On 24 August 2021, to mark the 30th anniversary of the restoration of independence of the Republic of Latvia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will host the foreign policy day as part of an international conference titled “A Dream Fulfilled: Freedom and Independence”. The opening remarks by the Minister of Foreign Affairs will be followed by panel discussions on the foreign policy aspects of the restoration of Latvia’s independence and the future perspective.
In the panel discussion, Latvia’s path to independence through the eyes of international partners the importance of the processes of the restoration of independence and their international resonance will be analysed by notable political figures of that period: Vytautas Landsberģis, the Chairman of the Supreme Council of Lithuania (1990–1992); Lech Wałęsa, the President of Poland (1990–1995); Stanislav Shushkevich, Chairman of the Supreme Council of Belarus (1991–1994); and Jón Baldvin Hannibalsson, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iceland (1988–1995). The discussion will be moderated by Daunis Auers, Associate Professor at the University of Latvia and Chairman of the Board for the think tank “Certus”.
In the panel discussion, From de facto to de jure – Restoration of Latvia’s independence and rebuilding of the Latvian Foreign Service, the international aspects of the independence restoration process will be reviewed by Sandra Kalniete, a member of the European Parliament; Māris Riekstiņš, the Ambassador of Latvia to the Russian Federation, former Minister of Foreign Affairs; Alberts Sarkanis, former Ambassador of Latvia to Lithuania, Finland, Kazakhstan, Poland, the Holy See, and the Czech Republic; and journalist Edijs Bošs, Associate Professor at Rīga Stradiņš University.
In the panel discussion, Latvia and the new global challenges – a view to the future, views on challenges that Latvia faces as a member of the EU and NATO will be exchanged by Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, former President of Latvia; Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš; Dainis Īvāns, the first Chairman of the Latvian People’s Front; and Natālija Knipše, Latvia’s Youth Delegate to the United Nations. The discussion will be moderated by Gunda Reire, Advisor to the Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs.
It will be possible to follow the event online on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at www.mfa.gov.lv and on its Facebook account, as well as at www.lsm.lv.
The conference, “A Dream Fulfilled: Freedom and Independence”, takes place on 23 and 24 August. The first day of the event, held at the National Library of Latvia on 23 August, will be livestreamed on the website of the Saeima (the Latvian Parliament) at www.saeima.lv and through its Facebook account, on the website and the Facebook account of the National Library of Latvia, as well as www.lsm.lv
The conference is organised by the Saeima, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The 4th of May Declaration Club, and the National Library of Latvia.
For the attention of the media
Members of the media interested in covering the event on 24 August are requested to register their participation not later than 11.00 a.m. on 23 August by contacting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at e-mail: media@mfa.gov.lv
In the application, please specify your name surname, personal identity number, the media represented, and position held.
A photo and video opportunity will be offered.