On 17 November 2022, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted a festive event to commemorate the 104th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Latvia.
In his address to those present, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Edgars Rinkēvičs, underlined: “We have overcome many difficulties step by step, just like we did at the time when we were establishing our Latvian state, and we have succeeded in developing our state, our statehood. The state is only as strong as its people. Let me thank the members of the diplomatic service and our friends from abroad, and everyone who is making the Republic of Latvia stronger day after day, and building friendly relations.”
The event brought together the Prime Minister and representatives of the Government, members of the Saeima (the Latvian Parliament) and the European Parliament, the foreign diplomatic corps, the Foreign Ministry staff, its cooperation partners, and representatives from the media.
A musical performance was given by the Latvian Diplomatic Choir led by Katrīna Jēkabsone. The choir has been active at the Ministry since 26 January 2016, the 95th anniversary of the international de jure recognition of the state of Latvia. The singers are the Ministry staff members, their relatives and friends, as well as diplomats from foreign embassies.
The audience could also see on display a project by the Latvians Abroad museum and research centre – a large-scale patchwork made of more than a thousand little pieces of fabric and reflecting the unity of the diaspora Latvians and their lives far away from Latvia. The pieces of the “story blanket” have travelled to Latvia from Africa, Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, New Zealand, South America, and the United States of America. The display also includes a multimedia presentation telling about the authors of the patchwork.
On the 104th anniversary of the establishment of the Latvian state, events held and supported by the Latvian embassies and representations, the Latvian communities and other cooperation partners are taking place worldwide – from Brazil to Australia.
Background information
An official meeting for the proclamation of the Republic of Latvia took place at the Riga City Second Theatre (the Latvian National Theatre) on 18 November 1918. At the meeting, the People’s Council declared Latvia an independent, democratic state, which made it possible to form the Latvian Provisional Government and begin the formation of a public administration system. By declaring the Republic of Latvia, the people of Latvia exercised its right to self-determination.