Preceded by Indulis Berzins Preceded by Artis Pabriks Party People\'s Party Succeeded by Indulis Berzins Education University of Latvia | Preceded by Janis Eichmanis Role Latvian Politician President Andris Berzins Name Maris Riekstins | |
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Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis
Ivars Godmanis
Valdis Dombrovskis | ||
H e m ris rieksti introductory speech
Māris Riekstiņš (born 8 April 1963 in Riga, Soviet Union) is a Latvian politician and diplomat and a former Foreign Minister of Latvia (November 2007 – April 2010). He is currently the Inspector General for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia.
Contents
- H e m ris rieksti introductory speech
- Biography
- Party affiliation and political career
- Education
- Work experience
- Other related activities
- Language skills
- References
Biography
Riekstiņš’ career in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia began in 1992 as a Desk Officer of the Political Department of the Europe Division, followed by the position of the Director of the Western Europe Division. In 1993, he became the Under-secretary of State, soon assuming the duties of the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He remained in that position until his posting as the Ambassador of Latvia to the United States in 2004, and additionally non-resident Ambassador to Mexico. For most of 2007 Riekstiņš was Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister of Latvia Aigars Kalvītis. In November 2007 Riekstiņš was elected to the post of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia and held this position until April 2010, when his party stepped out of the government. In February, 2011 Ambassador Riekstiņš commenced his duties as the Permanent Representative of Latvia to NATO in Brussels.
In his career Riekstiņš has also been Head of the Latvian Delegation for Accession to NATO, Chairman of the Advisory Council for Latvia’s membership of the World Trade Organization, Head of Delegation of Latvia in WTO talks in Seattle (1999), Doha (2000) and Cancun (2003). He has led the delegation for the U.S.-Baltic Partnership Charter and also been the Head of Latvian delegation for Estonian-Latvian sea border delimitation (agreement concluded in 1997 and ratified), as well as Lithuanian-Latvian sea border delimitation (agreement concluded in 1999, not ratified yet).
Riekstiņš has a law degree from the University of Latvia, preceded by graduation of the Faculty of Pedagogy of the Latvian Academy of Sport Education. He is married and has two children.
Party affiliation and political career
In 2006 Riekstiņš joined the People's Party. He was a board member and presidential candidate in the 2007 Presidential election for the Party. He held the position of Foreign Minister in three coalition governments under the leadership of Prime Minister Aigars Kalvītis (People’s Party), Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis (LPP/LC) and Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis (New Era). In the run up to the 10th Saeima election in October 2010 Riekstiņš was a candidate for the parliament of the Political Alliance “For a Good Latvia”, consisting of the People's Party and LPP/LC. 8 members were returned to the Saeima from the alliance.
Education
Work experience
Other related activities
Language skills
Riekstiņš is a native Latvian-speaker with proficiency in English, Russian and German.
