Welcoming Speech by Veronika Erte, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Latvia to the Republic of Hungary at the Official Inauguration Ceremony of the Embassy of the Republic of Latvia July 7, 2008, Budapest [07 Jul 2008]

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests!

Sok szeretettel üdvözlök mindenkit!

I am truly delighted to welcome you all here today at the official inauguration ceremony of the Embassy of the Republic of Latvia in Budapest! This historic event represents above all a milestone in further development of the bilateral relationship between Latvia and Hungary. 

Latvia and Hungary share common interests as partners in the EU and NATO. It is in our sincerest belief that the Embassy of Latvia in Budapest will further strengthen good relations between our two countries and our people.

Distinguished guests!

There are so many of you whom I would like to thank for the support and strength you have given us and me personally on our way to becoming the first corps diplomatique of our new Embassy. 

Excellency, Minister Riekstiņš, dear Colleagues from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia! Thank you for being with us today, for your staunch support and co-operation!  

Your Excellency, Minister K.Göncz! From the bottom of my heart I would like to thank you and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary for the continuous assistance, support and friendship! We deeply appreciate your warmth and hospitality and feel privileged to be assigned to Budapest. 

My dear Colleagues, fellow Ambassadors! Allow me to thank you wholeheartedly for the warm welcome to the diplomatic community of Hungary and for your close co-operation! 

Let me express my gratitude also to my fellow citizens - the Latvians who live and work in Hungary - for they help us preserve the Latvian spirit, culture and national integrity. Dārgie tautieši! Sirsnīgi pateicos par jūsu klātbūtni.Ceru, ka mūsu turpmākā sadarbība būs auglīga. 

It is an honour and pleasure to see among the guests our Hungarian friends from domains of culture and art, from business community, from Budapest, Eger and Kiskunhalas! A warm welcome to you! - Őszinte öröm és megtiszteltetés számomra, hogy vendégeink között tudhatjuk a magyar barátainkat a művészet és kultúra területéről, az üzleti életből, Budapestről, Egerből és Kiskunhalasról! Nagy örömmel látjuk Önöket! 

Last but not least, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my Latvian and Hungarian colleagues from the Embassy for the great job they have done, especially in these last months. 

The Embassy is a symbol of lasting friendship and co-operation. I assure you that my colleagues at the Embassy and I, we will work tirelessly  to put to a new level the co-operation between Latvia and Hungary that will make our countries get even closer. 

Let me thank you once again for being with us today! Now I would like to ask you to welcome H.E. Māris Riekstiņš, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, for his opening remarks.