are attempting to throw the rules-based international order into disarray, Latvia remains a strong supporter of effective multilateralism, with the United Nations at its core.”
2022-12-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9220Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Wherever Russia goes, it leaves horror in its wake, and with every passing day those crimes go unpunished. However, we believe in the power of the international community. We are confident that Ukraine will prevail. We are determined that war criminals will be brought to justice.”
2022-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9208 (2022) · source
“We fully support the Secretary-General’s Black Sea Grain Initiative and the work of the Joint Coordination Centre and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in facilitating trade in food and fertilizer in order to alleviate global food insecurity. We call for transparency in that important work. The unhindered freedom of navigation in the Black Sea is the only practical way to ensure a reliable flow of Ukraine’s grain and other food staples. To achieve that, Russia must immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine, within its internationally recognized borders. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania will continue to firmly stand up for the Charter of the United Nations, international law, human rights, peace and security.”
2022-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9208 (2022) · source
“There are mounting allegations of conflict-related sexual violence, including against children, and other forms of gender-based violence. Survivors’ access to comprehensive services, including medical and psychological support, must be ensured. According to NASA Harvest, Ukraine has lost at least 6 million tons of wheat — worth $1 billion — harvested in areas controlled by Russia. We would like to reiterate that the Russian aggression is the direct cause of the current global food insecurity, not the sanctions aimed at ending the aggression. We call on Russia to stop prolonging the inspection of vessels heading to and from the Black Sea ports, thereby preventing Ukrainian grain and foodstuffs from reaching millions of people.”
2022-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9208 (2022) · source
“In addition, in providing aid to Ukraine the Baltic States are taking the lead in terms of the share of their gross domestic product. We commend the humanitarians who continue working through the challenges posed by energy shortages to support people in Ukraine. We call upon all relevant United Nations institutions, as well as the international community, to continue their life-saving efforts. Helping Ukraine to restore its energy infrastructure is especially critical for avoiding the direst humanitarian consequences. However, insecurity and the obstacles imposed by Russia continue to hinder humanitarian workers’ capacity to support those in need. The ongoing war in Ukraine severely disrupts access to livelihood opportunities and basic services for women and girls, including life-saving sexual and reproductive health-care services.”
2022-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9208 (2022) · source
“A special international tribunal for the punishment of the crime of aggression against Ukraine must be established to fill that jurisdictional vacuum. Russia could — but chooses not to — stop its war of aggression and the suffering and crisis it causes to Ukraine and its people, including its children. Together with actions aimed at stopping Russia, one of the international community’s priorities for this winter should be to ensure protection for the most vulnerable. Shortages of electricity and fuel add to the challenges involved in ensuring that children in Ukraine can continue their education and receive crucial services. States, civil society organizations, private donors and United Nations agencies, including UNICEF and other humanitarian partners, have worked to meet the needs of millions of people in dire need of assistance.”
2022-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9208 (2022) · source
“The international community will hold Russia’s perpetrators accountable for the crime of aggression and all other atrocity crimes committed in and against Ukraine. Therefore, it is imperative to continue documenting and properly storing evidence, as well as to continue reporting regularly on all the war crimes committed throughout Ukraine. In order to further strengthen international criminal justice mechanisms, we strongly support the idea of establishing a special international tribunal to prosecute the crime of aggression against Ukraine. Currently, there is no international court or tribunal that could hold Russia’s top political and military leadership to account for committing crimes of aggression against Ukraine.”
2022-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9208 (2022) · source
“It has also affected neighbouring countries, such as the Republic of Moldova, which has also experienced blackouts. Over the past few weeks, Russia has only stepped up its indiscriminate attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure. Russia’s war on Ukraine has caused immense suffering and psychological trauma, which particularly affects children. Energy cuts have negatively impacted child-protection activities. Russia’s aggression has left 3.4 million children in need of child-protection interventions. Thousands of Ukrainian children have been forcefully deported to Russia, which constitutes a war crime. Children belong with their families, and they must be safely and immediately returned to their homes. There must be no impunity for Russia’s crimes in Ukraine.”
2022-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9208 (2022) · source
“Mr. Pildegovičs (Latvia): I speak on behalf of the Baltic States — Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. I thank Under-Secretary-General Griffiths for his sobering briefing, and I also thank the presidency for the opportunity to address the Security Council. Destroying the energy, heat and water supply in order to inflict pain on people who are already suffering food and medicine shortages seems to be key to Russia’s war of terror against civilians in Ukraine. Just days after Ukraine saw the season’s first snow, Russia’s strikes caused widespread blackouts and disruptions of vital services, thereby affecting millions of people, including children. With the onset of winter conditions, we face a completely new dimension of the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine — a crisis that was deliberately created by Russia.”
2022-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9208 (2022) · source
“We call on the Russian armed forces to withdraw from the whole territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, stop the war and the human suffering and cease exacerbating the negative global consequences. Justice must prevail; the perpetrators must, and will, be held accountable.”
2022-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9175 (2022) · source