Just one day remains for persons to apply to be volunteer monitors during the Oct. 2 Latvian parliamentary election, and so far just three individuals abroad have expressed an interest, according to a spokeswoman for the Central Election Commission in Rīga.

The deadline for applications is Sept. 30. As of Sept. 29, a total of 161 individuals had applied to be monitors in Latvia and abroad, election commission spokeswoman Kristīne Bērziņa told Latvians Online in an e-mail.

The three applications from outside Latvia were received from individuals in Canada, Finland and Georgia, she said.

The election monitor program is an effort by the election commission to reduce doubts about how ballots are counted and whether voting results can be trusted.

The program is open to any resident of Latvia, as well as persons abroad, who are at least 16 years old. In addition to more than 900 polling stations in Latvia, a total of 64 will be in operation outside of Latvia on Oct. 2.

Applicants to become to volunteer monitors must choose which polling station they wish to observe and must complete an online training course about rules governing the election for the 10th Saeima. Once the course is completed, volunteer monitors will receive credentials via e-mail. The online application is available on the election commission’s website, www.cvk.lv.

Monitors will be asked to observe polling station activity and to report irregularities to the Central Election Commission.

Polling stations will be open worldwide from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time Oct. 2.

Further information about becoming an election monitor is available from the project coordinator, Anna Riekstiņa, noverotaji@cvk.lv.

Latvian President Valdis Zatlers will address the United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 24 as part of a weeklong visit to the United States, his press office has announced.

This will be Zatlers’ fourth time addressing the General Assembly. Last year, he spoke about the global financial crisis, about security issues especially in Georgia and Iran, and about reform of the U.N.‘s Security Council.

Zatlers and his wife, Lilita Zatlere, also will participate in several other events, including meeting with the Latvian communities in New York and Boston. Their visit to the U.S. runs from Sept. 20-28, according to the press office.

The president is scheduled on Sept. 22 to address the U.N.‘s annual Summit on the Millennium Development Goals, which runs Sept. 20-22 in New York. The goals were set forth by the United Nations in 2000 and include halving world poverty by the year 2015. Zatlers will speak about what Latvia has done to help meet the goals.

Zatlers also will participate in the annual Clinton Global Initiative, created by former U.S. President Bill Clinton. The organization’s meeting runs from Sept. 21-23 in New York. The Clinton Global Initiative brings together world leaders to discuss solutions for pressing problems.

The Latvian president also is scheduled to meet with representatives of the American Jewish Committee and with representatives of American financial and economic interests to talk about his country’s political and economic situation, according to the press office.

On Sept. 23, the president is to award the Order of Viesturs to Lt. Col. David P. Holahan, the former U.S. defense attache to Latvia.

The president is scheduled Sept. 26 to meet with members of the New York Latvian community when he visits the New York Latvian Ev. Lutheran Church, 254 Valentine Lane, Yonkers. He will participate in the 10 a.m. service and, afterward, the annual Miķeļu tirgus bazaar, according to the online community calendar, nylatvian.org. Zatlers also is expected to speak about the Oct. 2 parliamentary elections in Latvia.

On Sept. 27, the president heads to Boston to meet with members of the Massachusetts Latvian community.

The following day, Sept. 28, Zatlers speaks about “Latvia After the Economic Crisis” to the European Club at the Harvard Kennedy School. The public address is scheduled from 4-6 p.m. in the Malkin Penthouse of the Littauer Building, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Cambridge.

Lilita Zatlere is scheduled to participate in a U.N. conference on autism, a roundtable discussion titled “Women Connected for Health” and an event for first ladies organized by U.S. President Barack Obama’s wife, Michelle Obama.