“We know that Ukraine will win.” The Rīga Conference 2022 is opening on 21 October

The annual security and foreign policy forum, The Rīga Conference 2022, will open with a discussion on a smart mix of realpolitik and idealpolitik in a critical time for Europe, led by H.E. Egils Levits, President of the Republic of Latvia, Amb.Dr.Christoph Heusgen, Chairman of the Munich Security Conference and Hon.Carl Bildt, Former Prime Minister and current Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, moderated by Sandra Kalniete, experienced diplomat, Latvian politician, and Member of the European Parliament since 2009. 

The Secretary General of the Latvian Transatlantic organisation (LATO) Sigita Struberga emphasises that this year The Rīga Conference 2022 is held in the shadow of Russia’s unprovoked war against Ukraine. “We know that Ukraine will win,” says Ms.Struberga. “It is equally important to look at the war in Ukraine as it is – the glove Russia has thrown to call out the Western societies to challenge the liberal world order, “ specifies Ms. Struberga. 

The Conference discussions about the EU integration issues of Eastern partnership, on Russia and on Belarus will be led by the representatives of respective nations. The panel on the democratic future of Belarus will include members of the Belarusian opposition. At the same time, Russian experts working in European academia will lead the debate on Russia after Putin’s regime. The Eastern partners: Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine, will speak out on their euro integration expectations and the support needed.

The Rīga Conference this year will once again become a stage where global realpolitik and idealpolitik topics will be examined under a new light, acute duress and evident threat of the year 2022. Sigita Struberga says: ”All this time Latvia in particular, and Baltic countries as partners, have been an acting conscience of Europe: reminding, waking, and, if need be, shaking off the contemplative slumber of thought routine.” 

“We will continue to do so,” says Ms.Struberga.

Among the stellar composition of speakers, the Secretary General of LATO is particularly interested in three core experts. One of them is Prof.Sergei Medvedev, an exemplary academic and wellspring of knowledge. “He has been working with TV Rain (TV Dozhdj, formerly Russia, now in exile) and proven his potential to work the change, not only to talk about it,” says Ms.Struberga. Prof.Bernadetta Berti – an important contributor to the core principles of the strategic concept of Transatlantic Alliance, is another pillar of expertise Ms.Struberga points out. 

She is glad to have the presence of Ms.Klympush-Tsintsadze Ivanna, Chairperson of the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada on Ukraine’s Integration into the European Union. “It is very particular that she – a representative of the parliamentary opposition in Ukraine, is a pragmatic, knowledgeable and strong advocate for EU integration. Such opposition is what every progressive leadership can wish for,” tells Ms.Struberga.

After the conference, LATO will work to continue the discussions, evolve the topics of the Conference and include an even wider circle of experts in the Rīga Conference community. The priority of LATO will be Women, Peace and Security projects and the aspects of responsible leadership, as well as deeper work on the concept of resilience.

The annual security and foreign policy forum, The Rīga Conference 2022, takes place on October 21 – 22. This year the event will gather 517 participants from 38 countries, both in-person and online, at the National Library of Latvia. Its participants will have the opportunity to hear from the Assistant Secretary General of NATO, for Public Diplomacy Baiba Braže; Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for An Economy that Works for People Valdis Dombrovskis; and the Head of Policy Planning for the NATO Secretary General, Prof. Benedetta Berti. The event will be broadcast live on www.rigaconference.lv, by 35 informative partners and on social media platforms. 

For the full programme of The Rīga Conference 2022 please visit https://riga conference.lv/agenda/. 

The Rīga Conference is organised jointly by the Latvian Transatlantic Organisation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia, and the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia in close cooperation with the NATO Public Diplomacy Division and Konrad Adenauer Foundation in the Baltic States. The conference is supported by Microsoft, the Embassy of Canada in Latvia, the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany to Latvia, the United States Embassy in Latvia, NAMMO, LMT, the Embassy of Israel in Latvia, the Embassy of Spain in Latvia, Nordic Council of Ministers Office in Latvia, AUDI Latvija, Riga International Airport, Embassy of Turkey to Latvia, Swedbank, Investment and Development Agency of Latvia and Magnetic Latvia, Live Riga, Boston Global Forum, Michael Dukakis Institute for Leadership and Innovation and AIWS.net.

Other contributions to the conference have been made by BALTA, Canelle, Mario and Skriveri Sweets.

We are grateful to our longtime partner and venue provider – the National Library of Latvia.

Informative support for The Rīga Conference has been confirmed by Latvian Television, Latvian Radio, LSM.LV, LMT Straume, tv3.lv, GO3 Latvija, RE TV, DELFI, TVNET, LETA, IR, Latviesi.com Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Lithuania Tribune, Hromadske International, Hype&Hyper, Belarus Security Blog, NATO Association of Canada, Macdonald-Laurier Institute, RGSL, Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Latvia, Youth Atlantic Treaty Association, Espreso.tv, New Eastern Europe, Current Time, Spektr, iPress, Suomen Sotilas, Est Curier, “Vchasno”, Visegrad Insight, Atlantic Council, Postimees,  Baltic to Black Sea Alliance and The Ukrainian Week.