On 24 August 2022, the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, met with the President of the Council of the Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN), Eliezer Rabinovici, who has arrived in Latvia to acquaint himself with what Latvia has accomplished in the field of high-energy particle physics. The President of the CERN Council gave a positive appraisal of Latvia’s work during the first year of its membership in the organisation.
“Latvia has proved itself to be a active Associate Member State of CERN through contributing significantly to the field of high-energy physics and related technologies. Work is underway on a broader engagement with Latvia’s business community,” the Parliamentary Secretary underlined. The first companies have already gained commissions to ensure scientific processes in CERN, Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica emphasised.
CERN membership is an important aspect of Latvia’s science as it provides Latvian researchers with access to the world’s cutting-edge scientific infrastructure and creates opportunities to take part in ground-breaking research. Latvia is planning to gradually increase the level of its involvement in CERN by becoming a full-fledged member in the foreseeable future, which would bring new opportunities to the Latvian scientific and business communities. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs supports the deepening of Latvia’s involvement in CERN’s activities and research programmes, the Parliamentary Secretary emphasized during the conversation.
Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica noted that on 12-13 September, CERN headquarters in Geneva would host the Baltic Industry Days, which would also expand opportunities for Latvian companies. The event would offer the occasion for the Baltic States’ businesses to present their achievements and outline cooperation prospects.
Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica welcomed the fact that “in response to Russian Federation’s military aggression against Ukraine, CERN has suspended the Observer status of Russia in the organisation. This is a major decision. At this point in time, we also attach particular importance to providing support for Ukraine and its people and to facilitation of international scientific collaboration with Ukraine and its scientists.” Ukraine is an Associated Member State of CERN.
On his visit to Latvia, the President of the CERN Council is accompanied by the non-staff Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs on science, Professor at Riga Technical University (RTU), Dr Toms Torims, who also is Latvia’s representative at CERN. As part of his stay, Eliezer Rabinovici will meet with Members of the Saeima, officials from the Ministry of Education and Science and the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA), as well as visiting RTU and the University of Latvia and having meetings with Latvian business people.
Background information
The European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) was established in 1953, and it currently has 23 Member States. Latvia joined CERN as an Associate Member State on 2 August 2021. The delegates of Latvia to the CERN Council are Bahtijors Hasans, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Latvia in Geneva, and Dmitrijs Stepanovs, Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Science.
CERN Latvia Group acts as a supporting body to the CERN National Contact Point in Latvia by providing information to Latvian academic institutions and relevant industries on CERN activities like research in high-energy physics and particle accelerator technologies, industrial R&D projects, IT solution, data processing. CERN Baltic Group coordinates cooperation between the Baltic States’ research and ensures appropriate representation in the organisation.