Thirty Latvian army and National Guard personnel will travel to Michigan in the United States to participate in GuardEx 2005, an international tactical field exercise set June 12-25.

This is 10th year Latvian soldiers will participate in the exercise, according to the Latvian National Guard, or Zemessardze. Since 1995, a total of 260 guard members have trained at Camp Grayling in north central Michigan.

Before traveling to Michigan, the soldiers got training in how to use the M-16 assault rifle as well as in basic U.S. Army tactics, topography and first aid.

The cooperation between Latvia and Michigan began with the U.S. federal government’s introduction in 1993 of the National Guard State Partnership Program, according to the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

Latvia’s new permanent representative to the United Nations in New York, Ambassador Solveiga Silkalna, has presented her credentials to U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Silkalna, born in Australia, has worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for several years. She also served as foreign policy advisor to former Prime Minister Einars Repše.

During her June 8 meeting with Annan, the two discussed U.N. reform. Latvian President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga is one of five envoys Annan chose in April to promote his reform plans around the world.

Silkalna replaces Gints Jegermanis, who now heads the Foreign Ministry’s planning group.

New York-area community members will have an opportunity to meet Silkalna during a June 18 benefit reception for the Victims of Communism Memorial to be built in Washington, D.C. The reception begins at 3 p.m. in the Daugavas Vanagi House, 115 West 183rd St., Bronx. Admission is USD 35.

An electronica and rock music group from Jelgava that had a couple of hits a few years ago has returned with a new lead singer, a new name and a new album, the Rīga-based Platforma Records has announced.

Formed in late 2003, the group FINX sees the release of its first album, Na-na-hā, on June 9.

Three of the group’s members originally came together in the late 1990s as the band B-link. Among their hits were the songs “Upside Down“ and “What If I (Turn Around).”

The members of FINX include the original B-link members—Reinis (Reinis Kazāks), DJ (Guntis Dūmiņš) and Zemīc—with the addition of lead singer Gunita.

Three of the group’s songs, which also will be on the new album, have become radio hits: “Tikko kā sācies,” “Zvaigznes” and “2reiz.” All of the songs on the album were written by Kazāks and Dūmiņš, except for “Zolotije oblaka.” Other songs on the 14-track album include “Augstāk par debesīm”, “Mans vārds,” “Vēl viena sirds,” “3 pasaules,” “Par vienu dienu,” “Vēl par vienu dienu,” “Vairāk nejautā,” “Zvaigznes,” “Laiks nepārsteidz,” “Viss pēc tam…” and an acoustic version of “Tikko kā sācies.”

Further information about the group is available on the band’s Web site, www.finx.tv.