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.

A 20-year-old Latvian man is among the latest traffic fatalities in Ireland, the Garda Press Office reports. Ingus Zemgalis was killed in the early morning of Sept. 29.

Zemgalis died when the motorcycle he was riding collided with a pole in Schull in County Cork, which is Ireland’s southernmost county. No other vehicles were involved, Irish police said.

Gardai are appealing for witnesses. Anyone who may have been on the Colla Road in Schull between midnight and 00:30 hours Sept. 29 and may have witnessed the accident is asked to contact the Schull Garda Station at +353 028 28111.

Over the past several years, Latvian nationals have been involved in several traffic accidents in Ireland, some proving fatal. Particularly tragic were accidents in February 2006 in which four Latvians were killed near Buncrana in northwest Ireland and in June 2004 when three men from Latvia were killed in County Donegal, also in northwest Ireland.

In May of this year, 30-year-old Pavels Desjatnikovs of Latvia was jailed for four months after he caused a December 2004 accident that resulted in the death of a 22-year-old woman, according to a news report from Radio Telefís Éireann. Desjatnikovs pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and driving without insurance.

Through Sept. 24 a total of 242 persons had been killed in traffic accidents in Ireland this year, according to data collected by the Garda National Traffic Bureau.