On 3 November, President of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Klaus, signed the instrument of ratification on the Treaty of Lisbon thus concluding the ratification process in the Czech Republic. President Klaus signed the document only a few hours after the Constitutional court of the Czech Republic ruled that the Treaty of Lisbon is in line with the Czech Constitution.
On 3 November, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins as part of his working visit to Belarus, met with the higher officials of the country President Alexander Lukashenko, Prime Minister Sergei Sidorsky and Foreign Minister Sergey Martinov and discussed the bilateral relations between both countries, making note of the potential for economic co-operation, as well as topicalities and prospects for the EU-Belarus relations.
On 9 November at 15:00 in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the event for the launching of the Latvian translation to open Latvian translation of Europe: A History by Professor Norman Davies. The book has been translated from English by Ambassador of Latvia to Belarus, Maira Mora and the Foreign Ministry employee Jānis Zīders.
On 5 November in Washington, a current meeting of e-PINE (Enhanced Partnership in Northern Europe) was held, also attended by Political Director of the Foreign Ministry of Latvia, Peteris Ustubs. E-PINE consultations traditionally involve political directors of the foreign ministries of Estonia, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden, and the USA. During the meeting in Washington, the parties are to discuss co-operation with the U.S. in the issues of international significance: energy security, the situation in Afghanistan and Iran, security policy, the relations with Russia and countries of Eastern Partnership. This is the first e-PINE meeting with participation of the new U.S. Administration.
From 9 to 12 November, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins is on a visit to Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Foreign Minister is also accompanied by a delegation of Latvia's businessmen whose aim is to dicuss possibilities for economic co-operation.
On 9 November, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a book opening event for the Latvian translation of Europe: A History by Norman Davies. Those present were addressed by the author, Prof. Norman Davies, the Foreign Ministry Secretary of State, Andris Teikmanis, Head of the European Commission Representation in Latvia, Iveta Šulca, former President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, and President of the Jumava publishing house, Juris Visockis.
On 9 November, when on a visit to Kuwait, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins met with Crown Prince of Kuwait, Sheik Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah, Prime Minister H.H. Sheikh Nasser Al Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and the Minister of Oil, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah.
At the conclusion of his official visit, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins, accompanied by a delegation of Latvia's businessmen representing AirBaltic, the Riga Free Port Authority, ITERA Latvia and SWH Sets, met with the Kuwaiti Minister of Commerce and Industry, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Kuwait, and the administration of the Kuwait Investment.
On 16-17 November, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins will take part in the meeting of the European Union General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) in Brussels. A parallel meeting will be held by the EU defence and development ministers.
On 17 November, to mark of the 91st anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Latvia, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins will host an unofficial reception for the diplomatic corps resident in Latvia.
On 16-17 November, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins took part in the meeting of the European Union General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) in Brussels. A parallel meeting was held by the EU defence and development ministers.
On 19 November, the EU heads of state and government, at the informal European Council meeting, achieved a political agreement on the appointment of Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy of Belgium as the first full time President of the European Council, and of the European Commissioner for Trade Catherine Ashton, U.K., as the High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy.
On 18 November in Stockholm, Sweden, the first summit meeting of the European Union and the Russian Federation took place with the aim of discussing the EU-Russian co-operation within Four Spaces (economy; freedoms, domestic security and the judiciary; external security; science, education and culture), as well as the results of consultations on the new co-operation agreement.
On 21 November in the Daile Theatre, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins, in his address to the People's party 12th Congress stressed that hearsay about a change in the foreign policy course of the state of Latvia is groundless.
On 24 November, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Poland to Latvia, Maciej Klimczak, pays a farewell visit to Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins.
On 25 November, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will open its doors to secondary school and university students and others interested in the work of the Ministry.
On 27 November, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins will join his colleagues at the 15th meeting of the Baltic Council in Vilnius, Lithuania.
On 27 November, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins together with Estonian and Lithuanian colleagues and parliament speakers of the Baltic states took part in the 15th Baltic Council Session in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins in a letter of condolence to the Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, Sergey Lavrov, expressed deepest sympathy and offered words of support to the families and friends of those who lost their lives or suffered injuries in the tragic crash of the Moscow – St. Petersburg passenger train late on 27 November in Tver Oblast, Russia.
The President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso has announced that the Latvian commissioner-designate for the new European Commission, Andris Piebalgs, has been assigned a significant area within the European Union's foreign policy – that of Development.
On 1-2 December, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins will take part in the annual meeting of the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe) foreign ministers, organised by Greece currently holding the OSCE presidency.
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