Latvia names new ambassador to Sweden

Andris Straumanis | 

Latvia’s new ambassador to Sweden has presented her credentials to King Carl XVI Gustav, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Nov. 30.

Elita Kuzma was named ambassador to Sweden on Nov. 10 and presented her credentials to the king on Nov. 30, according to the ministry. She previously was Latvia’s ambassador to Austria, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary, Lichtenstein and Switzerland.

Kuzma replaces Artis Bērtulis.

Latvia also has five honorary consuls in Sweden: Ingemar Nilsson in Skanör, Robert Rydingstam in Göteborg, Stig Thorsson in Stockholm, Andris Nolendorfs in Nybro, and Egil F. Linge in Visby.

Also on Nov. 30, President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga presented an accreditation letter to Maija Manika, Latvia’s new ambassador to Macedonia, the president’s press office announced. Manika previously served as a deputy state secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Andris Straumanis is a special correspondent for and a co-founder of Latvians Online. From 2000–2012 he was editor of the website.

Washington Post covers Latvian migration

Andris Straumanis | 

The Latvian migration to Ireland is now in the mainstream. In a lengthy article that begins on Page 1 of the Nov. 28 Washington Post, London-based reporter Kevin Sullivan follows a 39-year-old Latvian man as he travels to Ireland in search of work.

The article, East-to-West Migration Remaking Europe (registration required), offers a detailed look into the migration process that has been repeated by thousands of Latvians and other Eastern Europeans in recent years. Estimates of how many Latvians now live and work range from 20,000 to 40,000.

Sullivan’s story online also include a short video of images showing his subject, Jānis Neulans, traveling to Dublin on his first-ever airplane ride, looking for work as is money runs out, and finally finding a job in a door factory in County Wexford.

Sanita Jemberga, a reporter for the Rīga daily Diena, also recently covered the flight to Ireland, focusing on how a good many of the migrants have no intention of returning to their homeland.

Washington Post story

Reporter Kevin Sullivan’s story about a Latvian man’s search for work in Ireland appears on the front page of the Nov. 28 Washington Post.

Andris Straumanis is a special correspondent for and a co-founder of Latvians Online. From 2000–2012 he was editor of the website.

President to speak at summit in Spain

Andris Straumanis | 

Latvian President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga will address leaders of European and Mediterranean nations as part of a two-day visit to Barcelona, Spain, the president’s press office has announced.

Vīķe-Freiberga will travel to Spain from Nov. 27-28 to take part in the EUROMED summit, a meeting marking the 10th anniversary of the Barcelona Declaration.

The declaration, according to the European Union, brought together the members of the EU in dialogue with 10 nations of the Mediterranean region. Among goals of the nations is creation of a Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Area by the year 2010.

Vīķe-Freiberga is scheduled to address delegates to the summit on Nov. 27.

She also will tour the National Art Museum of Catalonia and participate in other activities.

The president is expected back in Rīga on Nov. 28.

Andris Straumanis is a special correspondent for and a co-founder of Latvians Online. From 2000–2012 he was editor of the website.