YouSaid · the spoken record

Rinkēvičs

lines on the record: 36
first: 2014-02-19
most recent: 2023-02-24
sittings or episodes: 6
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

“Russia is cynically covering that up with false narratives and disinformation, including by dishonestly blaming sanctions. It is Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine that has aggravated an already existing food- security crisis and helped to increase energy prices. We support the Black Sea Grain Initiative and urge Russia to extend it, as well as to stop delaying the work of inspection teams. Yesterday the General Assembly once again reaffirmed the international support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We urge the Security Council to uphold the Charter, which forms the basis for just and lasting peace in Ukraine. We welcome President Zelenskyy’s 10-point peace formula, and we strongly support his vision for peace, which rests on international law and the principles of the Charter.”
2023-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9269 (2023) · source
“Russia must and will be held accountable for its crimes. We support the work of the International Criminal Court in investigating atrocity crimes. In addition, the crime of aggression must be addressed to bring to justice the Russian political and military leadership who have masterminded and unleashed the war of aggression against Ukraine. We believe that the United Nations should play a meaningful role in securing broad international support for the establishment of a tribunal for the prosecution of the crime of aggression. Russia uses disinformation and propaganda to mobilize domestic and international support for its aggression against Ukraine. It is extremely worrisome that Russia is using food and energy as instruments in its warfare, resulting in suffering for the most vulnerable nations and people all over the world.”
2023-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9269 (2023) · source
“To make that happen, we must provide Ukraine with all necessary means. Under the Charter, Ukraine has an inherent right to self-defence. The Nordic and Baltic States are determined to enhance Ukraine’s military capabilities and to provide all necessary support. Unable to defeat Ukraine on the battlefield, Russia is terrorizing Ukraine’s civilian population. The mass killings, rape and torture in Bucha and Izyum, and the illegal deportation of children, are only some of the most horrifying atrocity crimes of the Russian armed forces. We condemn in the strongest terms Russia’s deliberate attacks on civilians, critical infrastructure and civilian objects in Ukraine. To alleviate the suffering and to facilitate reconstruction, we are providing economic, political, humanitarian, financial and legal assistance to Ukraine and its people.”
2023-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9269 (2023) · source
“Russia, a permanent member of the Security Council, is seeking to change the borders of a neighbouring sovereign country by military force. That constitutes a serious threat to international peace and security. We will never accept Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhya oblasts. We call on the Russian Federation to abide by the provisional measures order of the International Court of Justice of 16 March 2022 to immediately suspend the military operations that it commenced on 24 February 2022 in Ukraine. Russia is cynically disregarding its obligations as a permanent member and hampering the Security Council’s ability to implement its mandate. Russia started the war and Russia can and must end it immediately by withdrawing its troops from the internationally recognized territory of Ukraine.”
2023-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9269 (2023) · source
“Mr. Rinkēvičs (Latvia): I am speaking on behalf of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden and my own country, Latvia. I thank the Secretary-General for his briefing and Malta’s presidency for the opportunity to address the Security Council. A year has passed since Russia started its brutal, unjustified, unprovoked, full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine, aided by Belarus. It is a clear violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations. We admire the bravery and persistence of the Ukrainians in the fight for their freedom and independence. We want to pay our respects to all Ukrainians who have died defending their homeland. Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol and its full-scale invasion of Ukraine have trampled on international norms and the rules-based order.”
2023-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9269 (2023) · source
“Latvia has ratified the Kampala Amendments to the Rome Statute on the crime of aggression and is committed to further supporting the work of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Referrals by the Security Council to the ICC are necessary when there is evidence that atrocity crimes are being committed with impunity. International law will prevail only if it is rigorously implemented by the international community, and we all should all strive to do that.”
2018-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8262 (2018) · source
“Russia's annexation of Ukrainian Crimea and its covert and overt actions in eastern Ukraine violate that fundamental principle. We have witnessed similar acts by Russia in Georgia. We need a rules-based system so that powerful countries do not annex parts of other countries, or whole countries, on false pretexts. We must return to the rules-based security order. A peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine that respects Ukraine's independence and territorial integrity must be a priority. The international community must continue to seek solutions to the protracted conflicts in Europe. Accountability for grave violations of international law is necessary for the credibility of the whole international system.”
2018-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8262 (2018) · source
“In the case of Syria, the failure of the Council to prevent or stop the conflict and end impunity for the mass atrocities that have taken place has resulted in an enormous human cost. The polarization of the Council, including the use of the veto to block any meaningful action, has delayed the chances for reaching a viable political solution in Syria. Latvia strongly condemns the use of chemical weapons, which is a flagrant violation of international law and Security Council resolutions. Such violations must be thoroughly investigated, and the approach to them must be proactive. The principle of territorial integrity is a key element of the international legal order, enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.”
2018-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8262 (2018) · source
“We are convinced that the relations between States must be based on law, not force. The Security Council, as the main guarantor of international peace and security, has a particular responsibility, as its actions have implications with respect to international law. The Council has a special role in preventing conflicts, acts of aggression and mass atrocities. The Council has a special role in seeking solutions to ongoing crises and conflicts. It has not always lived up to its responsibility. The special privilege of veto power of the permanent members of the Council is also a responsibility - it must be used in the interests of common peace and security, and not when mass atrocity crimes are committed. A failure to implement its own resolutions is also an issue that needs more attention.”
2018-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8262 (2018) · source
“First of all, I warmly congratulate Poland for presiding over the Security Council this month and for organizing this open debate on a very important topic. My remarks will focus on three areas: first, the crucial importance of international law in the maintenance of peace and security; secondly, the responsibility of the Security Council in that regard; and, thirdly, upholding accountability for breaches of international law. Latvia has always been a staunch supporter of international law and a promoter of the principles of democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Those principles are fundamental to maintaining an international order based on the predictability, stability and security of States. By promoting international law, Latvia promotes our foreign policy values and interests, as well as sustainable security.”
2018-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8262 (2018) · source
“In the case of Ukraine, the Council was not able to prevent and stop the act of aggression, which triggered the commission of further crimes. Russia's actions in Ukraine are ablatant violation of international law and pose a serious challenge to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. We must return to the former rules-based security order in Europe. The peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine, one that respects Ukraine's independence and territorial integrity, must be a priority. In order to maintain international peace and to ensure that the United Nations remains an organization in which people trust and believe, Security Council members must move beyond their domestic interests in the name of genuinely addressing global challenges. We must also further strengthen early warning measures.”
2017-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7857 (2017) · source
“In the framework of the General Assembly of the United Nations, Latvia strongly supported the creation of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism to Assist in the Investigation and Prosecution of Those Responsible for the Most Serious Crimes under International Law Committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011, contained in resolution 71/248, which seeks to assist the investigation and prosecution of the serious crimes committed in Syria and to ensure justice for all victims. Latvia has also called for referring the case of Syria to the International Criminal Court, which the Council has been unable to do. I repeat that call now. Through the Charter of the United Nations, all Member States have committed to the renunciation of the illegal threat or use of force, and to settling their disputes by peaceful means.”
2017-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7857 (2017) · source
“Member States of the Security Council have a particular responsibility. With the privilege of being a permanent member of the Council and having the veto power also comes the responsibility to use that power in the interests ofcommon peace and security. The Council has not always lived up to that special responsibility. In the case of Syria, the Council has not been and is not able to stop the State from committing crimes against its own population. The failure to act promptly to prevent or stop the conflict and to demand accountability has brought with it immense human costs. The brutal horrors of five years of the ongoing bloodshed in Syria haunt our consciences as human beings and diplomats. Accountability is an essential part of any political, reconciliation and peace process in Syria.”
2017-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7857 (2017) · source
“I would like to thank him personally for placing conflict prevention at the centre of the United Nations agenda. In that context, we look forward to the implementation of his initiatives announced on 3 January that will enhance the United Nations performance in the peace and security pillar, and will strengthen the arrangements for information and crisis management. The success ofhis strong appeal for peace from his first day in office largely depends on all of us. We expect that he will use all the tools at his disposal to preserve the rules-based international order and to restore it where it has been broken. The best way of preventing conflicts is to solve existing ones in the most efficient way. All Member States of the United Nations are the guardians of this international system and the Charter of the United Nations.”
2017-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7857 (2017) · source
“In 2017, many complex violent conflicts around the globe persist. All of those conflicts not only threaten the principles of the international order and the global rules-based system, they also fundamentally affect the security of our world. Most importantly, those conflicts have a devastating impact on millions of civilians. All recent reviews of the United Nations' peace and security pillar call for the strengthening of preventive diplomacy. The United Nations must develop an effective culture of prevention. Tools for prevention have long been available, including in the Charter of the United Nations. We need to move from mere commitment to concrete action - individually and collectively as the international community. I appreciate the Secretary-General's energetic engagement today and his vision for a more effective United Nations.”
2017-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7857 (2017) · source
“I thank you, Madam President, for organizing this very important debate on conflict prevention and sustaining peace. My congratulations and best wishes go to the Swedish presidency and for your membership in the Security Council. My best wishes also go to Secretary-General Guterres. He can count on Latvia's support. The United Nations was created because the world had paid too high a price for the absence of a credible international system. However, the potential of the United Nations for preventing the outbreak, continuation or resurgence of conflicts has not been used effectively. Far too often the United Nations has been unable to prevent conflicts, build peace or stop atrocities. All too often resources have been spent on responding to and managing crises instead of preventing them.”
2017-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7857 (2017) · source
“Only through our common efforts will we ensure that no journalist in the twenty-first century, offline or online, is attacked, intimidated and/or sealed off from the rest of the world by a new iron curtain.”
2015-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7450 (2015) · source
“Thirdly, there must be a broad strategy for conflict prevention that includes as its cornerstone the promotion of freedom of expression and access to information and media freedom. Such an approach calls for training programmes for journalists and the active involvement of civil society. And fourthly, there must be an enhanced role for United Nations peacekeeping operations and strengthened international and regional cooperation. Now is the time when international organizations, Governments, media and others should work together to strengthen the means and mechanisms for protecting journalists and holding accountable those who attack them. If there is one message today's meeting sends to journalists in conflict zones, this is it.”
2015-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7450 (2015) · source
“Threats posed by terrorist and radical extremist groups against journalists have also become a major challenge. Nor should we ignore the fact that women journalists are particularly vulnerable and require special attention. For all those reasons, the adoption of the resolution 2222 (2015) today, which addresses the new challenges to the safety ofjournalists, is of particular importance and we praise this achievement. While there is clarity on what we would like to achieve, there is uncertainty on how to accomplish it. I believe that there are four elements that are essential. First, there must be clear political will, which is at the heart of any successful Government strategy. Secondly, there must be a comprehensive, coherent and action-oriented approach to the protection of all civilians, including journalists, in conflict situations.”
2015-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7450 (2015) · source
“More recently, the Human Rights Council and UNESCO have made the protection of journalists a top priority. Latvia endorses those efforts, especially the United Nations Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, which is not only a statement of ideals, but a tool for change. Unfortunately, today the safety of journalists and the issue of impunity are once again at the top of the international agenda. Deliberate attempts to targetjournalists in conflict zones continue to increase in scale and number. Even though journalists working in conflict zones have the status of civilians and enjoy a range of protection guarantees, they continue to face manifold threats, including assassination, harassment, intimidation and kidnapping. Such attacks constitute a clear breach of international humanitarian law.”
2015-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7450 (2015) · source
“We promote them as a part of our presidency of the Council of the European Union and in international organizations, including at the Human Rights Council. At the beginning of May, a conference to mark UNESCO World Press Freedom Day took place in Riga. The resulting Riga declaration underlines our commitment to promote a legal and institutional environment that ensures the safety of journalists, the urgent need to end impunity for crimes againstjournalists and media workers, and the essential contribution of journalists to the enjoyment of all human rights and the pursuit of sustainable development. The international community has addressed the protection of journalists in conflict areas on numerous occasions. In 2006, the Security Council adopted resolution 1738 (2006), which calls for urgent action.”
2015-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7450 (2015) · source
“Dramatic changes in the media landscape, in particular the introduction of new technologies, have resulted in an unprecedented flow of information, including from conflict settings. The independent voices of journalists and reports from conflict zones give the international community a unique insight into realities on the ground. They serve as a catalyst for rapid and effective response, and are therefore vital to the survival of a conflict-affected society. In this context, it is extremely important not only to safeguard but to strengthen the ability of the media to provide independent and reliable information. Freedom of expression, both offline and online, and strengthening the independence of media are long- standing priorities of Latvia.”
2015-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7450 (2015) · source
“I thank you, Mr. President, for presiding over this very timely debate on the protection ofjournalists in conflict situations. Let me also thank Mr. Jan Eliasson, Mr. Christophe Deloire and Ms. Mariane Pearl for their informative briefings and tireless work on this very complex subject. As early as 1946, at its very first session, the General Assembly adopted resolution 59 (I), affirming that freedom of information is the cornerstone of all the freedoms to which the United Nations is committed. The right of freedom of expression depends upon the safety of journalists and media professionals. Furthermore, the work done by journalists contributes to increased accountability, transparency and the rule of law.”
2015-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7450 (2015) · source
“In that context, we strongly welcome the resolution on foreign terrorist fighters that was adopted by the Security Council today (resolution 2178 (2014). States Members of the United Nations should take concerted action to address the threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters, as the resolution urges. We recognize this issue as an emerging threat to our national security as well. Therefore, Latvia is actively working to ensure that all the necessary measures are taken domestically to prevent the recruitment of foreign fighters on our territory and discourage residents of Latvia from illegal involvement in military conflicts abroad or in providing any support to terrorists wherever they are. That is something that certainly requires our united, firm action, and I applaud the joint action of the Security Council in addressing the issue.”
2014-09-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7272 (2014) · source
“Thousands of people from countries outside the region are fighting and committing terrorist attacks in Iraq and Syria. Foreign fighters participate in many conflicts all over the world, be it in Afghanistan, Somalia or Ukraine. It is an increasing challenge to deal with these fighters moving from one conflict area to another, thus becoming professional fighters. There is a high risk that they can use their new experience wherever they go. There is no place for glorifying these mercenaries. It is imperative to understand that these people are not fighting for peace; they are creating war and feeding conflict. They should be prevented from doing so by the international community. The United Nations has a very important role to play in streamlining international efforts.”
2014-09-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7272 (2014) · source
“The topic of foreign terrorist fighters is a matter of serious concern for the international community in its entirety, and it is very timely that the Security Council is addressing it. Undoubtedly, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) poses a serious threat not only to the people of Iraq and Syria but also to the international community as a whole. As a responsible member of the international community, Latvia is willing and ready to contribute to the fight against terrorism. We have joined the efforts of the international community in the fight against terrorism and have expressed the strongest support for the United States of America's coordinated actions in countering the threat posed by ISIL. Foreign fighters are not a new phenomenon.”
2014-09-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7272 (2014) · source
“Coherence in their respective approaches through closer cooperation will send a clear signal that the international community will not tolerate impunity. In conclusion, allow me to reiterate Latvia's commitment to the promotion and protection of the rule of law, as well as our readiness to share our experience and expertise. The rule of law plays a central role in addressing current political, security and humanitarian challenges. Restoring the rule of law is a long-term process that requires the cooperation of all United Nations States Members and agencies as well as other actors in that regard. The Security Council's continued attention to the issue of the rule of law will be essential in our view to reinforce international peace and security.”
2014-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7113 (2014) · source
“The Security Council has a unique role in the fight against impunity. Accountability is an integral aspect of the rule of law and offers effective means for the maintenance of international peace and security. Latvia believes that the establishment of the International Criminal Court (ICC) represents an outstanding achievement by the international community in the struggle to end impunity. If the State's primary responsibility to protect the population from massive and widespread violations of human rights cannot be met, the fight against impunity has to be strengthened at the international level. It should be done through the work of the ICC, through ad hoc and mixed tribunals and through other justice and accountability mechanisms.”
2014-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7113 (2014) · source
“The Council should continue to address the issue in accordance with its primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. Ending violence against women and preventing discrimination, as well as addressing women's justice and security concerns, are integral parts of strengthening the rule of law. No efforts should be spared to protect women and girls from sexual and gender-based violence and to end impunity for those crimes once and for all. As a member of the UN-Women Executive Board, Latvia actively engages in activities aimed at addressing women's justice and security concerns worldwide. Latvia has taken part in projects aimed at supporting and promoting the role of women in Afghanistan, Iraq and other countries and will continue its activities in that regard.”
2014-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7113 (2014) · source
“We appeal to both sides to refrain from further violent actions, to step back from the confrontation and to return to negotiations in order to restore the rule of law. The President and the Government of Ukraine bear the ultimate responsibility for the situation in the country. The rule of law is not about bullets and water cannon restoring order; it is about the legitimacy of power and political dialogue with the people. Latvia is particularly concerned about the growth in the number of intra-State conflicts. The failure of national institutions and the international community to prevent and stop violence and serious violations of international law dramatically affects the most vulnerable in society, especially women and children.”
2014-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7113 (2014) · source
“It contributes to institutional capacity-building and supports legislative reforms in a number of countries, with a particular focus on the optimization ofjudicial proceedings, including the use of information and communication technology. We cannot discuss the concept of the rule of law without reflecting on current developments in Ukraine. With alarm, I follow events in Ukraine, which started as a peaceful protest requesting to respect free choice, the rule of law and justice in Ukraine. Latvia condemns the violence that has resulted in the deaths of more than 20 people, among them women. We request the Government of Ukraine to refrain from the use of force against civilians.”
2014-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7113 (2014) · source
“After the restoration of its independence, Latvia, along with other Baltic States, undertook democratic transitions, putting into practice the principles of justice and the rule of law. Our experience shows that political will and concerted efforts on the part of both the national Government and the international community are crucial in building a strong rule-of-law framework. A sense of national ownership and strong domestic support are also essential. Latvia actively contributes to the strengthening of the rule of law in the world. We assist countries in that field and we will further step up those efforts in future. Latvia also provides expertise and technical assistance in the field of justice.”
2014-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7113 (2014) · source
“To further improve the effectiveness ofmissions, several steps should be taken, namely, the adoption of an integrated and comprehensive approach to the rule of law in peacekeeping mandates, the development of a tailor-made approach to the specific needs of a host country and the establishment of an efficient reporting and information-collection system to allow a smooth transition from peacekeeping to peacebuilding. The developments in Mali and the Central African Republic are the most recent examples where we clearly can see that the re-establishment of the rule of law is a primary precondition to ensure definitive conflict resolution and sustainable progress.”
2014-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7113 (2014) · source
“Latvia welcomes the reforms of institutional arrangements undertaken by the Secretary-General in that regard. Strengthened responsibilities for United Nations field leadership, joint efforts by the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the United Nations Development Programme as a global focal point on the rule of law, as well as the development of a United Nations strategy on the rule of law, are certainly steps in the right direction. In its resolutions, the Council has already explicitly recognized that the support of peacekeeping missions to strengthening rule-of-law institutions in the host country would be a vital contribution to building peace and to ending impunity.”
2014-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7113 (2014) · source
“There is an undeniable link between the rule of law and the maintenance of peace and security. We welcome the fact that the Security Council has already identified strengthening rule-of-law institutions as a key part of the mandate of United Nations missions. We urge the Council to continue to integrate the rule-of-law aspect in mission mandates in future. In the Declaration of the High-level Meeting of the General Assembly on the Rule of Law at the National and International Levels (General Assembly resolution 67/1) in 2012, we all stressed the necessity for greater coordination among United Nations entities and with other international and regional partners in order to improve the effectiveness of capacity-building activities in the field of the rule of law.”
2014-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7113 (2014) · source
“Latvia aligns itself with the statement to be delivered shortly on behalf of the European Union. I should like to make the following remarks in my national capacity. First of all, allow me to congratulate Lithuania on its first-ever assumption of the presidency of the Security Council and for its initiative in organizing this timely debate on the important topic of the rule of law. History shows that a strong multilateral, inclusive, rules-based international order is essential for the maintenance of global peace and security. The rule of law is one of the key elements of conflict prevention, peacekeeping, conflict resolution and peacebuilding. The United Nations plays an important role in each of those processes, as do all its States Members, having committed to implementing principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.”
2014-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7113 (2014) · source