Latvia, 2001

It is my honour to

address the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session.

Since the terrorist attacks of 11 September, the struggle

against terrorism has become a clear priority on the

international agenda. The United Nations is playing a

key role in coordinating joint measures to eliminate

international terrorism. My country reaffirms its

commitment to be vigorous in handling this matter.

We must act on all levels — global, regional and

national — if we are to succeed in combating

terrorism. Today, the need for international cooperation

has assumed new dimensions. To achieve sustainable

results in eliminating terrorism, joint international

action is mandatory.

Latvia strongly welcomes and supports Security

Council resolutions 1368 (2001) and 1373 (2001).

Latvia is convinced that full and unconditional

implementation of Council resolution 1373 (2001) is

imperative for success in the suppression of terrorism.

The financing of terrorism has to be prevented and

eliminated. All action or inaction by States or

individuals that allows the practice of terrorism has to

be stopped. Cooperation and information exchange

among States concerning terrorist activities has to be

strengthened. Latvia welcomes the establishment of the

Security Council Committee to monitor the

implementation of resolution 1373 (2001).

Latvia supports efforts undertaken by other

international organizations acting on the regional level.

As an aspiring member of the Euro-Atlantic

community, Latvia plays its part in the common

activities carried out by the European Union and the

North Atlantic Treaty Organization. In order to

harmonize regional measures to prevent acts of

terrorism, an action plan for Central and Eastern

European countries was adopted at the recent Warsaw

conference on combating terrorism. Another important

European framework for combating terrorism is the

Council of Europe, which has already formulated a

wide range of legal instruments intended to fight

terrorism.

My country fully shares the position of the

European Union that we must redouble our efforts to

fight international terrorism. That includes both our

commitment as members of the international

community and the “homework” we have to do as

individual States.

A high-level task force has been established in

Latvia to coordinate national efforts against terrorism,

including implementation of Security Council

resolutions 1368 (2001) and 1373 (2001). Latvia has

initiated the national legislative process of ratifying the

International Convention for the Suppression of the

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Financing of Terrorism, and it is foreseen that we will

sign the Convention by the end of this year.

The Latvian Government has approved an action

plan for combating terrorism. This is a set of measures

aimed at strengthening my country’s ability to prevent

its territory, banking system and other assets from

being used by terrorists. There should be no place

where terrorists can hide from justice. Latvia has

already formulated legislation in the area of preventing

money laundering. Banks and other operators are

obliged to report on suspicious transfers. The

Government has submitted to the parliament a package

of further amendments to the banking law and the law

on the prevention of the laundering of proceeds derived

from criminal activity.

As it defends the world from terrorism, the

international community has to do its utmost to spare

the innocent people of Afghanistan further suffering.

Latvia fully supports the Special Representative of the

Secretary-General, Mr. Lakhdar Brahimi, and other

parties in their efforts to bring about a fully inclusive

political system in Afghanistan. My country welcomes

Security Council resolution 1378 (2001). The Latvian

Government has also taken the decision to provide

humanitarian aid to the Afghan people through the

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for

Refugees.

We believe that the priorities that existed before

11 September are all the more valid today. A year ago,

heads of State or Government adopted the Millennium

Declaration, which renewed the spirit of the United

Nations and which clearly demonstrated that the world

and its peoples need this Organization. Latvia attaches

great importance to the implementation of the

Millennium Declaration, especially in relation to issues

of human rights, fundamental freedoms, the rights of

the child and conflict prevention. We consider that the

follow-up process to the Millennium Summit should be

an integral part of the work of the United Nations.

International relations in the twenty-first century have

to be based on values and principles set out in the

Declaration.

The fifty-fifth session of the General Assembly

demonstrated that the commitment that was put into the

Millennium Declaration was genuine. The results of the

General Assembly’s special sessions on human

settlements and on HIV/AIDS, the United Nations

Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and

Light Weapons in All Its Aspects and the Durban

World Conference against Racism, Racial

Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance

have set a number of goals at the State, regional and

global levels. The process has started, and Latvia is

actively participating in pursuit of the common goals.

The United Nations is the only global

Organization charged with the fundamental task of

saving succeeding generations from the scourge of war

and with the maintenance of lasting peace and

international security. One of its most important tasks,

therefore, involves peacekeeping operations.

My country has actively participated in United

Nations-mandated peacekeeping operations since 1996.

This year Latvia is continuing to provide support to

stabilize the situation in the Balkans and is

participating, with troops and personnel, in all United

Nations-mandated, NATO-led operations in the

Balkans, as well as in other operations and endeavours

of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in

Europe (OSCE).

Latvia, which attaches great importance to

peacekeeping operations, voluntarily increased its

contribution to the United Nations peacekeeping

budget starting in 2001.

The establishment of the International Criminal

Court has been one of the priorities of the United

Nations for a decade. My country signed the Rome

Statute in 1999, and the Government will present to

Parliament the ratification bill of the Statute and drafts

of the necessary amendments to our national legislation

as soon as possible. Latvia also hopes to be among the

first 60 States to ratify the Statute.

This is an important session of the General

Assembly for Latvia and for its people. This year

marks a decade since Latvia joined the United Nations

as a free and independent country. The United Nations

was the first international organization that Latvia

joined, after 50 years of occupation. The United

Nations has a special meaning for Latvia. Latvia’s

joining the United Nations demonstrates the

commitment of my country to rejoin the international

community and to take an active part in international

events and processes.

In these 10 years, Latvia has made great headway

in its development, and this growth encompasses a

variety of realms. Latvia’s foreign policy is rooted in

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the observance of international law, the development of

human rights and democracy and the protection of

universally accepted human values. The top priorities

of Latvian foreign policy continue to be joining the

European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty

Organization. These are not goals in themselves, but,

rather, means to ensure sustainable development. Our

foreign policy priorities also include good-neighbourly

relations, bilateral cooperation and active participation

in international organizations.

I have the honour to announce that Latvia is

changing its status from that of aid recipient to that of

donor country, in order to provide its support to others

through both financial assistance and the sharing of

experiences. Latvia has begun to elaborate its concept

of a donor country. We are looking forward to the

implementation of this concept and are assisting those

who are in urgent need of our help.

In conclusion, I would like to congratulate the

United Nations and its Secretary-General, Kofi Annan,

on having been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in

recognition of the work that has been carried out. I am

convinced that we, as Member States, will continue to

spare no effort in safeguarding the principles and ideals

for which the United Nations stands.