Bilateral co-operation between Latvia and Norway is diverse and extensive. Co-operation in the area of defence is highly valued, and Norwegian support for harmonious regional development in Latvia has opened new opportunities for the people of Latvia's regions to gain access to higher education.

History of diplomatic relations

Norway recognised Latvia and the Latvian government de iure in 1921. Norway never recognised the military occupation and illegal annexation of Latvia by the Soviet Union. Diplomatic relations were renewed on 27 August 1991.

The current Ambassador of Norway to Latvia since 28 September 2004 is Nils Olav Stava. The Ambassador of Latvia to Norway since 25 August 2005 is Maris Klisans.

A number of Latvian Honorary Consulates are operating in Norway. Latvia's interests in Norway are represented by the Honorary Consul-General in Oslo Arvid Grundekjøn, and six Honorary Consuls: Honorary Consul in Kristiansand Erling Johansen, Honorary Consul in Bergen Jostein Alvheim, Honorary Consul in Trondheim Ole Birger Giæver, Honorary Consul Kåre Bjørn Kongsnes in Tromsø, Honorary Consul Håkon Tranberg in Stavanger and Honorary Consul Roger Arild Kjøl in Kristiansund.

Priority areas of co-operation

Economy

As at 7 November 2006, Norwegian direct investment in Latvia totalled 142.13 million EUR, taking 7^th place among the largest investing countries. At this time there were 241 Norwegian – Latvian joint ventures registered with the Companies Register of the Republic of Latvia.

(Lursoft)

During the first half of 2005, Norway held 13^th place in the export market – 81,268,670 EUR or 2.07% of total export. In turn, import from Norway reached 82,110,821 EUR or 1.23% of total import. In 2005 Latvia had a negative trade balance with Norway in the amount of 842,151 EUR.

Latvia imports mainly mineral products, base metals and products, machines, mechanisms and electrical appliances, but exports wood and wood products, metal products, vehicles, textiles, industrial goods and electrical appliances.

On 23 May 2006, a business and tourism seminar Go to Latvia was organised in Norway in co-operation with the Latvian Embassy in Norway.

Defence

The present co-operation between Latvia and Norway in the defence area is based on the agreement signed in Riga on 9 August 1995 between the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia and the Ministry of Defence of the Kingdom of Norway. Since 1999, a new bilateral plan of co-operation is prepared and signed each year.

Norway has provided a significant support of NATO enlargement towards the Baltics and has greatly contributed to bilateral co-operation projects in the defence sector. With Norwegian support, a Training Centre for Divers from the Baltic states has been established in the City of Liepaja and an International Baltic states Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Training Centre in Adazi. Norway has also hosted training courses for military divers, the Home Guard and public relations specialists from Latvia. It also takes active part in regional projects such as BALTNET, BALTDEFCOL and BALTSEA. Norway provides support for planners of the Latvian defence system and development of its personnel structure.

Latvia has developed successful co-operation with Norway in the area of international peace-keeping operations. From July 2002 to the middle of 2003 a unit of the Latvian EOD served with the KFOR-6 peace-keeping mission in Chisinau, which was part of a Norwegian battalion.

Since the beginning of February 2005, at the invitation of the Norwegian side, a unit of the Latvian EOD is participating in a mission known as the  Provincial Reconstruction Team as part of the Norwegian contingent in Afghanistan. Co-operation with Norway in international missions in Afghanistan continued in 2006 and it is planned that a total of 36 Latvian soldiers will be part of the Norwegian contingent.

A considerable contribution to promoting co-operation between Latvia and Norway in the defence area has been made by military attachè Capt. Vladimirs Dreimanis.

Justice and home affairs

Co-operation between Latvia and Norway in justice and home affairs is close and multi-faceted. One of the best examples of co-operation in this area is the work being undertaken by the administrations of Latvian and Norwegian prisons as part of the Council of Europe's Nord-Balt project. Norway has contributed greatly to improving Latvia's prison system through the setting up of rehabilitation and employment programmes for prisoners and the establishment of better hygiene standards in prisons. Lately, most of attention is focused on preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS in prisons, shortening periods of pre-trial detention and encouraging the application of alternative forms of punishment.

The Norwegian government provides considerable financial support towards the introduction of an intensive Latvian language training programme run by the Naturalization Board to help promote naturalisation in Latvia. Latvia's State Police co-operates actively with partner institutions in Norway.

Finance

Since 2004 Latvia has started to co-operate with Norway in financial instruments – the Norwegian financial instrument and the European Economic Zone financial instrument. The purpose of these investments is to prevent social and economic disparity in Europe and to support the new EU member states in their attempts to fully participate in the domestic market of the enlarged Europe.

• At the end of 2004, Memoranda of Understanding were signed on the introduction of the bilateral instrument of the Norwegian Government and the European Economic Zone financial instrument in Latvia. The term of the financial instruments is five years, from 1 May 2004 to 30 April 2009. The total amount available to Latvia under both financial instruments is 51,269,400 EUR. The annual cost to the recipient country is 1/5 of the total amount available to it. In the case of Latvia it is 10,253,880 EUR a year.
• On 21 November 2006, the Cabinet of Ministers approved Regulations for the open tender of the European Economic Zone financial instrument and the Norwegian Government bilateral financial instrument, for individual projects in eight priority areas – Environment, Sustainable Development, Preservation of the European Cultural Heritage, Health, Children with Special Needs, Development and Education of Human Resources, Justice, Activities of Regional Policy and economy.
• The first open tender for individual projects was announced on 5 December 2006.

Education

Co-operation with Norway in the area of education takes place mainly under multilateral programmes and projects and co-operation agreements and projects between individual institutions and local governments.

Some of the Latvian state and private higher education facilities are actively working with Norwegian higher education facilities, for example, the University of Latvia has signed a bilateral agreement of co-operation with the University of Oslo and it works under the European Community educational programme SOCRATES/ERASMUS with the University of Oslo and Østfold University College, and under the network of European capitals UNICA – with the Agder University College (Høgskolen i Agder) and Oslo University College.  

In order to assist Latvian businesses to adjust to the changes caused by joining the EU, and to become more involved in international activities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway granted funding in the autumn of 2003 for a Norway – Latvia professional master study programme "Innovations and business". Students enrolled in the programme learn current subjects necessary in business management and development. Special attention is paid to latest knowledge of innovations and product development, taught by highly qualified professionals from Norway and Latvia. 

The programme is especially oriented to small and medium entrepreneurs and managers of large companies engaged in both production and service areas.

Culture

Cultural ties between Latvia and Norway are traditionally very close. The Latvian Academy of Culture, where a study programme "Intercultural communication between Latvia and Norway" is being offered, has become a significant centre for popularising Norwegian culture. 

Significant co-operation and regular mutual contacts with Norwegian representatives take place in the areas of art, protection of cultural monuments, museums, literature, libraries, music, theatre and culture generally.

Individual regions of Latvia actively co-operate in the area of culture with regions in Norway. Some of the more outstanding examples of co-operation: Valmiera – Oppland, Cēsis – Østfeld, Rēzekne - Arendal. 

In the spring of 2006 the Latvian National Opera and the International Bergen festival Festspillene started work on a joint production of Richard Wagner's tetralogy Der Ring des Niebelungen, anticipated to be completed in 2009.  

Over a period of four years four directors will produce four complex operas in order that at the end of the project audiences in Riga may be shown the entire Wagner tetralogy as envisaged by the composer. In 2009 the entire tetralogy will triumph in Riga and Bergen, completing an original Northern Ring, as this project is figuratively called by the Director of the LNO, Andrejs Žagars.

Important visits

Data base information on bilateral agreements: Kingdom of Norway

Links to the Kingdom of Norway

Home page of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway http://www.odin.dep.no/ud/norsk/bn.html