Foreign Minister Pabriks cites the large number of minority members in Latvia as evidence of a high quality of life in the country

On 24 October 2005, Latvia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Artis Pabriks, upon presenting to foreign diplomatic corps the travelling exhibition National Minorities in Latvia: Then and Now emphasized that the presence of a large number of national minority members living in Latvia is proof of the high quality of life in the country. Notwithstanding the complex historical development and occupation of the country, Latvian national minorities have remained in Latvia and strengthened their communities.  

Minister Pabriks noted that representatives of minorities have contributed to popularisation of the country's name worldwide in the context of culture, sports, etc. He stressed that in the area of integration of national minorities Latvia can serve as a positive example to other European countries.

Minister Pabriks informed the audience about Latvia's extensive experience in the formation of a multiethnic society and expressed a hope that the exhibition will also help to resolve misunderstandings and eliminate erroneous preconceptions regarding minorities in Latvia. Mr. Pabriks told visitors at the exhibition that the event was just the beginning since it was planned that the exposition would travel to Latvia's embassies and missions abroad with a goal of raising international awareness of the position of national minorities in Latvia. In November the exposition will be shown in Belarus. 

Minister Pabriks thanked the Deputy Director of the Latvian War Museum in charge of the research work, Juris Ciganovs, and the Head of Office of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Latvia, Ilmars Mezs for their work.

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