On 5 August, President Edgars Rinkēvičs participated in the Livonian festival in Mazirbe, which this year is a tribute to the centenary of the Livonian Union. The President of Latvia met with the head of the Livonian Culture Centre Valta Ernštreitė and Livonian social and cultural worker Ieva Ernštreitė at the school in Mazirbe, visited the youth camp in the garden of the Livonian Community House and attended the opening of the evening concert ‘Mums savs ir gājums’.
‘I am honoured to be with the people of our Livonian community tonight. Although the history of the Livonian people on the Livonian Coast is much longer than the history of our country, today, in the 21st century, the Livonian language, the unique heritage of the Livonian culture, its people – the Livonians – have a special significance in the cultural landscape of our country. One hundred years ago, by founding their own public organisation, the Livonians assured themselves and the then newly established Latvian state that they were ready to protect their language and stand up for their Livonian roots. And today, a hundred years later, the Livonian tradition is alive on the Livonian coast, because there are Livonians!
This year Latvia and the Livonian community suffered a painful loss – the soul of the Awakening, the preserver of Livonian traditions and public worker Helmī Stalte passed away. We will remember her today and in the future.
Despite the fact that many of the world's languages have already disappeared, today people still sing in Livonian, write in Livonian and learn Livonian. Therefore, it is the duty of the Latvian state to preserve the Livonian language and cultural heritage,’ said President Edgars Rinkēvičs during a meeting with representatives of the Livonian community.
