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July

Prime Minister and Foreign Minister: Latvian law enforcement bodies have to do everything not to allow desecration of World War Two victims' memory

Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis and Minister for Foreign Affairs Aivis Ronis are in a quandary and concerned over the decision of 29 June of the Administrative District Court to annul the decision of the Riga City Council not to allow to commemorate on 1 July at the Freedom Monument the Riga liberation from the USSR in 1941 and entrance of the troops of the Nazi Germany into the capital.

Foreign Minister Aivis Ronis: selfless statesman's work of Algirdas Brazauskas has left indelible traces in way of reinforcement of Baltic states' independence

Today, at the Lithuanian Embassy in Latvia, Minister for Foreign Affairs Aivis Ronis has signed the Book of Condolences that has been opened in relation to the passing away of former President and Prime Minister of Lithuania Algirdas Mykolas Brazauskas.

Foreign Minister Aivis Ronis grateful to bodies maintaining order and security for responsible and professional action in preventing provocations

Commenting on the events of 1 July at the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia and the Freedom Monument to commemorate the Riga liberation from the USSR in 1941 and entrance of the troops of the Nazi Germany into the capital, Foreign Minister Aivis Ronis has expressed gratitude to bodies maintaining order and security for responsible and professional action.

Foreign Minister Aivis Ronis to discuss deepening of bilateral co-operation and current events in Middle East region with Israeli Foreign Minister

On 4-5 July, Avigdor Lieberman, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel, will make a working visit to Latvia. This will be the first visit of an Israeli Foreign Minister to Latvia since the establishment of diplomatic relations on 6 January 1992. Israeli Foreign Minister will stay in Latvia as part of a regional visit.

Latvia-Turkey foreign ministry political consultations held

On 1 July, in Ankara, the capital of Turkey, Latvia-Turkey foreign ministry political consultations took place. They were chaired, from the Latvian side, by Foreign Ministry Political Director Andris Razans. During the consultations, a number of meetings with senior officials of the Turkish Foreign Ministry were held.

Foreign Ministers of Latvia and Israel give positive valuation to development of bilateral relations

On 5 July, Foreign Minister Aivis Ronis met with Avigdor Lieberman, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel, who was on a working visit to Latvia.

Foreign Minister Aivis Ronis begins working visit to Uzbekistan

From 6 to 8 July, Foreign Minister Aivis Ronis is on a working visit in the Republic of Uzbekistan. As part of the visit, Foreign Minister has been scheduled meetings with the Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan, Vladimir Norov, and the Minister of Defence, Kabul Berdiev.

Foreign Minister Aivis Ronis: involvement and presence in Uzbekistan of Latvia as EU Member State is great advantage for Latvian businesses in the region

On 6 July, as part of his working visit to Uzbekistan, Foreign Minister Aivis Ronis met with the entrepreneurs from Latvia working in the Uzbekistan in the fields of information technologies, logistics and transport, food industry, as well as banking and consultations.

Foreign Minister Aivis Ronis: Uzbekistan is important partner to Latvia, EU and NATO

On 6-7 July, during his working visit, Foreign Minister Aivis Ronis met with the Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan, Vladimir Norov, and the Minister of Defence, Kabul Berdiev. The Latvian and Uzbek officials discussed the bilateral political dialogue, economic co-operation, an expanded dialogue between the European Union and Central Asia, and the stability issues in the region, including disbalance in Kirgizstan and security situation in Afghanistan.

Foreign Minister Aivis Ronis: US involvement in Latvia is an example for other countries

On 9 June, Foreign Minister Aivis Ronis and the U.S. Ambassador to Latvia, Judith Garber, took part in a meeting for entrepreneurs and participants from the foreign diplomatic corps, entitled The Economic Relations between Latvia and the USA, held by the United States Chamber of Commerce.

Riga welcomes 80 Latvia's Honorary Consuls from 49 countries

On July 8-9, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will host the fifth meeting of the Honorary Consuls of Latvia, with the aim of discussing the economic situation and the growth strategy of Latvia, the new tourism strategy of Latvia, the matters of the country's image, and the topicalities of consular work. The meeting at the Foreign Ministry will bring together 80 of Latvia's Honorary Consuls from 49 countries around the world.

Honorary Consuls are invited to promote Latvia's economic growth

When opening the fifth meeting of the Honorary Consuls of Latvia on July 8, Andris Teikmanis, the Foreign Ministry Secretary of State, expressed gratitude for the Honorary Consuls' selfless support, knowledge, and assistance in representing Latvia and protecting the interests of its nationals abroad.

Foreign Minister Aivis Ronis to meet NATO's SACEUR

On 14 July, Foreign Minister Aivis Ronis will meet with Admiral James Stavridis, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR). During the meeting a discussion has been planned on the progress of the NATO reforms and the elaboration of NATO's new strategic concept, as well as the operation by the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan.

OSCE Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights to assess situation ahead of Saeima elections in Latvia

From 14 to 16 June, the OSCE Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODHIR) will deploy a Needs Assessment Mission in Latvia. The purpose of the mission is to assess various aspects of preparations for the Saeima election, in order to inform the OSCE/ODHIR and to advise on the required scale of the observation mission during the upcoming 10th Saeima election on 2 October this year.

Foreign Minister Aivis Ronis: Latvia's priority in context of NATO reform and Strategic Concept is politically united and operationally capable alliance

On 14 July, Foreign Minister Aivis Ronis met with Admiral James Stavridis, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR). During the meeting, the parties discussed NATO's internal reforms, the new Strategic Concept, and the operation of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan.

Foreign Minister of Latvia Aivis Ronis to meet Minister of State of German Foreign Office

On 15-16 July, the Minister of State of the Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany Werner Hoyer will be on a working visit in Latvia. During a bilateral meeting with the Foreign Minister of Latvia Aivis Ronis the parties intend to discuss the Latvian-German bilateral cooperation matters, current EU-related issues, and security policy issues. Latvia is interested in promoting a more dynamic involvement of Germany in our region's economic development.

Foreign Minister of Latvia Aivis Ronis invites Germany to renew active involvement in Latvia's economy

On 15 July, Foreign Minister Aivis Ronis had a meeting with the Minister of State of the Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany, member of the Bundestag Werner Hoyer who is on a working visit in Latvia. During the discussion, the parties reviewed bilateral political and economic co-operation, as well as current matters on the international agenda.

Latvia to take part at International Conference in Kabul

On 20 July in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, the Government of Afghanistan and the United Nations Organisation will hold an international conference, the aim of which is to voice international partners' support to the strategy developed by the Afghan Government in order to assume full control of the development, governance and security of the country. The Government of Latvia has received an official invitation to attend the event from the President of the Islam Republic of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai. The Government of Latvia will be represented at the conference by Political Director of the Foreign Ministry Andris Razāns.

Foreign Ministers debate security in OSCE space

On 16-17 July, an informal meeting of foreign ministers of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe was held in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Latvia was represented at the meeting by Latvia's permanent Representative to OSCE Nils Jansons.

70th anniversary since United States declared non-recognition of Baltic states incorporation into U.S.S.R

This 23 July sees the 70th anniversary since the declaration of then United States Secretary of State Sumner Welles who declared that the United States would not recognize the incorporation of the Baltic states into the U.S.S.R. in 1940. On the occasion of the anniversary, the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, on behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, has launched a statement (http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2010/07/144870.htm) reaffirming the strong bonds between Latvia and the U.S. At the time when Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania celebrate nearly 20 years of fully restored independence, the U.S. supports its "Baltic friends as valued NATO allies, strong partners in Europe and on the international stage, and living proof of all that democracy and good governance can achieve.

Foreign Minister Aivis Ronis to take part in meeting of General Affairs Council and Foreign Affairs Council

On 26 July in Brussels, Foreign Minister Aivis Ronis will take part in meetings of the European Union's General Affairs Council and the Foreign Affairs Council.

Member State ministers at general Affairs Council agree on establishment of European External Action Service

On 26 July at the General Affairs Council (GAC), the Foreign Ministers of the EU Member States formally agreed on the proposal from the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton (High Representative) for a Council Decision establishing the organisation and functioning of the European External Action Service (EEAS).

Foreign Minister Aivis Ronis: Thought should be given to European External Action Service’s capability to ensure consular functions

On 26 July, Foreign Minister Aivis Ronis took part in the meetings of the European Union's General Affairs Council and the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels.

Foreign Ministry welcomes Cabinet decision to allocate additional funds for consular service

The Foreign Ministry welcomes the Cabinet of Ministers decision to grant additional LVL 286,459 from the state budget "Emergency Funds" programme to ensure the operation of the consular service.

Foreign Ministry sends additional staff to Latvia's missions

Seventeen additional employees will depart for Latvia's representations in Moscow, Minsk, St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad and London on 2 August in order to increase without delay the number of visitors served per day and to reduce the backlog of work as much as possible. The Cabinet of Ministers decision of 27 July on the allocation of additional funding for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure the operation of Latvia's consular service made it possible to send on mission the aforementioned employees from among the staff of the Ministry's Legal and Consular, European Union Affairs, and Bilateral Relations directorates, as well as from among the Security Policy Department, the Planning Group, and the Diplomatic Mail service personnel.