The planned June 16 start of a festival of Russian culture in Latvia is “demeaning and unacceptable,” the American Latvian Association says in an open letter to Helēna Demakova, Latvia’s minister of culture.

The Oct. 5 letter, signed by ALA Chairman Mārtiņš Duhms, comes in response to an announcement that a protocol has been signed by Latvian and Russian officials for a cultural exchange. Latvia’s “culture days” in Russia are scheduled to start Oct. 16 with guest performances in Moscow by the Latvian National Opera. Events will continue through April.

Russia’s “culture days” are scheduled to begin June 16 with a guest performance by the Russian State Academic Grand Theatre during the Rīga Opera Festival.

“The ALA board considers that the scheduled dates of the Russian Culture Days in Latvia are very close to the dates of tragic events in the history of the Latvian state,” Duhms wrote, adding that the association in principle supports the idea of cultural exchange between the two countries.

However, the date is unacceptable and should be changed, the ALA said.

June 14 marks the start of the 1941 deportations from occupied Latvia at the hands of Soviet troops. June 15 is the date of the 1940 attack by Soviet forces on the Latvian border post at Masļenki. June 16 is the date in 1940 when the Soviet Union issued an ultimatum demanding its troops be allowed to enter Latvia. And June 17, 1940, marks the start of the illegal occupation of Latvia by the Soviet Union, the ALA board said in the letter.

“Latvians in the United States still are painfully aware of the effect these events had on the state of Latvia and the fate of the Latvian people,” Duhms wrote, “and view this time as a time of sorrow.” The arrival of Russia’s delegation on June 16 would be an insult to Latvians who suffered during the Soviet occupation, especially because the Russian government still has not officially recognized or apologized for the occupation of the Baltic states, Duhms added.

Russian officials have gone as far as acknowledging the Soviet Union annexed the Baltic states in 1940, but argue that if the countries were annexed then they were not occupied.

Latvia’s newest ambassador to Canada, Marģers Krams, has presented his letter of accreditation to Canadian Gov. General Michaëlle Jean, according to the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In an Oct. 2 ceremony in Ottawa, both officials discussed the two countries’ cooperation, especially in their military missions in Afghanistan. Jean noted the success of last year’s visit to Canada by now former President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, as well as cooperation between the University of Latvia and the Université de Montréal.

In her discussion with Krams, the issue of establishing visa-free travel from Latvia to Canada also was addressed. The European Union’s top justice official recently threatened Canada with retaliation if it fails to move on the issue of visa-free travel for the EU’s newest members, including Latvia. Franco Frattini in September told journalists that Canadian travelers could face introduction of visa requirements if their country does not act soon, according to media reports.

Krams told Jean that one of his duties will be to strengthen Latvia’s contact with the Latvian community in Canada.

Krams replaces Atis Sjanītis, who now is Latvia’s ambassador to Ukraine and Moldova. Krams is Latvia’s fourth ambassador to Canada.

A new 1-lat gold commemorative coin featuring the apple tree logo of the historic publishing house Zelta ābele has been released by the Bank of Latvia.

The coin honors the publishing house established in 1935 by Miķelis Goppers (1908–1996). The publisher created books for collectors and book lovers, the bank explained in an Oct. 2 press release.

“By the summer of 1940, when Latvia was occupied by the Soviet Union, the publishing house had managed to produce 48 books, all of the gold standard of Latvian book art,” the bank said.

The apple tree logo was created by Voldemārs Krastiņš (1908–1960), a landscape artist and master etcher. For the coin, graphic artist Laimonis Šēnbergs used Krastiņš’ logo as the basis for the design. Jānis Strupulis created the plaster model.

“In Latvian fairy-tales, the golden apple tree is usually closely related with the activities of Mother Laima, one of the most significant members of the Latvian pantheon of Gods,” the bank said in its press release. “A symbol of good luck, the golden apple tree lends a helping hand to the poor orphan girl, who is an embodiment of virtue, but bars the way to the spoilt daughter of the master.”

Circulation of the coin is limited to 15,000. The coin will be available at the Bank of Latvia and in souvenir and jewelerly shops. The cost of the coin at the Bank of Latvia is LVL 29.

The apple tree logo is on the coin’s reverse. The obverse features the coat of arms of Latvia.

The coin, minted by the Staatliche Münze Berlin in Germany, weighs 1.2442 grams and has a diameter of 13.92 mm, making it smaller than a 1-santīm coin.