FOREIGN POLICY EVENTS AND CHRONOLOGY
IN BRIEF
On 26 October 2004, in a seminar dedicated to EU issues organised by Latvia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Artis Pabriks met with journalists from various regions of the country. Mr Pabriks pointed out to journalists that the Constitutional Treaty streamlines the European Union and makes it easier to understand. For the first time in the history the EU, its values and principles of functioning are summarised within the framework of one document. The Treaty increases the effectiveness of the EU by introducing institutional reforms. Implementation of the Common Security and Foreign Policy is of particular importance for Latvia. The minister stressed that the Treaty is beneficial for Latvia because the country's opportunity to influence EU decisions will increase. More than 20 regional journalists were participating in the two-day seminar on topical EU issues, including the EU Constitutional Treaty and utilisation of EU structural funds. On 29 October 2004, the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Prime Minister Indulis Emsis and Minister of Foreign Affairs Artis Pabriks participated in the ceremony of signing of the EU Constitution in Rome, Italy. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (26.10.2004);
Latvia's government falls over 2005 state budget On 28 October 2004, the Saeima plenary meeting rejected the 2005 draft national budget in its first reading and all the related bills, toppling the Indulis Emsis-led government. This government has been the first minority government that has fallen because of the budget. In accordance with Saeima Rules of Procedure, if Saeima votes against the Cabinet of Ministers' draft national budget in its first or second reading, this is regarded as a vote of "no confidence" against the Cabinet. 39 MP's voted for the budget in the first reading, 53 voted against, five abstained. LETA (28.10.2004) The Cabinet of Minister nominates Latvia's candidate for the post of European Commissioner On 2 November 2004, the Cabinet of Ministers withdrew the candidature of Ingrida Udre for the post of European Commissioner as asked in the letter of Jose Manuel Barroso, President-designate of the new European Commission. The Latvian Government supported nomination of Andris Piebalgs for the post of the European Commissioner. Prime Minister Indulis Emsis informed the new President of the European Commission on this decision of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia. The Cabinet of Ministers (02.11.2004) DEFENCE ISSUES
The 9th regular Baltic Military Cartography Conference held
From 28 to 29 October 2004, the 9th regular Baltic Military Cartography Conference organised by the Latvian Ministry of Defence (MoD) in collaboration with the State Land Service (SLS) took place. Representatives of Estonian and Latvian Sea Administrations and Hydrography Services in charge of printing navy navigation maps for own territorial waters participated in the conference. Military Cartography Conference takes place every year in one of the Baltic capitals - Tallinn, Riga or Vilnius - in accordance with the rotation principle. Its goal is to facilitate the mutual cooperation within the region in the fields of military cartography, information and experience sharing, as well as solving of joint problems, e.g. cartographic data exchange at the border areas in order to ensure their compatibility in maps produced by different countries. During the nine years of operation, the basic structure of the conference group has been established, which is composed of the permanent participants from Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian military and civil cartography organisations (Land Services) and the US National Geospatial Intelligence Agency. The conference organisers can invite their co-operation partners to participate in the conference as well, and this year they are the representatives of the UK, Swiss, Swedish and Polish military cartography organisations. For the first time, a representative of the NATO Joint Force Command Headquarters Brunssum participated in the conference. Ministry of Defence (28.10.2004)
The State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Edgars Rinkevics, briefed the guests about the topicalities of the Latvian defence policy, emphasizing the commencement of the armed forces' professionalisation. The State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence informed the BALTDEFCOL delegation about the participation in the work of NATO, as well as about the topicalities in the establishment of the European Union defence capabilities and the cooperation between the Baltic States. Ministry of Defence (29.10.2004)
On 2 November 2004, the working session of the NATO defence policy planning experts took place in Riga. Participants were mainly Heads and experts of Policy and Planning Departments of Foreign and Defence Ministries of the NATO states. This was the first meeting of the NATO Executive Working Group, which worked on the NATO Joint Guidelines. The purpose of the Executive Working Group was to define the general guidelines for the policy, their status and relation to the NATO strategic and planning documents. The decision about the need of such a meeting and its organisation was made in October 2004 during the NATO Defence Ministerial Meeting in Romania, where the Latvian Minister of Defence, Atis Slakteris, and the NAF Commander, Vice-Admiral Gaidis Andrejs Zeibots, participated as well. Ministry of Defence (01.11.2004)
ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS Central Finance and Contracting Agency and Social Assistance Foundation agree on implementation of ERDF grant scheme On 25 October 2004, the Central Finance and Contracting Agency (CFCA) and the Social Assistance Foundation (SAF) signed agreement of cooperation on implementation of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) grant scheme "Development of alternative social care and social rehabilitation services". The implementation period of the grant scheme is till 31 August 2008 and its total planned expenditure is LVL 1,839,394. According to the conditions of the agreement, the SAF in the capacity of administrator of the grant scheme announces project application competitions of the grant scheme, evaluates the project applications of the grant scheme according to the administrative evaluation criteria, concludes agreements with recipients of the grant funding and supervises implementation of these projects. SAF also provides for payback of expenses of grant funding for its recipients according to the conditions of the concluded agreements. SAF reviews the cleared payments and submits a structural fund request to the CFCA on a single payback from the ERDF co-funding means. CFCA supervises the overall process of implementation of the grant scheme and the regular activities of SAF as the administrator of the grant scheme. CFCA also organises the payback of the ERDF funding from the European Commission. Ministry of Finance (28.10.2004) The Inaugural Meeting of the Business Council to the Embassy of Latvia to United Kingdom On 26 October 2004, the Inaugural Meeting of the Business Council to the Embassy of Latvia to United Kingdom was held in London. The purpose of the establishment of the Business Council is to elaborate close ties among the governmental representatives of Latvia in United Kingdom (Embassy and LIDA Representative office) and British business circles, involving Latvian parentage entrepreneurs, as well entrepreneurs knowing Latvian and UK business circles. At the Inaugural Meeting, the members were informed on news and up-to-date information on Latvian economy, investment projects in process, as well as on the work of the Embassy and LIDA Representative office in UK. The Business Council was also informed on the work of Latvian Honorary Consuls. The Business Council agreed on strategic action guidelines in the future. The aims and purposes of Business Council are: to encourage and assist the commercial interests of the Republic of Latvia in the UK, to promote understanding and recognition of Latvia in the UK business community; to support the Government of Latvia and its representatives in the UK. Thus, the Business Council will also assist the Embassy and LIDA Representative office in business networking, organizing business events on promotion of Latvian business area and visits of Latvian governmental officials. Business Council's meetings will be held bi-monthly in formal and informal session. To the informal sessions of the Business Council guests will be invited, thus making a networking base for the representatives of Latvia for potential business contacts. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (28.10.2004) Conference "Nordic Experience in Sustainable Production and Consumption" On 28 October 2004, the Latvian Ministry of Economics hosted the conference "Nordic Experience in Sustainable Production and Consumption", organised by the Latvian Environmental Management Association, the Swedish Business Development Agency (NUTEK) and the Danish Ecological Council. The main issues addressed in the conference were related to the role of industry in sustainable development of a state, resource-efficient new products and technologies, as well as the most appropriate resources necessary for successful and sustainable production and consumption. Ministry of Economics (26.10.2004) Belgian trade mission to the Baltic States On 27 October 2004, the Belgian Embassy and AWEX held a multisectoral mission of Belgian businesses to the Baltic States. The mission included a meeting between entrepreneurs of Belgium and the three Baltic States. Altogether, about 15 Belgian and 100 Latvian businesses participated in the trade mission. It was held to facilitate cooperation between Belgian and Baltic businesses. Also, the Belgian entrepreneurs wanted to learn the Baltic market situation and find cooperation partners. Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (27.10.200)
Stavanger http://www.stavanger-web.com/ is the fourth largest Norwegian city with a population of 110 thousand. It is often called the "oil capital" of Norway because representative offices of the leading Norwegian and international oil companies coordinating oil extraction works in the North Sea are located in the city. The city has highly developed shipbuilding, metal processing and fish processing industries. The European Council has approved Stavanger as one of the European culture capitals for 2008. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (01.11.2004)
LATEST STATISTICS
From 25 to 31 October 2004, an exhibition of Latvian stamps dedicated to the UN Day was held at Copenhagen City Hall. Altogether, more that 40 countries including Latvia were represented in the exhibition. The intention of the organiser of the exhibition - the Cultural Confederation of Foreign Societies (KUKS) - was to inform society at large of the traditions, art and history of the participating countries. The Latvian exhibit, set up in cooperation with the Latvian Post and Latvian Embassy in Denmark, displays postage stamps dedicated to the 800th anniversary of Riga, the history of Latvia (the Baltic Way, presidents of Latvia), membership in international organisations and participation in international sports events. Visitors can also see Latvian stamps displaying castles and palaces in Latvia, bridges, paintings, landscapes; they can also gain insight in Latvian traditions and folk costumes. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (26.10.2004)
CALENDAR OF ARTS EVENTS
|
|
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
