Your Majesty!
Excellencies!
Ladies and gentlemen!
It is a great pleasure and honour for me to welcome Your Majesty to Latvia. I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on the tenth anniversary of your coronation.
In 1921, Spain recognised Latvia's independence. Some might say – who remembers that now? We do. And I know that you remember too. This was the basis for our long-lasting friendship. A friendship based on shared European culture and values.
Spain continued to be our ally even after Latvia lost its independence and did not recognise Latvia's illegal incorporation into the Soviet Union. In 2021, 100 years after the establishment of our diplomatic relations, Nora Ikstena's novel "Soviet Milk" or "Lecha Materna" was published in Spanish and presented at the Feria del Libro. The novel illustrates how the occupation ruined people's lives. I am confident that any Spaniard who reads it will realise that by condemning the occupation of Latvia, they have been on the right side of history. This will never be forgotten.
Today, I would like to especially acknowledge and express my gratitude for the valuable contribution that Spain is currently making to the security of Latvia and the wider Baltic region. It is of immeasurable value.
I am grateful for Spain's continued presence in Latvia within the NATO-enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group since its inception. It has already become the most multinational NATO military unit, or as I like to call it, a 'mini-NATO at the Ādaži base'. Spain represents the second largest contingent of Allied forces in Latvia. It will be a great pleasure to visit the Ādaži military base with you, Your Majesty, and to have the opportunity to meet and thank the Spanish troops.
We are grateful to Spain for safeguarding our skies and airspace.
We are united in our conviction that we must continue to provide support to Ukraine until its victory over the aggressor. We share concerns over the situation in the Middle East and the risk of wider regional escalation.
We know where Latvia is and where Spain is. But we share a border. The border of the European Union. We have an eastern border. You – the southern maritime border. The challenges faced by our countries are strikingly similar. Therefore, we can naturally understand each other and benefit from mutual learning.
We advocate for an international order based on clear rules, especially at a time when aggression is on the rise around the globe.
Your Majesty!
While there may be distance between Latvia and Spain on the map, in our thoughts and our deeds we are very close. The scope of our collaboration is so extensive and multifaceted, you could say it is self-evident.
Spain's cultural heritage is present in our daily lives. Latvia reads Spanish literature – we are no strangers to the works of Miguel de Cervantes and José Ortega y Gasset. Similarly, Spanish people enjoy Latvian literature. Nora Ikstena's Soviet Milk and a number of children’s books have been translated into Spanish. The works of Spanish composers are performed on Latvian stages, and plays by Spanish playwrights are shown in our theatres. Last year, the residents of Riga were afforded the opportunity to enjoy reproductions of masterpieces from the Prado Museum. Furthermore, in September, the Art Museum will show the works of Spanish artists, from Fortuny to Picasso.
It is encouraging to see that there is a growing interest in learning Spanish in Latvian schools.
Many Latvian students are already choosing to study in Spain through exchange programmes. They return with a knowledge of Spanish, new friendships and a love for your country.
I am also delighted to witness the growing interest of Spanish students studying here in Latvia. They have chosen to move from their sunny homeland to here, where it gets truly dark in winter months. Last December, for instance, Riga enjoyed nine hours of sunshine. Not nine hours per day. Nine hours of sunshine during the whole month of December. This makes me think that the Spanish students here are very brave.
Latvia and Spain share a common aspiration for growth. Spain already represents a significant trading partner for our country. We are open to further deepening our economic ties, especially in the fields of information and communication technologies, as well as artificial intelligence. We are already working together - in the field of language technology for instance, which uses artificial intelligence.
Your Majesty!
Our friendship goes back 103 years. Given the longevity of this relationship, it is strong enough to endure.
Therefore, Your Majesty, I would like to propose a toast to honour Your Majesty and the Spanish people. Let us celebrate the enduring strength of our friendship, and may our friendship continue to make things happen!
