EU – Baltic States, Latvia, Legislation, Security, Technology

Photo: flickr.com

Edgars Rinkevics said that Latvia sees Japan as an important global partner to NATO and a strategic partner for the European Union. Latvia shares common perspectives on global challenges with NATO and EU member states and so the mutual dialogue with Japan is of special importance since it allows us to gain a better understanding of global processes, the Minister asserted.

Foreign Minister Rinkevics said that Latvia is interested in cooperation with Japan in cyber security and this could involve sharing of experience and exchanges of experts.

Minister Rinkevics highly appreciated Japan’s involvement in stabilizing the security environment in Afghanistan and drew attention to Latvia’s support for Afghanistan through participation in the Resolute Support mission.

Both Ministers also exchanged views on the amendments to Japan’s Legislation on Peace and Security passed by the Parliament on 19 September 2015. Amendments to the law authorise the Japanese Self-Defence Forces to provide military support to allies if they are under attack and to collectively address a threat when the situation that has arisen is also influencing Japan’s peace and security.

Toward the end of his working visit, Foreign Minister Rinkevics gave interviews to The Yomiuri Shimbun, the largest Japanese paper, on the current security climate in the world, and to Nikkei Asian Review, a business journal.

While at the Latvian Embassy in Tokyo, the Edgars Rinkevics met with the members of the Latvian community and the Japan-Latvia Music Association.