President Rinkēvičs: Matter of Dombrava's letter to Spain is closed
Latvia's president says the controversy over the interior minister's letter to Spain is resolved, and stressed the need for coordinated foreign policy communication.
President Edgars Rinkēvičs said on Wednesday that the matter of Interior Minister Jānis Dombrava's letter to Spain regarding the border crisis in Ceuta is closed. Speaking at a press conference with Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs at the Jūrmala residence, he noted that the prime minister had already discussed the situation with the minister and that more coordinated action can be expected.
Latvian Television's "Panorama" reported that Dombrava had sent a letter to Spain about the influx of tens of thousands of people from Morocco in Ceuta. The letter was received sensitively in Madrid due to what was seen as an arrogant tone. The prime minister reportedly told the minister that any future communication with foreign countries should be coordinated with the Foreign Ministry.
Rinkēvičs reminded that Latvia is represented externally by three officials without special mandate: the president, the prime minister, and the foreign minister. He acknowledged that many issues require quick responses, but described the existing cooperation mechanism between the presidency, the Saeima, and the Cabinet as good.
The president stressed that Latvia stands in solidarity with Spain and is politically ready to help in every possible way, expressing gratitude for Spain's soldiers in the NATO Multinational Brigade in Latvia. He said that while working in one's own sector, one must consider the broader political and security context.
Rinkēvičs said he had a brief conversation with Dombrava on Tuesday and expressed confidence that the minister will focus on Latvia's border protection. 'We will deal with our own problems, and then we will have opportunities to share this experience much more widely with other EU member states,' the president told journalists.
On EU-level migration and border protection, Rinkēvičs said officials agree that ensuring one's own border protection is the priority. He emphasized that before writing letters to others, one must complete one's own tasks. He argued that only a united EU approach with common border protection criteria can help, noting that member states' policies differ depending on governments' political orientation, and practices in handling arrivals and social benefits also vary, creating a 'magnet effect'.
The president said Latvia's position is well defined by a letter initiated by Italy and Denmark, signed by 22 EU member states to the EU leadership, with Kulbergs signing on Latvia's behalf.
