Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins thanks Irish Ambassador for contribution to strengthening relations between both countries

On 9 July, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ireland to Latvia, Tim Mawe, paid a farewell visit to Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins.

During the meeting, Minister Riekstins expressed gratitude to Ambassador Mawe for his contribution to the strengthening of the Latvia – Ireland bilateral relations which culminated in exchanges of visits by senior officials. During Mr Mawe's term of office, the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese was on a state visit to Latvia, together with ministers of various sectors. In November last year, President Valdis Zatlers, in his turn, went on a working visit to Ireland. 

During the discussion, the Foreign Minister also highlighted the development of economic co-operation between the countries and noted the Ambassador's activity in the field of culture. Minister Riekstins accentuated that Latvia appreciates Ireland's openness with regard to a free movement of labour from the new EU Member States in view of a considerable community of Latvians in Ireland.

The parties also reviewed acute topics on the EU agenda, focusing on the ratification process of the Lisbon Treaty. Ambassador Mawe expressed positive opinion of Latvia's support and understanding of the development in Ireland so far regarding the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty and also briefed about the informative measures taken by the Irish Government in preparing for a repeated referendum in October.  The Foreign Minister, in his turn, emphasised the agreement regarding legal guarantees to Ireland achieved during the European Council in July and expressed hope that they will form the grounds for a positive outcome of the referendum.

Ambassador Tim Mawe was accredited in October 2005 and is the first resident Ambassador of Ireland Latvia. During his term of office, an Embassy of Ireland was opened in Riga. Until then the Irish embassy was located in Stockholm.

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