President of Latvia visiting Canada on a state visit
The President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga started a state visit to Canada yesterday on 20th September. In the official welcoming ceremony in Quebec the President was welcomed by the General Governor of Canada Michaëlle Jean.
In her address to the General Governor and the inhabitants of Quebec present the President appreciated that on the 15th anniversary since the restoration of the independence of Latvia and the diplomatic relations between Latvia and Canada the first state visit of the head of the Latvian state to Canada. According to Vaira Vike-Freiberga Latvia is grateful to Canada that it did not recognized the incorporation of Latvia in the USSR as well as provided refuge to thousands of refugees from Latvia who came to Canada after World war II. She also said that the visit was heartwarming for her as she had spent many years in Canada.
Michaëlle Jean pointed out that Canada appreciated Vaira Vike-Freiberga's contribution to the science of Canada and congratulated the fast growth of Latvia as well as the opportunities for Canada to co-operate with Latvia in the framework of NATO and Canadian-EU co-operation as well as in other international forums and institutions. The representatives of Canada will be welcome guests in the NATO Summit expected in Riga at the end of November, stressed the President of Latvia.
On 20 September during the meeting with the Prime Minister of Quebec Jean Charest) the President of Latvia discussed the possibilities to develop business contacts between Latvia and Quebec. During the meeting much attention was paid to the issues of the EU future, co-operation between the EU and Canada in different areas, including energy. After the bilateral meeting the Prime Minister awarded the National Order of Quebec to the President stressing that it is the sign of the highest recognition of Quebec and is awarded for the President's special merits in outstanding representation of Latvia and contribution for the favour of the Canadian society.
When thanking for the honour shown to her the President stressed that she sees the respect of her identity, love of her language, history of her nation and openness to the world. The President said that every generation has the privilege and responsibility to strengthen their identity, constantly develop it and pass it over to next generations. She thanked Canada for the opportunity given to Latvian refugees to continuing safeguarding their historic cultural heritage and traditions. She added that only by deeply understanding one's identity we can be open and accept that many different people live in the world who may have very different cultures and identity from the one we recognize as ours. Vaira Vike-Freiberga told the Quebec government, academic, media and public representatives present in the ceremony that the tolerance and living together of different cultures is a characteristic and highly appreciable feature of Quebec and Canada.
