“Honorary consuls are an integral part of diplomatic relations as they are the interface between both sides. Honorary consuls are vital for small countries like Latvia who need help in building greater international exposure, representation and stronger diplomatic ties,” stressed Egils Levits in his welcome to honorary consuls.
President and honorary consuls discussed the practical experience of foreign honorary consuls in Latvia in working with government institutions, responsibilities of honorary consuls here in Latvia and countries represented by them and activities of the Association of Consular Corps in Latvia.
Representatives of the Association thanked President Levits for the invitation to meet and discuss the current developments. This is the first official meeting between foreign honorary consuls in Latvia and the President of Latvia, so both sides expressed hope that such meetings will become traditional.
President Levits met with Jānis Zelmenis, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Malta in Latvia, COB of the Association, Biruta Bēra, Secretary general of the Association, Ineta Rudzīte, Honorary Consul of Iceland in Latvia, Mairita Solima, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Bulgaria in Latvia, Valdis Tilgalis, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Indonesia in Latvia, Houssam Abou Merhi, Honorary Consul of Lebanon in Latvia, Māris Grudulis, Honorary Consul of the Principality of Monaco in Latvia, Arnis Ančupāns, Honorary Consul of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Carlos Arredondo Martinez, Honorary Consul of the United Mexican States in Latvia, Ariana Župika, Honorary Consul of Hungary in Latvia, Inga Jākobsone, Honorary Consul of Republic of Turkey in Latvia and Jānis Grasis, Doctor of Law and Vice-dean and leading researcher of the Faculty of Law, Riga Stradiņš University.
