Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia: Relations between Latvia and Kuwait

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Relations between Latvia and Kuwait [14 Mar 2008]

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Kuwait recognized the Republic of Latvia on 15 September 1991, but diplomatic relations were established on 15 July 1994 in Moscow. Relations between the two states are friendly and constructive, the geographical distance, however, is a significant factor hindering their development.

Abdulaziz Abdullatif Al-Sharik, the first Kuwaiti Ambassador to Latvia, was accredited on 18 April 1995. Jamal Al-Nesafi was accredited on 12 March 2003 and performed his duties until 5 September 2003. Ambassador Abdulhamid Abdullah Al Avadi made his accreditation visits to Latvia from 13 to 17 April 2006. Kuwaiti ambassadors reside in Berlin.

Since 2 November 2004 Martins Virsis is the Latvian Ambassador to Kuwait, with residence in Berlin.

Visits

*Visits to Kuwait by Latvian officials*
5 October 2003	Foreign Minister Sandra Kalniete and Ambassador-at-Large for Iraq affiars, Peteris Elferts (until 1 November, 2006).
4-6 March 2002	Maris Riekstins, State Secretary of the Foreign Ministry.
22-24 October 2001	A delegation headed by Janis Straume, Speaker of the Saeima.
*Visits to Latvia by Kuwaiti Officials*
3-4 August 2006	Mohamad Dhaifallad Sharar, Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of Kuwait.
May 2002	Delegation of the Finance Ministry of Kuwait.
27 April 1993	Sheik Ahmad Hamud al-Jaber al-Sabah, Interior Minister of Kuwait.
21 February 1992	Brief visit to Riga by representatives of the government of Kuwait.

Bilateral meetings

Ambassador-at-Large Aivars Vovers met with Kuwaiti Ambassador Al Mubarak Jasem on 11 February 2008 at the EU-League of Arab States Foreign Affairs ministerial meeting and talked about current events in bilateral relations.

On 8 May 2007, during the Joint Council and Ministerial Meeting between the EU and the Member States of the Gulf Co-operation, the Latvian Minister of Transport, Ainars Slesers, met with the Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem.

Co-operation between parliaments

At the 9^th Saeima, Dzintars Zakis chairs a group of deputies for co-operation with Kuwait.

Representatives of the Kuwait National Assembly have visited Latvia four times: from 28 September to 2 October 2004, on 3 to 7 October 2001, from 13 to 15 October 1997 and from 26 to 28 September 1995. During the last visit, the guests invited the Speaker of the Saeima and the Latvia-Kuwaiti parliamentary co-operation group to come to Kuwait on a return visit.

Agreements

On 5 October 2001, the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Latvia and the Government of the State of Kuwait for the Encouragement and Reciprocal Protection of Investments was signed. The agreement entered into force on 13 February 2003.
On 6 March 2003, a Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral political consultations was concluded.
On 6 August 2003, the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Latvia and the Government of State of Kuwait concerning the status of the National Armed Forces of Latvia in Kuwait was signed.

Latvia's foreign trade with Kuwait

Main export goods to Kuwait in 2007 by type of goods, in thousand EUR (data of the Central Statistical Bureau)

*Exports*			*Imports*
*Type of goods*	*Thousand EUR*	*Percentage of total exports*	*Type of goods*	*Thousand EUR*	*Percentage of total imports*
Total	302.2	100%	Total	0.372	100%
Mineral products (fuel, petroleum and petroleum products)	177.9	58.9%	Optical appliances and instruments; watches and clocks	0.4	100.0%
Miscellaneous manufactured articles	64.0	21.2%
Animals and animal products	38.2	12.6%
Products of chemical and allied industries	14.8	4.9%
Machinery and equipment; electrical appliances	4.2	1.4%
Other goods	3	1.0%