Vinets Veldre, Acting Foreign Minister, and Minister of Health has sent a letter of condolences to Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation with regard to an explosion on a public transport bus in the city of Togliatti.
This year, for the second year in a row, the European Commission DG Development and the European Schoolnet network of European educational establishments is organising a competition Development Youth Prize 2007.
The American Film Institute (AFI) is organising the 2007 European Union Film Showcase in co-operation with EU member states and their embassies in Washington from 1 to 20 November.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia expresses concern over the incident between the representatives of Georgian authorities and the CIS peace-keepers that occurred in Ganmukhuri village near Zugdidi, Georgia on 30 October.
On 1 November 2007 in Baku, political consultations between the Foreign Ministries of Latvia and Azerbaijan were concluded.
Between 5-6 November 2007, Eriks Zunda, Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will represent Latvia at the Euro-Mediterranean (Euromed) Ministerial Conference of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Lisbon, Portugal.
On 1 November, the eminent Latvian violinist Baiba Skride presented a concert in Helsinki performing the Violin Concerto No. 2 by Dmitri Shostakovich at the Finlandia concert hall together with the Helsinki Symphony Orchestra.
On 2 November, Normans Penke, during his meeting with Claire A.Poulin, the Ambassador of Canada to Latvia, expressed his appreciation of the Canadian Government's policy to expand the number of the EU states with visa-free access.
Today, on 5 November, the Embassy of Latvia in Turkey is hosting a reception to commemorate the 89th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Latvia.
As part of the National Celebration of Latvia, an exhibition by the Latvian painter Laima Eglite opened at the Gallery Strenger in Tokyo on 3 November. The exhibition is being organised with the support of the Latvian Embassy in Japan.
On 6 November 2006, Normans Penke, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs met with Sergio Gonzalez Gonzalez, Ambassador of Cuba, who is on his accreditation visit to Latvia from 5 to 8 November. The Cuban Ambassador's place of residence is Helsinki, Finland.
On 6 November in Lisbon, Portugal, the 9th Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs closed, in which Latvia was represented by Eriks Zunda, the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
On 6 November, the Latvian Embassy in Azerbaijan in co-operation with the Latvian Tourism Development Agency is taking part in the exhibition All different, all equal, being held by the Council of Europe and the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
On 6 November, at the sitting of the Cabinet of Ministers, the draft "Law on International Assistance" was accepted.
Between 5-7 November as part of his accreditation visit, Defence Attaché of Latvia to Italy, Major Aivars Miruskins, met with several Italian military officials in Rome.
On 6 November, as part of his introductory visit to Latvia, Francesco Puccio, the new Italian Ambassador to Latvia met with Helena Demakova, the acting Foreign Minister. During the meeting, the discussion focused on possible promotion of co-operation between Latvia and Italy in the areas of economy and culture.
On 6 November, Normans Penke, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, met with Khieu Thavika, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Cambodia who had arrived to Riga on an accreditation visit. The Cambodian Ambassador resides in Moscow.
On Thursday, 8 November, Normans Penke, the State Secretary of the Foreign Ministry, met with Judith Garber, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and the Director of the Office of North Central Europe of the U.S. Department of State. Ms Garber is in Riga on an introductory visit from 7 to 8 November.
The Foreign Ministry expresses regret with regard to the decision of the Russian State Duma to suspend Russia's adherence to the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe – CFE.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses concern over current development of events in Georgia that has resulted in the imposition of a state of emergency.
On 8 November 2007, the European Court of Human Rights ("the Court") delivered its judgment in the case of Perry v. Latvia.
On 8 November 2007, the Saeima (Parliament of Latvia) appointed Maris Riekstins to the post of Foreign Minister of Latvia.
Yesterday on 8 November, at the Vilnius House of Congresses, an extensive exhibition Pārdaba (Supernature) of works by a Latvian painter Mikelis Fisers initiated a series of events to mark the 89th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Latvia.
Today, on 9 November, as part of the programme of the Latvian Culture Days in Turkey, the Middle East Technical University in Ankara hosts the opening of an exhibition within a photography project entitled ZZZ.
Today, on 9 November, the Latvian Embassy in Russia, in co-operation with the Latvian Investment and Development Agency (LIDA) is hosting a convention for Latvian businessmen, during which a seminar will take place on marketing measures for the successful attraction of co-operation partners.
On 8-9 November 2007, Iveta Sers, Consul-General of Latvia in St. Petersburg made an introductory visit to the Republic of Karelia accompanied by Latvian entrepreneurs.
The Latvian Ambassador to Israel, Karlis Eihenbaums, and his spouse Inara Eihenbauma, held a ceremonial reception in Tel Aviv on 8 November to honour the 89th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Latvia.
On Monday, 12 November, the historical building at Krisjana Valdemara iela 3 was handed over to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
On 12 November, Ambassador Janis Karklins presented his credentials to Joan Enric Vives Sicilia, Episcopal Co-prince of Andorra, the Bishop of Urgell, thus taking up the appointment as non-resident Ambassador to Andorra.
Egyptian journalists representing the MENA (Middle East News Agency) and the Al Ahram newspaper visited Latvia from 5 to 11 November. Journalists from the Arab World were on an introductory visit to Latvia and during their stay, they met with numerous representatives from the public and private sector in order to broaden their outlook on Latvia and its possible co-operation with Egypt.
Between 8 and 9 November in Geneva, the 39th session of the Committee against Torture of the United Nations Organization (UN) examined the second periodic report presented by Latvia on the implementation / of the 1984 Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (the Report).
On 12 November, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins met with Antanas Vinkus, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Lithuania to Latvia who presented a letter of congratulations from Lithuanian Foreign Minister Petras Vaitiekunas, on the occasion of Minister Riekstins taking up office.
On 13 November, to open the week of festivities celebrating the 89th anniversary of the Republic of Latvia the State choir Latvija and the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra will perform in the Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles, one of the most famed concert halls for classical music in Brussels, thus starting a series of joint concerts in Belgium.
On 13 November, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins met with André-Jean Libourel, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Latvia.
On 15 November, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins will make his first visit to Estonia, and on 16 November he will visit Lithuania.
On 13 November, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins met with João Luis Niza Pinheiro, Ambassador of Portugal who had arrived on an introductory visit.
On 13 November, a concert devoted to the proclamation day of the Republic of Latvia will take place at the Small Hall of the Oslo Concert Hall.
On 13 November, the Cabinet of Ministers accepted the draft law "On the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Latvia and the Government of the Republic of Hungary on the mutual representation by their diplomatic and consular missions abroad in processing visas and biometrical data".
The Foreign Ministry will hold a press conference for representatives of the media in order provide information on its renovated building and the repair work done.
On 14 November at the reception hall of the Novotel Peace Hotel in Beijing, the Embassy of Latvia in China will greet its colleagues and friends from foreign embassies in China, Chinese Government officials, media representatives as well as Latvians who reside in Beijing for professional, academic or tourism pursuits, in order to jointly celebrate the 89th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Latvia.
Tomorrow, on 14 November at 1 p.m., Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins will hold a press briefing to inform media representatives on his work priorities for the nearest weeks.
Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins has received a congratulatory letter from German Foreign Minister Dr Frank-Walter Steinmeier regarding his new appointment.
With financial support of the Foreign Ministry, on 14 November, Latvian musicians Raimonds Tiguls, Janis Mednis, Intars Busulis, Kristaps Vanadzins, Anu Taul, Evija Tigule and Inga Stasko-Busule will travel to the Sri Lankan capital Colombo to present a series of concerts in honour of the celebration of the 89th anniversary of Latvia's independence.
A high-level international conference entitled The Baltic States and the EU Neighbourhood Policy is to take place in Riga on 23 November. The conference is being organised by the Latvian Foreign Ministry and the Baltic Assembly in collaboration with the European Commission representation in Latvia.
On 14 November, State Secretary Normans Penke of the Foreign Ministry met with the Philippines Ambassador to Latvia, Maria Zeneida Angara Collinson, who is in Latvia on her accreditation visit.
On 15 November, with support from the Foreign Ministry and the Embassy of Latvia, a representative exhibition Money in Latvia: History and Contemporaneity prepared by the Bank of Latvia and the National Historic Museum of Latvia will be opened at the Eesti Pank Museum (Eesti Panga muuseum).
On 14 November, the Latvian Ambassador to Portugal, Artis Bertulis, will host the Latvian national day celebration reception. It will take place at the Condes D'Obidos castle in Lisbon. The Latvian chamber ensemble Altera Veritas will perform at the reception.
On 14 November, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins received Eberhard Schuppius, Ambassador of Germany on his introductory visit.
On Thursday 15 November, the opening of an exhibition by the young and already noted Peruvian artist Joselito Savogal entitled Velmju pavelnieks (El Maestro de Deseos) will take place in the foyer of the Riga City Council at 16.30. The exposition with 35 paintings will be on view until 30 November.
To mark the 89th Anniversary of the proclamation of Latvia, the Latvian Consul General in St. Petersburg, Iveta Sers, will host a reception at the Consulate General for the Latvian community of St. Petersburg: students, entrepreneurs related to Latvia as well as the Latvian Association.
On 16th November at the Stanislavski and Nemirovich-Danchenko Theatre, the Embassy of Latvia in the Russian Federation will host an official reception devoted to the 89th National anniversary celebration of Latvia.
The opening at the National Library of the Netherlands of the exhibition entitled The History of the State of Latvia in Cartoons marks the 89th Anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Latvia.
On 15 November, on the eve of the 89th anniversary of the Republic of Latvia, the State Choir Latvija, conducted by Maris Sirmais, the choir's artistic director and chief conductor, will perform in Antwerp's deSingel hall, one of the most famed concert halls in Flanders, together with the Tallinn Philharmonic Chamber orchestra and its Estonian conductor Andres Mustonen.
On 16 November in Athens, Liga Bergmane, Ambassador of Latvia to Greece will host a reception for the Latvian community residing and working in Greece, to celebrate the 89th Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic of Latvia.
On 15 November in Tbilisi, the opening of the exhibition entitled Georgia - Latvia: Yesterday, today and tomorrow will mark the 89th Anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Latvia.
On 15 November in Minsk, Maira Mora, Ambassador of Latvia to Belarus, Mara Lace, Director of the Latvian National Art Museum and Vladimirs Prokopcovs, Director of the Belarus National Art Museum will open an exhibition of paintings from the Latvian National Art Museum, entitled Landscape and still life. Latvian 20th Century painting.
On 15 November in Stockholm, the celebration of the 89th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Latvia will take place at Munchenbryggeriet; this is the building with the most beautiful view in the city – on Lake Malaren and the Stockholm City Hall.
On 11 November, Margers Krams, Ambassador of Latvia to Canada, participated and presented an address on Crosscutting issues in Latvian and Candian foreign affairs at the celebrations of Latvia's proclamation anniversary in the Evangelical Lutheran church in Hamilton.
In Washington, the Latvian Embassy in the U.S.A. will host a lecture by Reverend Juris Rubenis on The Right to be Here: Thoughts About Imperfection, which Juris Rubenis has devised as an insight into Latvia's history, its culture, values and various aspects of Christianity.
On 13 November, the next round of political consultations took place in Jerusalem between the Foreign Ministries of Latvia and Israel.
Marking the 89th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Latvia, on 19 and 20 November, the youth choir Kamer
On 15 November, in the contemporary art centre Vinzavod, one of the best-known exhibition complexes in Moscow, the official opening took place of an exhibition by Latvian photographer Alnis Stakle, who attended the event and addressed the guests.
This year, the traditional reception in Helsinki to honour Latvia's Independence Day is being held on 20 November. Invited to the reception, which is being hosted by Ambassador Einars Semanis, are representatives of Finland's state and municipal governments, diplomats, representatives of cultural, press and fellowship associations, and Latvian citizens resident in Finland.
Marking the 89th anniversary of the proclamation of Latvia's independence, the Latvian Embassy in Azerbaijan is hosting a ceremonial reception in Baku on 23 November.
The acting Foreign Minister, Culture Minister Helena Demakova, has conveyed her sincerest condolences to the people of Bangladesh, forwarding a letter of condolences to the Bangladeshi Adviser for Foreign Affairs, Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, in relation to the devastating Cyclone Sidr.
On 16th November at the Stanislavski and Nemirovich-Danchenko Theatre, the Embassy of Latvia in the Russian Federation will host an official reception devoted to the 89th National anniversary celebration of Latvia.
On 20 November at the premises of the Pavillon Dauphine, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins will attend an official reception, hosted by the Embassy of Latvia in France, for representaives of the French poltical circles, the diplomatic corps, military attachés, entrepreneurs, friends oF Latvia and members of the Latvian community.
On 16 November, the Latvian Embassy in Japan will host a reception at the Hotel Ocura Tokyo to mark the 89th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Latvia. The guests invited include visible Japanese politicians, businessmen, representatives of the diplomatic corps residing in Tokyo, and Japan-based Latvians.
On 19 November, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins took part in the meeting of the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) in Brussels.
On 20 and 21 November, Elita Kuzma, the Latvian Ambassador in Sweden will make a working visit to the city of Karlskrona in Southern Sweden in order to participate in the opening of the Honorary Consulate of Latvia in Blekinge County and related events in Karlskrona.
On 20 November, draft regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers Amendments to the Cabinet of Ministers regulations No. 307 of 16 July 2002 "Regulations on service passports of the Republic of Latvia" and Amendments to the Cabinet of Ministers regulations No. 85 of 30 January 2007 "Regulations on diplomatic passports of the Republic of Latvia" received support.
Latvian theatre is being widely promoted reflecting its many manifestations at the international theatre festival Baltic Circle taking place in Helsinki from 16 to 24 November.
On 20 November, the Latvian Defence Attaché to Greece, Lt Col Andris Kalnins met with several Greek military officials as part of his accreditation visit. Also participating in the meeting was the Latvian Ambassador to Greece, Liga Bergmane, together with the former Latvian Defence Attaché to Greece, Colonel Janis Hofmanis.
On 20 November, the Foreign Ministry's Ambassador at Large, Rolands Lappuke, in co-operation with the director of the Millennium Institute, Hans Herren, organised a seminar, the purpose of which was to familiarise representatives of Latvia's sector ministries, academics, and other officials involved in the planning of long-term development, with research studies in sustainable development offered by the Millennium Institute.
On 20 November, in the Lithuanian Cultural Centre in Warsaw, the official book launch took place for the book Baltic Ethnic Heritage by Tadeusz Zubinski which was published by the Association Polish house Sarmacja. The book discusses Latvian, Lithuanian and ancient Prussian beliefs, traditions and customs; widely utilised in the work are research studies by ethnologists Janina Kursite, Peteris Smits, Norbertas Velius, Marija Gimbutas and others.
From 21–22 November, Singapore will be the venue for the EU-ASEAN Summit which this year commemorates the 30th anniversary of the establishment of relations between the EU and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). Latvia is being represented at the event by Eriks Zunda, the Foreign Ministry Parliamentary Secretary.
On 20 November during his working visit to France, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins met with Jean-Pierre Jouyet, Minister of State, responsible for European Affairs, and Jean-David Levitte, Diplomatic Advisor to the President of France.
On 23 November, the travelling project Balticness organised by the Latvian presidency at the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) will make a stop in Helsinki.
Today, on 22 November at the Riga Design and Art School (RDAS), Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins will open an international design exhibition Winter Fireflies. It is the introduction for the conference on "The Baltic States and the EU Neighbourhood Policy" organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the Baltic Assembly, and scheduled for 23 November.
On 22 November, during the working visit to Latvia by H.E. Ferenc Gyurcsány, Prime Minister of Hungary, an agreement was signed between the Government of the Republic of Latvia and the Government of the Republic of Hungary on the mutual representation by their diplomatic and consular missions in issuing visas and processing biometrical data.
On 23 November, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins together with Erika Zommere, President of the Baltic Assembly, opened the 13th session of the Baltic Council and an international high-level conference The Baltic States and the EU Neighbourhood Policy.
On 23 November, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins met with Elmar Mammadyarov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan.
On Saturday 24 November, a Latvian contemporary art exhibition entitled Ruckblick nach Vorn will be opened in Siegburg.
On 19 November, in Strasbourg, the Bureau of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe made the decision to send a mission in the near future to familiarise itself with the situation in Latvia.
The high-level international conference on The Baltic States and the EU Neighbourhood Policy that took place on 23 November during the annual Baltic Council and session of the Baltic Assembly has come to its close.
On 24 November in Riga, at the Reval Hotel Latvija, Edgars Skuja, Under-Secretary of State for bilateral relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, former Ambassador of Latvia to Estonia and Hardijs Baumanis, present Ambassador of Latvia to Lithuania, were awarded the medals of the Baltic Assembly (BA) for outstanding service in upholding the unity and co-operation of the Baltic states.
Latvia supports the international Middle East peace conference to be held on the initiative of U.S. President George Bush on 27 November in Annapolis, Maryland. The aim of the event is to provide a new opportunity for the commencement of Israeli-Palestinian bilateral negotiations on the establishment of a Palestinian state.
On 23 November, the Committee against Torture of the United Nations Organization (UN) publicised its conclusions and recommendations to Latvia with regard to the implementation of the Convention against Torture. The Committee expressed its appreciation of the quality of the periodic report presented by Latvia and of the additional information provided, and noted with satisfaction the constructive dialogue with the Latvian delegation during the presentation of the report.
Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins, in reply to media inquiries, has expressed his deep concern about the events in Russia over the weekend, during which opposition activists were detained.
On 27 November, Elita Kuzma, Ambassador to Sweden, will participate at the opening of the Honorary Consulate of Latvia in the city of Halmstad, in Sweden's southwerstern län of Halland.
On 27 November, Dr. Tomáš Pštross, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Czech Republic to Latvia, arrived on an introductory visit to Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins.
A new Honorary Consulate of Latvia is to be opened on 28 November in Barcelona, Spain. The Consulate's official opening ceremony will be held together with the 18 November celebrations at the Maritime Museum. Invited to the reception are politicians, representatives of the diplomatic corps, economists, representatives of the cultural community, as well as from the Latvian society in Barcelona.
On 29 November at the Minsk Hotel in Minsk, Belarus, the first briefing will be held for CIS regional media, tourism companies and tour operators with regard to the planned 21 December accession by Latvia to the Schengen Treaty.
On 29-30 November, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins will participate at the 15th Meeting of the Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Madrid, the Kingdom of Spain. The meeting agenda includes the review and assessment of this year's OSCE activities in the human dimension, as well as in the politico-military and the economic and environmental fields.
On 27 November in Tel Aviv, Israel, the Fifth World Congress of Latvian Jews was opened. The event will continue until 2 December.
On 27 November, Foreign Ministry Secretary of State Normans Penke met with Abdel Aziz Lahiouel, the first Algerian Ambassador to Latvia. The Ambassador is resident in Warsaw, Poland.
On 29 November in Ottawa, the European Union Film Festival will showcase the Latvian feature film Vogelfrei, but on 3 December the joint production by young Latvian directors will be offered to Vancouver cinema connoisseurs with support from Cedric Steel, Honorary Consul of Latvia in British Columbia.
