On Thursday, April 28, the Saeima decided on the participation of the Latvian National Armed Forces troops in the United Nations (UN) international operation “United Nations Truce Supervision Organization” (UNTSO) for a period until 1 May 2024.

UNTSO military observers are deployed in the Middle East to monitor the ceasefire, its agreements, prevent the escalation of incidents, and assist other UN peacekeeping operations in the region. According to the explanatory note to the draft decision, Latvia has received a request from the UNTSO Mission Commander to delegate a representative to a specific position in the Mission Headquarters in Jerusalem as of 1 May 2022.

Currently, it is planned that initially one staff officer will be deployed to the UNTSO. Depending on the security situation and the future needs of the operation, the Ministry of Defence may, if necessary, consider the possibility of increasing the contingent of the National Armed Forces in this mission.

The purpose of the international peacekeeping operation is to restore and maintain international peace and security, as well as to deter aggression or other violations of peace. The appointed personnel shall not be entitled to participate in hostilities, except in cases where necessary for the purpose of self-defence, according to the explanatory note to the draft decision.

Decisions of the Saeima enter into force at the time of their adoption.

Saeima Press Service