On 26 August, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins will meet with the Minister of Public Affairs and Diaspora of Israel, Yuli-Yoel Edelstein, who will arrive in Riga in order to take part at the opening ceremony of the Riga Synagogue. Minister Riekstins will also participate at the synagogue opening.

During the meeting with Minister Edelstein, the topics to be discussed will concern the development of bilateral relations between Latvia and Israel, focusing on the promotion of co-operation in economy, culture and education, as well as within international organisations. The ministers are expected to review also the issues of the Jewish diaspora, as well as other regional and international topicalities.

From 1996 to 1999, Yuli-Yoel Edelstein was Minister of Immigrant Absorption, and after that held the position of Deputy Minister of Immigrant Absorption. At 16th and 17th Knesset, Mr Edelstein fulfilled the function of the Parliament's Deputy Speaker. Mr Edelstein has been holding the position of the current Minister of Information and Diaspora since March this year.

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