Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins to participate in NATO 60th Anniversary Summit in Strasbourg / Kehl
On 3 – 4 April, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins is to participate in the NATO Heads of State and Government meeting in Strasbourg / Kehl.
April
Maris Riekstins: 'Open Door' policy is applicable not only to Western Balkans
On 3 April, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins participated in the NATO Foreign Ministers informal working dinner at Baden-Baden in Germany, not far from the French border. The Foreign Ministers discussions took place on the evening before the 60th Anniversary NATO meeting of Heads of State and Heads of Government. The main agenda item concerned the Euro-Atlantic integration of the Western Balkan states and also the Alliance's security declaration.
Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins expresses deepest condolences with regard to earthquake in central Italy
Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins has sent a letter to the Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Franco Frattini, with regard to the earthquake in central Italy. Minister Riekstins expresses his deepest condolences to the Italian people and especially to those people who have lost family or close friends as a result of this natural disaster.
Andris Teikmanis in Stockholm to discuss EU agenda issues
On 7 April Foreign Ministry State Secretary Andris Teikmanis will travel to Stockholm to meet with Gustaf Lind, the Swedish Prime Minister's State Secretary for EU matters, and also with Sweden's Foreign Ministry State Secretary Frank Belfrage.
Maris Riekstins approves the Constitutional Court's adopted decision on the compliance of the law on the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon with the Constitution of Latvia
"I am pleased that today's announcement on the adoption of the decision by the Constitutional Court, which is final and not negotiable, puts an end to any further discussion on the compliance of the law on the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon with the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia." stated the Foreign Minister.
Foreign Minister expresses deepest condolences with regard to tragic fire in Poland
Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins has sent a letter of condolences to Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, Radoslav Sikorski, expressing his deepest sympathies and words of support to the friends and relatives of those who died in the homeless people's refuge that burned down in Kamien-Pomorski, Poland.
Treaty on Extradition to come into force between Latvia and the U.S.
On 15 April, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins and the Chargé d'Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Latvia, Bruce Rogers, will sign a protocol to exchange ratification instruments regarding the Treaty on Extradition between the Republic of Latvia and the United States of America.
Extradition treaty comes into force between Latvia and the U.S.
On 15 April, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins and the Chargé d'Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Latvia, Bruce Rogers, signed a protocol to exchange ratification instruments regarding the Treaty on Extradition between the Republic of Latvia and the United States of America.
Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins on an official visit to Azerbaijan
From 16 - 17 April Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins will be on an Official Visit to Azerbaijan.
Maris Riekstins: Latvia - a trustworthy support to Azerbaijan in its co-operation with the European Union
On 16 April, in commencing his Official Visit to Azerbaijan, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins met with the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and with Minister for Foreign Affairs Elmar Mammadyarov.
Maris Riekstins: Co-operation between Latvian and Azerbaijani businessmen
On 17 April, in concluding his official visit to Azerbaijan, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins opened the Latvia – Azerbaijan Business Forum at Baku. The Business Forum was organised by the Embassy of Latvia in association with the Azerbaijan Ministry of Economic Development, Azerbaijani Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZpromo), and the Caspian-European Integration Business Club.
International conference "Belonging to Europe – history, culture and political identity" on May 7, 2009 in Riga
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia in cooperation with the University of Latvia, together with the Representation of the European Commission in Latvia, the European Parliament Information Office in Latvia, the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and the Embassies of the EU countries in Latvia, are organizing a conference "Belonging to Europe – history, culture and political identity" that will take place on May 7, 2009 in Riga.
Foreign Ministry State Secretary and Ambassador of India discuss opportunities for closer economic co-operation
On 21 April, Foreign Ministry State Secretary Andris Teikmanis met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of India, Balkrishna Shetty, who is in Latvia on an accreditation visit from 20 – 22 April.
Latvian and Belarus Foreign Ministers to discuss bilateral co-operation and EU - Belarus relations
On 22 April, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins will meet with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Sergei Martynov, who will be in Latvia on a working visit.
Foreign Minister to hold press conference on the results of Latvia's five-year membership of the European Union and on future challenges
On 23 April, at 1.00 p.m., Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins will hold a press conference on the results to date of Latvia's five-year membership of the European Union and on challenges that may lie ahead. The press conference will take place in the conference room on the 1st floor of the Foreign Ministry building.
Latvian and Belarus Foreign Ministers agree to intensify work of inter-governmental commission
On 22 April, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins met with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Sergey Martinov, who was in Riga on a working visit.
Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins to attend General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting in Luxembourg
On 27 April, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins will take part in the European Union General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) meeting in Luxembourg.
Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins to take part in meeting of Baltic and Benelux state Foreign Ministers in Luxembourg
On 26 April, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins will be in Luxembourg, where he will meet with his colleagues from the Baltic and Benelux states in order to discuss issues of mutual interest on the eve of the EU meeting of Foreign Ministers scheduled for 27 April.
EU Foreign Ministers discuss real political processes with regard to Eastern Partnership member states
On 27 April, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins participated in the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) meeting in Luxembourg.
Baltic and Benelux foreign ministers focus attention on EU co-operation with Eastern Partnership states
On 26 April, the meeting of Baltic and Benelux Foreign Ministers took place in the Castle of Vianden in Luxembourg. At this meeting the foreign ministers from Belgium, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands discussed current issues of the EU within the framework of the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC).
Latvia plans to ratify the UN Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War
On 28 April, the Government of Latvia ratified the draft law on the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons which may be Deemed to be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects, Protocol V.
Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins to participate in EU – GCC Joint Council and Ministerial Meeting
On 29 April, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins will participate in the 19th European Union and Gulf state Co-operation Council (GCC) ministerial level meeting at Muscat, in the Sultanate of Oman.
The Foreign Ministers of Latvia and Kuwait agree on co-operation in business and in higher education
On 29 April, within the setting of the European Union and Gulf state Co-operation Council meeting, Latvia's Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins held a bilateral meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Kuwait, Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah. The meeting took place at the initiative of Latvia.
Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins expresses deepest sympathy with regard to tragic shooting in Azerbaijan
On 30 April Foreign Minister sent a letter of condolences to the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Elmar Mammadjarov, with regard to the tragic event at the Azerbaijan Oil Academy in Baku, during which at least ten people were killed and many more were injured.
Maris Riekstins emphasises the role of co-operation between national governments and regional and international organisations in the combating of piracy
On 29 April, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins participated in the 19th EU- Gulf state Co-operation Council (GCC) and Ministerial Meeting which this year took place at Muscat, in the Sultanate of Oman.
European Union Gardens Festival for all on 1st May in Vermanes Gardens
On 1 May, from 11 a.m. until 8.30 p.m., EVERYBODY is invited to the European Union Gardens Festival which will take place in Riga's Vermanes Gardens in celebration of Latvia's five years as an EU member state. The event will be officially opened in a ceremony at 12 o'clock by President Valdis Zatlers, with Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins, Ambassador Tomáš Pštross of the Czech Republic and Iveta Šulca, Head of the Delegation of the EU Commission in Latvia.
Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins to meet with Foreign Minister of The Kingdom of Spain
On 6 May, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins will meet with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Co-operation of the Kingdom of Spain, Miguel Angel Moratinos, who will be in Latvia as part of the visit to Latvia by the King of Spain.
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