Baltic States – CIS, Energy, Latvia, Legislation, Security

Photo: mfa.gov.lv

LETA was told at the Foreign Ministry that the Latvian ambassador also strongly denounced the ballistic missile and nuclear tests carried out by North Korea. The ambassador said that these provocations show the importance of countries’ unity as they continue global nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation efforts.

At the discussion Latvia also stressed the strategic significance of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and underlined that the nuclear disarmament process has to be gradual and pragmatic, involving both nuclear countries and countries calling for a ban on nuclear weapons, as well as taking into consideration the international security situation.

Latvia welcomed achievements in restricting Iran’s nuclear program and reiterated support for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. The International Atomic Energy Agency’s pivotal role in ensuring the global nonproliferation regime and promotion of peaceful use of nuclear energy was noted in this context.

Latvia also called for an end to nuclear tests and indicated that the enforcement of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) is a significant step towards restricting the development of nuclear weapons and towards a world free from nuclear weapons, the ministry said.

Mazeiks informed UN member states that Latvia has been chosen as the next presidency of the Nuclear Suppliers Group for 2018-2019 and affirmed Latvia’s willingness to strengthen a rules-based international order.