Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze recommended Türkiye‘s mediation efforts geared toward ending the warfare between Russia and Ukraine, now nearing the tip of its third 12 months.
In an interview with Anadolu, Braze praised Türkiye’s diplomatic initiatives, addressing a variety of matters together with relations between Riga and Ankara and the continued Russia-Ukraine battle.
Braze reiterated Latvia’s assist for Ukraine, emphasizing that the battle is a violation of worldwide regulation.
“It’s Russia’s war against Ukraine, and a blatant aggression in violation of the United Nations Charter, and every international law principle that exists for relations among countries,” Braze mentioned.
She added, “So, it’s very clear that both Türkiye and Latvia, we are firmly standing for Ukraine in terms of helping Ukraine in various ways, militarily, non-militarily, but also to ensure that the principle of territorial integrity and inviolability of borders is standing.”
Braze identified that Ukraine is defending itself in accordance with the UN Charter, Article 51, which permits nations using drive with no consideration of self-defense, stressing the necessity for continued assist for Kyiv.
Describing Türkiye as a “very able power” in mediation efforts in the course of the Russia-Ukraine warfare, Braze highlighted Ankara’s pivotal position in initiatives such because the Black Sea Grain Initiative and prisoner exchanges.
“We still know that there are hundreds of Ukrainian children that Russia has taken away. Prisoners of war are imprisoned in Russia, and there’s no access to them. There are horrible circumstances, so we rely on Türkiye and other countries to really make sure that Russia stops these inhuman practices and returns children and prisoners of war and goes back to respecting international law,” she mentioned.
TÜRKİYE-LATVIA TIES
Braze described Türkiye and Latvia as having an “excellent, unproblematic relationship,” noting their alliance inside NATO and their long-standing diplomatic ties relationship again over a century.
“We are NATO allies, we have a relationship that is longer than 100 years old. Latvia is 106 years old, Türkiye is 101 years old, so our relationship lasts since the founding of the republic, and it’s great to be in Türkiye.”
She additionally famous Türkiye’s rising significance as a vacationer vacation spot for Latvians, notably households, with Istanbul changing into a preferred weekend getaway. “We would like to see more Turkish tourists in Latvia.”
In phrases of commerce relations, Braze emphasised the continued development between the 2 nations and reiterated Latvia’s assist for Türkiye’s EU accession.
“We see that, with regard to the trade relationship, it’s improving. There have been quite a number of obstacles that we were able to remove from both sides. As Türkiye’s trade minister said, it’s a new stage in the relationship, so it’s very good. And of course, on the sanctions against Russia, there are issues where we clearly know that Türkiye has ensured that Russia doesn’t get certain capabilities, so we look forward also to working with Türkiye on a number of other issues in that respect.”
ISRAEL ATTACKS ON PALESTINE, LEBANON
Braze additionally touched on Israel’s assaults on Palestine and Lebanon, affirming Israel’s proper to self-defense whereas stressing the necessity to adhere to worldwide humanitarian regulation.
“Also it has the obligation to implement that right in accordance with international humanitarian law, so ensuring that civilians don’t suffer, ensuring that children don’t die, and making sure that there are no collateral damages in that self-defense process.”
She additional highlighted the significance of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which operates alongside the border with Israel. “Protection of that is crucially important. And UNIFIL is on the blue line, on the border, and it will stay there, so it’s important to respect that.”
Braze concluded by expressing her nation’s assist for a ceasefire and the efforts of the U.S., France, Qatar, Egypt, Türkiye, and different nations to attain a peaceable decision within the Middle East, advocating for the two-state answer as the trail to lasting peace.
“We fully support the US, French, Qatar, Egyptian, Türkiye, and other countries’ efforts to settle and find the way ahead through peaceful means for the Middle East peace. So there are also parallel processes in terms of ensuring that not only hostages are released, but there is a wider effort at peace, and we fully support the two-state solution as a solution both for Israel and a viable Palestinian state to live in peace next to each other.”
Source: www.anews.com.tr