Foreign Ministry State Secretary Maris Riekstins to Lead Latvian Delegation in Negotiations with NATO [26 Nov 2002]

On November 25, 2002, the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia approved the composition of the Latvian delegation for negotiations on accession to NATO, headed by State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Maris Riekstins. State Secretary at the Ministry of Defence, Mr Edgars Rinkevics was confirmed as Deputy Head of Delegation.

The delegation is comprised of the following members:

Mr Helmuts Ancans, Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board of the Bank of Latvia
Mr Uldis Dzenitis, Deputy Director of the Constitution Protection Bureau
Mr Nils Jansons, Director of the Security Policy Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Mr Ilgvars Klava, Advisor at the Latvian Mission to NATO
Mr Vigo Legzdins, State Secretary of the Ministry of Transport
Ms Gita Leitlande, Head of NATO Section, Ministry of Defence
Mr Imants Liegis, Latvian Ambassador to NATO
Ms Everita Palma, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Defence
Mr Ivars Pundurs, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Lieutenant-Colonel Igors Rajevs, Chief of Plans and Policy Department, National Armed Forces Headquarters
Mr Raivo Raudzeps, Director of the Legal Department, Ministry of Defence
Mr Janis Sarts, Defence Advisor at the Latvian Mission to NATO
Ms Inga Skujina, Head of NATO Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ms Inguna Sudraba, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Finance
Ms Sintija Visnevska, Director of Plans and NATO Integration Department, Ministry of Defence
Admiral Gaidis Zeibots, Deputy Commander of the National Armed Forces

The Cabinet of Ministers has authorised the delegation to conclude agreements with NATO on the political, military, financial, legal and information protection conditions of accession.

The first round of talks are scheduled to take place in Brussels on December 4, followed by a second round on December 11. Negotiations are expected to conclude in March 2003, so that by the end of March the Accession Protocol can be signed, which then will need to be ratified in the parliaments of NATO member states and by the Latvian Saeima.

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