Latvia’s new ambassador to Canada is scheduled to receive his letter of accreditation July 21 during a ceremony with President Andris Bērziņš in Rīga, according to the president’s press office.

Juris Audariņš, the new ambassador, since 2004 has been the special assignments ambassador to the Latvian diaspora. He will replace Marģers Krams, who has been Latvia’s ambassador to Canada since 2007.

Audariņš began working in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1992. Before being put in charge of diaspora affairs, from 2001-2004 he was Latvia’s consul general in St. Petersburg, Russia. He also has been a counselor in Latvia’s embassy in Italy and has served as assistant state secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Krams will become the special assignments minister for the European Union directorate, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Latvian Embassy is located in Ottawa.

(Updated 21 JUL 2011)