Four foreign publishers will split LVL 5,000 in funding to help them release translated works by Latvian authors, the Rīga-based Latvian Literature Centre has announced.

The four were selected from 11 entries in an autumn competition for the funding, according to a Jan. 8 press release from the center. Funding came from the State Culture Capital Foundation (Valsts kultūrkapitāla fonds). A similar competition was held last spring, as well as two in 2007.

Translations to be published include:

• A Czech version of Liāna Langa’s Antenu burtnīca. The collection of poems was published in Latvia in 2006. The Czech translation by Petr Borkovec is to be published by Agite / Fra s.r.o. The publisher will receive LVL 1,000.
• An Albanian version of Sandra Kalniete’s autobiography, Ar balles kurpēm Sibīrijas sniegos. The book, already translated in several other languages, first appeared in 2001. The Albanian translation by Durim Taçe is to be published by the Publishing House SHKUPI. The publisher will get LVL 1,300.
• A Bengali version of Māra Cielēna’s Pasakas par diviem. The children’s book, which was published in Latvia in 2003, will be translated by Golam Hossain Habib and published by Bhashaantar of Bangladesh. The publisher will receive LVL 1,300.
• A Czech version of Pauls Bankovskis’ novel Čeka, bumba & rokenrols, first published in Latvian in 2001. The translation by Michal Škrabal is to be published by ARGO s.r.o. The publisher is to receive LVL 1,400.

Entries also were received from Denmark, Lithuania, Macedonia, Russia, Ukraine and the United States, according to the literature center.

Entries for this year’s competition are due March 1. Further information may be found on the Latvian Literature Centre’s Web site, www.literature.lv.

Latvian President Valdis Zatlers has accredited two new ambassadors and said farewell to U.S. Ambassador Charles Larson, the president’s press office announced during the first work week of January.

The new ambassador to Russia, Edgars Skuja, received his letter of accreditation Jan. 7. Skuja most recently served as assistant state secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and before that was Latvia’s ambassador to Estonia.

Skuja replaces Andris Teikmanis, who is back in Rīga serving as the state secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after the former state secretary, Normans Penke, was handed the post of ambassador to the United Nations.

In his meeting with Skuja, Zatlers stressed the need to continue Latvia’s politicial dialogue with Russia and to improve economic, cultural and educational relations, according to the president’s press office. Zatlers also said addressing questions of history remains important, including the return of archives to Latvia.

Latvia’s new nonresident ambassador to Iceland will be Andris Sekacis, who also is the ambassador to Norway. He received his letter of accreditation from Zatlers on Jan. 9, according to a presidential spokesperson. Zatlers noted during their meeting that Iceland was the first nation to recognize Latvia’s renewed independence in 1991. Sekacis replaces Māris Klišāns.

In a Jan. 7 visit, U.S. Ambassador Larson said goodbye to Zatlers. Larson, appointed just last year, will be leaving Rīga to be replaced by a new ambassador yet to be appointed by Barack Obama, whose inauguration as the next U.S. president is scheduled Jan. 20. Zatlers thanked Larson for his work in helping to secure visa-free travel with the United States and for cooperation on security questions.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs last week also noted that Ambassador Juris Poikāns submitted his letter of accreditation to the government of Slovenia. He began his career with the ministry in 1993 and has served as part of the embassy staffs in Russia and Belarus.

In addition, the ministry noted the death of Jānis Lovniks, a 17-year veteran of Latvia’s diplomatic corps. Among other responsibilities, Lovniks was Latvia’s ambassador to China from 2004-2008.

Residents of Latvia traveling abroad now have an easier means of letting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs know where they are thanks to an online consular register.

The register, which can be accessed at kr.mfa.gov.lv, is voluntary. Registering one’s location allows officials to help travelers in case of emergency, according to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs press release.

The Web site became available Jan. 1.

Residents of Latvia may also register their whereabouts with Latvian embassies, consulates and consulates general, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Consular Department in Rīga.