The award for contribution to Latvia’s NATO membership was presented by the President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs. In his address, the President highlighted the extraordinary role played by Dr Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga in advancing Latvia’s accession to NATO, as well as in promoting public awareness about NATO and its role in strengthening Latvia’s security.
"In the summer of 1999, Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga was elected as the President of Latvia. At that time, there was a great deal of uncertainty, and a lot of work to be done. Our future to a great extent depended on the ability of the President and the government to enhance our country's standing in the international community. Mrs Vīķe-Freiberga was able to quickly forge trust with the allies and convince them that the Baltic states not only shared the same values but that they also serve as contributors to collective security, rather than merely consumers. Drawing on her education and training as a psychologist, vast experience and reasoning skills, Madam President was able to dispel doubts and counter myths in short order, ultimately securing an invitation to join the Alliance alongside other countries at the Prague Summit in 2002.
Today, we understand clearly that the difficult decisions taken, which may have triggered domestic political turmoil and public disapproval at the time, were ultimately the right course of action. President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga was candid in her critique, both domestically and internationally, advocating for the implementation of specific legal amendments critical to the long-term interests of the country.
During that time, she also inspired diplomats, military officers, and civil servants, working on the NATO accession process. Today, we express our gratitude to all those who, at various times and in different positions, contributed to Latvia's full-fledged membership in NATO," said President Rinkēvičs.
The President of Latvia emphasised that NATO membership is one of the cornerstones of Latvia's security, enabling the further development of national defence capabilities. Furthermore, Edgars Rinkēvičs recalled that this year, which marks the 20th anniversary of Latvia's membership and the 75th anniversary of NATO, underscoring the importance of renewed efforts to explain the significance of NATO to the wider public and bolster defence capabilities in collaboration with our allies. President Rinkēvičs said: "Today, we remind ourselves and our society that we are in the most secure situation we can be – we are a member of both NATO and the European Union. We recognize that we have a lot of work to do to strengthen our national defence because security is not an end-state – it is a process. Security, like independence, must be taken care of every single day".
