Sovereign Military Order of Malta interested in developing aid projects for homeless children and elderly people in Latvia

On 19 March 2007, Foreign Minister Artis Pabriks met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Malta, H.E. Dr Johannes Baptist Fisher-Hollweg, who arrived on an introductory visit to Latvia. Mr Fisher-Hollweg briefed the Foreign Minister on his plans to implement aid projects for homeless children, the elderly and the poor. The project is aimed to provide support to people of all confessions.

Minister Pabriks welcomed the initiative and praised the Order of Malta's support for people of Latvia.

The Latvian Auxiliary Service of the Order of Malta has been in operation in Latvia since 1994. Diplomatic relations between Latvia and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta were established on 15 August 1995. In 1999, the former President of Latvia, Guntis Ulmanis, attended celebrations in Rome dedicated to the 900^th anniversary of the organization.

(end of text)