UN General Assembly
2009

join their efforts, even the most difficult challenge can be met successfully. A look at today’s world reveals that never before has international cooperation been so important. Never before have we faced such a multitude of simultaneous critical challenges of global significance. Many phrases have been coined to describe the most severe problems: the “three Es” crisis, for energy, economy and environment, and the “three Fs” crisis, for finance, food and fuel. But no matter what name we use we must remember that those global issues require urgent and concerted action at the global level. Since we met here last year, the financial crisis has turned into a global economic crisis. It has struck the world with its full strength. Consequences are being felt by every State and by every economy. They have an effect on international policy and make us reconsider domestic policies as well. Latvia has undertaken painful but necessary adjustments to the downturn. We have learned our lessons. I am confident that our economy and the entire global economic