On the occasion of the official visit of the Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta, Fra’ John Dunlap, to the President of the Republic of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs, and marking the 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1995, both sides reaffirm the excellent state of their bilateral cooperation and express their shared intention to continue strengthening it in the future.

The Sovereign Order of Malta and the Republic of Latvia reiterate their commitment to cooperation in the humanitarian, social and educational fields, underlining their mutual interest in supporting vulnerable groups. In particular, the Order of Malta in Latvia is engaged in social, medical and psychological assistance programmes for the elderly, the homeless and the disabled, and in projects in support of Ukrainian refugees.

Volunteers play a major role in the activities of Order’s relief organization in Latvia and, today, most of them are Ukrainians who previously received support from the Order.

Both sides express deep concern about the serious humanitarian crises in various regions of the world and the devastating impact of ongoing conflicts on civilian populations. They reaffirm their commitment to assisting those in need and to promoting respect for international humanitarian law, ensuring the protection of civilians and humanitarian workers in conflict situations.

In this context, the two sides agree to continue cooperation on the basis of the existing 2008 Memorandum of Understanding, exploring practical ways to further develop and facilitate their partnership in line with shared principles of solidarity, respect for human dignity and social justice.

The Order’s Relief Corps in Latvia 

Reorganised in 2021, the Latvian Relief Corps implements a broad range of social programmes in Riga and Saldus to support vulnerable people and Ukrainian refugees. Its activities are carried out by a team of seven staff members and 53 volunteers. The organisation runs charitable initiatives, soup kitchens, psychological support services, language courses, integration programmes and the distribution of food and hygiene products. In recent years, the Embassy and local retail partners have facilitated the regular delivery of food supplies – between four and five tonnes every three months – which are distributed through the Order’s relief organisation.