On Wednesday, the 27th of March, Latvian Transatlantic Organisation (LATO) presented former President of Latvia Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga with a newly-established award for involving society in discussions and promotion of awareness about the role of NATO for Latvia’s and international security, as reported by the president’s advisor Mārtiņš Drēģeris.
The award was handed by Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs. In his speech, Rinkēvičs stressed Vīķe-Freiberga’s especially important role on the path to joining NATO and promoting awareness in Latvia’s society about NATO and strengthening security.
“Vīķe-Freiberga became master of Riga Castle in summer 1999. It was a time of high uncertainty and a lot of work. A lot depended on how our country would be positioned in the international community by the president and the government. Vīķe-Freiberga quickly managed to secure the trust of allies and convince them we are just like them, that we have the same values and that Baltic States are able to contribute to collective security,” said Rinkēvičs.
He stressed that Vīķe-Freiberga, using her psychologist’s education, experience and arguments managed to put to rest the doubts and confusion fairly quickly.
“Today we completely understand all the difficult decisions that seemed terrible from the perspective of domestic and public support opinion were the absolute right thing we could have done at the time.
Vīķe-Freiberga did not hesitate to say harsh words not only outside, but also here in Latvia, urging to amend the laws and do all that’s necessary in the long-term interests of the country,” said the president.
Rinkēvičs said Vīķe-Freiberga provided inspiration to diplomats, officers in the armed forces and civil servants working on the NATO integration process. In the president’s words, “this is the day when we thank all those who, at different times and in office, worked to make the country a full member of NATO”.
The president stressed that NATO membership today is one of Latvia’s security guarantees and allows the country to improve its national defensive capabilities. At the same time, Rinkēvičs reminded that this year marks twenty years of Latvia’s NATO membership, and it is necessary to explain the importance of NATO to the country’s society, as well as further strengthen defence together with allies.
“This is the day when we remind ourselves and the rest of society that were are in the safest possible situation we can be – we are in NATO and the European Union. We are aware that we have a lot to do to strengthen our country’s defence, because defence is not a result – it’s a process. Security, like independence, needs to be tended to every day,” said the president.
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