Speech of Ian Bond, British ambassador to Latvia
09/03/2007
By
Juris Lavrikovs
This speech was delivered on 7 March at the British embassy reception to honour a partnership agreement between the London Pride and the organisers of the Friendship Days 2007 in Riga (Mozaika):
SPEECH TO WELCOME VISITORS FROM PRIDE LONDON AND MOZAIKA
I am delighted to see you all here.
The last twelve months have seen a lot of firsts in Latvia: the first visit to Latvia by The Queen; the first visit to Latvia by a British Prime Minister; the first time a NATO Summit has been held here. I am fairly certain that this is the first time there has been such a gathering in this Residence. I view it, and the statement of unity to be signed tomorrow, as further important firsts.
In the 35 years since Pride in London began, it has established itself as an important event on London’s calendar – for the whole community as well as the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community. But when it started, it also met incomprehension, prejudice and opposition. Rigas Praids is still controversial here. Unscrupulous populists are happy to exploit ignorance, and to encourage violence against people peacefully exercising their human rights of freedom of assembly and expression.
I and some of my European colleagues have been accused by some parts of the Latvian press of interfering in Latvia’s internal affairs by supporting Mozaika and Rigas Praids. I am sorry that some people feel that way about us; but I cannot apologise for defending European values of tolerance and inclusion – values to which Latvia has also subscribed, and which many senior figures in Latvia, including in the Government, have actively defended. As Latvia’s President, Vaira Vike-Freiberga, said last summer in commenting on the controversy around Rigas Praids, “In a democratic state, and Latvia is such a state, the society must respect different views and the rights of different people, including the rights of individuals with a different sexual orientation”.
British Government Ministers would wholeheartedly agree with that. The British Government believes that all human beings are equal in dignity and rights. It does not matter what our gender, our age, our ethnicity, our religion, our sexual orientation or any other difference. We are all entitled to our human rights, without discrimination, because we are human. And the British Government, through the Foreign Office and British Embassies overseas, will continue its efforts to defend the right of people not to be discriminated against on the grounds of their sexuality. It’s a matter of fairness, equality and justice. Being different, not conforming, should never be a basis for abuse and discrimination. And I think that most people in Latvia, if the case were presented to them in that way, would accept that.
I hope that the statement of unity will lay the foundations for practical cooperation between Pride London and Rigas Praids; I hope that this year’s Rigas Praids will be an occasion for celebration, not conflict; and I hope that the spirit of tolerance and inclusion which undoubtedly exists in many parts of Latvian society will defeat the forces of prejudice and discrimination.
Thank you.
SPEECH TO WELCOME VISITORS FROM PRIDE LONDON AND MOZAIKA
I am delighted to see you all here.
The last twelve months have seen a lot of firsts in Latvia: the first visit to Latvia by The Queen; the first visit to Latvia by a British Prime Minister; the first time a NATO Summit has been held here. I am fairly certain that this is the first time there has been such a gathering in this Residence. I view it, and the statement of unity to be signed tomorrow, as further important firsts.
In the 35 years since Pride in London began, it has established itself as an important event on London’s calendar – for the whole community as well as the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community. But when it started, it also met incomprehension, prejudice and opposition. Rigas Praids is still controversial here. Unscrupulous populists are happy to exploit ignorance, and to encourage violence against people peacefully exercising their human rights of freedom of assembly and expression.
I and some of my European colleagues have been accused by some parts of the Latvian press of interfering in Latvia’s internal affairs by supporting Mozaika and Rigas Praids. I am sorry that some people feel that way about us; but I cannot apologise for defending European values of tolerance and inclusion – values to which Latvia has also subscribed, and which many senior figures in Latvia, including in the Government, have actively defended. As Latvia’s President, Vaira Vike-Freiberga, said last summer in commenting on the controversy around Rigas Praids, “In a democratic state, and Latvia is such a state, the society must respect different views and the rights of different people, including the rights of individuals with a different sexual orientation”.
British Government Ministers would wholeheartedly agree with that. The British Government believes that all human beings are equal in dignity and rights. It does not matter what our gender, our age, our ethnicity, our religion, our sexual orientation or any other difference. We are all entitled to our human rights, without discrimination, because we are human. And the British Government, through the Foreign Office and British Embassies overseas, will continue its efforts to defend the right of people not to be discriminated against on the grounds of their sexuality. It’s a matter of fairness, equality and justice. Being different, not conforming, should never be a basis for abuse and discrimination. And I think that most people in Latvia, if the case were presented to them in that way, would accept that.
I hope that the statement of unity will lay the foundations for practical cooperation between Pride London and Rigas Praids; I hope that this year’s Rigas Praids will be an occasion for celebration, not conflict; and I hope that the spirit of tolerance and inclusion which undoubtedly exists in many parts of Latvian society will defeat the forces of prejudice and discrimination.
Thank you.
