IN REVIEW April 11 – 16, 2012 Issue 13

CONTENTS

Government Leaders of All For Latvia Party Re-elected at Congress President Asks Other Countries to Share Experience in Open Voting on State Officials Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman: Saeima Can Help Shape Foreign Policy

Economics Tax Authority Chief: Tax Revenues Flowing into Latvian Budget Very Well Subsistence Minimum in Latvia Reaches EUR 248.15 in March Bank of Latvia: Registered Unemployment Drops After Slight Seasonal Rise Bank of Latvia: Deficit in the Current Account Remains in February Bank of Latvia: External Trade Growing in February Bank of Latvia: Annual Inflation Continues to Drop

Foreign Affairs On Visit to Brazil, Rinkēvičs Discusses Cooperation Possibilities in Various Sectors Israeli Energy and Water Resources Minister, Business Delegation to Visit Latvia Latvian President to Attend Meeting of Baltic, Polish Heads of State This Week Foreign Ministry State Secretary Attends Political Consultations in Kazakhstan Foreign Minister of Latvia Visits Brazil

Society Latvia’s Ērenpreiss Bicycle Company Launches New Line of Latvian-Made Bikes Third New Patrol Boat Built by Latvian Shipyard Gets Launched Lielais Kristaps Film Festival Awards the Year’s Best Latvian Films On April 20, LNO to Feature First-Ever Latvian Production of La Bayadere

Articles of Interest Joonbug.com: Contemporary Artists of Latvia Debuts at The National Arts Club

Government Leaders of All For Latvia Party Re-elected at Congress Baltic News Service RĪGA, Apr 14, BNS - Raivis Dzintars and Imants Parādnieks, the leaders of All For Latvia party which together with Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK (TB/LNNK) party forms the nationalist conservative National Alliance bloc included in the current ruling coalition, were re-elected as the co-chairmen of All For Latvia at the party congress on Saturday. The congress also elected the party’s board consisting of seven members, All For Latvia representatives told BNS. All For Latvia held its 9th congress on Saturday, followed by a conference organized jointly by All For Latvia and TB/LNNK. In summer last year both parties made a decision to merge into a single party but put the brakes on the process because of the possibility to receive financing from the state budget. In the last general elections, All For Latvia and TB/LNNK ran as a bloc and changing the legal status might prevent them from receiving financing from the state budget. This year political parties in Latvia have started receiving state subsidies for the first time. The subsidies are due to the political parties or blocs, which received at least two percent of votes 1

during the previous general elections. The amount payable to each party is determined based on the number of votes it had received in the elections. The National Alliance is entitled to 15,900 lats (EUR 22,600) in subsidies from the state budget. (EUR 1 = LVL 0.7028)

Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman: Saeima Can Help Shape Foreign Policy Ojārs Kalniņš, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Saeima, when asked to evaluate the work of his Committee during the winter session of the parliament, affirmed that members of the Saeima can influence foreign policy through interparliamentary contacts, as attested by success in defending Latvia’s interests with regard to the European Union’s (EU) sanctions against Belarus. “I have already stressed during the foreign policy debate held at the Saeima in January that members of the Saeima can significantly influence foreign policy and that MPs are also diplomats. During this winter session, we saw to what extent our Foreign Affairs Committee, European Affairs Committee and MPs in general can influence foreign policy. Our foreign policy is jointly shaped by the President, the government and the Saeima,” emphasized Kalniņš; as an example, he mentioned how MPs actively lobbied Latvia’s interests with regard to the EU’s sanctions against Belarus. The Committee considered this issue at several meetings. It invited representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant experts to express their opinions on how to influence the decision of the EU so that the eventual sanctions would harm Latvia’s economy as little as possible. The Chairman stressed that afterwards, members of the Committee actively participated in lobbying Latvia’s interests on the parliamentary level. “In early March, I had an opportunity to attend the conference of chairpersons of EU’s parliamentary foreign affairs committees in Copenhagen, where I addressed this issue during talks with both EU's foreign affairs representative Ashton and the Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs. Thus the EU heard the opinion not only of our Minister for Foreign Affairs and other diplomats but also of the Saeima on this issue,” said Kalniņš in his video interview. Chairman Kalniņš pointed out that the decision adopted by the EU in late March showed that Latvia is being heard. “We achieved a compromise that perhaps was not completely satisfactory for us, but at least it was much better than the one we had hoped for. I think that this was possible only because in Brussels, a single and coordinated message was expressed by all Latvian officials,” stressed Kalniņš. Furthermore, the Chairman indicated that the Committee tries to predict upcoming topicalities by addressing related issues at its meetings. “For example, when the Committee heard controversial opinions on ACTA, we invited representatives from the Ministry of Economics and opponents of the ratification of the Agreement to take part in a discussion that we held within the Committee even before ACTA was submitted for consideration to the Saeima. Thus we made it possible for society to get acquainted with the Agreement whose consideration has been put on hold,” explained Kalniņš. The Chairman also was gratified that members of the Committee unanimously supported the draft law with which Latvia ratifies the amendments to Article 136 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, or the so-called Treaty of Lisbon, which envisage establishing a European Stability Mechanism aimed at ensuring financial stability in the euro area. “Amendments to the Treaty of Lisbon were necessary. Although Latvia is not in the euro area yet, by supporting these amendments, we allow members of the euro area to establish a stability mechanism. I am glad for this outcome because although we had postponed consideration of this issue earlier, now we supported the draft law unanimously,” emphasized Kalniņš.

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President Asks Other Countries to Share Experience in Open Voting on State Officials Baltic News Service RĪGA, Apr 11, BNS - Latvian President Andris Bērziņš has asked other European countries to share experience in open vote on state officials. The president told the press on Wednesday after his visit to the Constitutional Court, when asked whether the parliament should return to the Constitutional amendments on open vote on the president and Constitutional Court judges, that he has asked other European countries to share their experience. "I have asked to prepare an assessment on the situation in Europe. I have not received it yet. There are different approaches," said the president. The president and Constitutional Court judges had not discussed the possible changes in detail. At the same time, the president admitted that amendments are needed. "What amendments? We will come to it," he said. Constitutional Court chairman Gunārs Kūtris said that discussions are needed on any bill, but the Constitutional Court does not initiate any law or Constitutional amendments. The president and judges discussed raising of qualification for judges, and responsibility of higher educational establishments for preparation of specialists. Bērziņš also had a meeting with Supreme Court chairman Ivars Bičkovičs. The parliament failed to move forward Constitutional amendments providing for an open vote on the Latvian president and Constitutional Court judges.

Economics Tax Authority Chief: Tax Revenues Flowing into Latvian Budget Very Well Baltic News Service RĪGA, Apr 13, BNS - There is a very good flow of tax revenues into the Latvian state budget this year and this trend is likely to continue, Nelija Jezdakova, the head of the State Revenue Service (VID), said in the interview to the public Latvian Radio on Friday. She said that the tax revenues in the first three months of this year had amounted to 112.8 percent of the planned amount and were 117 million lats (EUR 166.5 million) above the target which was a very good result. “Compared to the three-month result last year, revenues have increased by more than 20 percent,” Jezdakova said, adding that the positive trend was prevailing also in April and tax revenues in April also were likely to rise above the target. The best results have been observed for the value-added tax (VAT) which has been collected in the amount of 127 percent of the target and the state social insurance contributions collected at 107 percent of the planned amount. (EUR 1 = LVL 0.7028)

Subsistence Minimum in Latvia Reaches EUR 248.15 in March RĪGA, Apr 13, BNS - Subsistence minimum in Latvia reached 174.40 lats (EUR 248.15) in March this year, growing 0.6 percent, or 1.02 lats month-on-month, the national statistics office reported. According to the statistics office, the change in the subsistence minimum was mainly on the account of a 1.1 percent increase in food product prices, as well as a 0.8 percent growth in the costs of non-food products. In a year -- in March 2012 as compared to March 2011 -- the subsistence minimum rose by 0.5 percent or 0.89 lats. Food costs accounted for 52.17 lats of the monthly subsistence minimum in March, dropping by 0.5 percent, or 0.28 lats from the same month in 2011. The costs of non-food products 3

decreased by 2.2 percent, or 1.31 lats, to 59.33 lats, and the costs of services increased 4.5 percent, or 2.44 lats, to 56.19 lats. The average net monthly wage in Latvia in the fourth quarter of 2011 was 338 lats, up 4.8 percent year-on-year. The average monthly old-age pension in Latvia in the fourth quarter of 2011 was 179.75 lats, a 1.7 percent rise from the same period a year ago. In March 2011, the subsistence minimum in Latvia was 173.51 lats. (EUR 1 = LVL 0.7028)

Registered Unemployment Drops After Slight Seasonal Rise By Oļegs Krasnopjorovs, Bank of Latvia economist. Published on Macroeconomics.lv. After the usual slight rise at the beginning of the year caused by seasonal factors, in March unemployment once again dropped (by 0.1 pp., to 11.7% of the economically active population). At least during the next six months, the number of the unemployed is expected to go down, with the level of registered unemployment approaching a one-digit figure [2]. It must be borne in mind, that the census data [3] have yet to be reflected in the registered unemployment statistics. Namely, for registered unemployment calculations, the overestimated number of the economically active population is used. Thus the registered unemployment level based on census data could be about 2 percentage points (p.p.) higher. It is expected that the new census results will have an impact on the regional distribution of unemployment. The largest corrections will affect Latgale region with the widest gap between the census data and those of the population register (both because of the internal and international migration). For example, our provisionary calculations indicate that registered unemployment is higher by 1.3 p.p. in Rīga, 2.5 p.p. in Zemgale, 2.9 p.p. in Vidzeme and Kurzeme, and 5.7 p.p. in Latgale.[1] This correction applies only to registered unemployment and not to actual unemployment or the jobseekers rate. Within the framework of the survey of labour force by the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB), the jobseekers rate is calculated by surveying a sample of households, and the changes in the number of population have no impact on it. Since the beginning of 2010 to the end of 2011, jobseekers rate has dropped from 20.5% to 14.3% of the economically active population. This drop has taken place on account of growing employment, which is observed in all data sources (the number of employees calculated by the State Revenue Service: increase by 41.6 thousand.; CSB business survey – by 52.1 thousand; Eurostat national accounts data – by 69.8 thousand; CSB labour force survey data – by 70.5 thousand). The latest Eurostat report [4] confirms the increase in employment in Latvia as one of the most rapid in the EU. The unemployed status can be obtained not only by jobseekers but also by economically non- active population (the status serves as confirmation of a lack of a job, allowing the recipient to apply to social benefits). In this case, by plotting the number of the registered unemployed only against the economically active population, we obtain a rather high unemployment rate, which does not however reflects the availability of labour [5]. . In Latgale and Vidzeme, e.g., even the official registered unemployment level exceeds the jobseekers rate obtained in the CSB labour survey. In terms of labour market policies, a clear vision of fostering the effectiveness of active employment policy measures is necessary. A plan earmarked specially for Latgale should be developed with a clear aim: to help the region get out of the prolonged "bad equilibrium" where there is a lack of both the high-grade vacancies in the private sector and the respective labour. Link to full text: http://www.macroeconomics.lv/registered-unemployment-drops-after-slight- seasonal-rise.

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Deficit in the Current Account Remains in February By Ieva Braukša, Bank of Latvia economist. Published on Macroeconomics.lv. In February the negative balance of Latvia's current account was 38.7 mil. lats. This was the result of the increasing deficit in the goods external trade and the decrease in the partially compensating positive balance of the service external trade. The goods external trade balance increased to 137.8 mil. lats. Albeit the goods export value increased in this period, a slightly more rapid increase in the goods import value was observed, in part explained by a rise in the prices of intermediate consumption goods and energy resources. The services external trade positive balance meanwhile dropped to 71.5 mil. lats. In the value of services granted to non-residents, the drop was primarily observed in transportation, travel, other business services and construction. At the same time, construction was among the groups that acted to increase the imports of services. The positive balance of the financial account rose to 100.7 mil. lats in February. In the first months of the year, attracting of direct investment has slightly dropped off. The financial account inflows were impacted by an increase in short-term liabilities of the banking sector as well as by the fact that in February Latvia emitted securities in the amount of one billion US dollars in the international financial markets (these government liabilities also determined an increase in the reserve assets of the financial account). A positive impact on the Latvian balance of payments in the next few months could be had by the possible resumption of payments from EU funds that had been partially suspended. Because of the increasing costs of resources and the sluggish growth in Latvia's export partners, however, a substantial improvement in the current account is not expected in the near future. Link to full text: http://www.macroeconomics.lv/deficit-current-account-remains-february.

External Trade Growing in February By Daina Pelēce, Bank of Latvia economist. Published on Macroeconomics.lv. In February 2012, the Latvian goods external trade turnover grew by 5.1% year-on-year. The export value of goods rose by 4.9% and import value rose by 5.1% within a month. The goods trade deficit reached 154.3 mill. lats at the end of February. The rate of annual growth of Latvian exports 16.7% was slightly increased in February compared to December and January. In February month-on-month increase was recorded for export of grain products, mechanisms and mechanical equipment, mineral products and food products. The export value dropped for wood pulp and its products and transport vehicles and the exports of pharmaceuticals continued down for a fourth consecutive month. In the previous three years of economic recovery, the Latvian entrepreneurs have managed to improve their competitiveness considerably and the growth in manufacturing volumes in most branches has been the direct result of increased sales in the export markets. This successful experience of the last few years may be at the bottom of the optimism of Latvian entrepreneurs regarding the possibility of increased export volumes this year as well even despite the negative external background arising from the uncertainty regarding Europe's economic future. Link to full text: http://www.macroeconomics.lv/external-trade-growing-february

Annual Inflation Continues to Drop By Daina Paula, Bank of Latvia economist. Published on Macroeconomics.lv. The 0.6% month-on-month rise in consumer prices in March 2012 was primarily the result of seasonal factors, oil prices and, in part, the clamour in the food market. The seasonal impact was pronounced in the prices of the wearing apparel and footwear, which, compared to the February price level still dominated by the impact of sales, were 3.8% higher, as well as in prices of vegetables that rose 9.7% within a month. As a result of a rise in oil prices, fuel also appreciated. Because of the widespread clamour, egg prices rose before Easter, yet they 5

could have a similar impact on the March and April inflation, for the clamour that was pronounced in the neighbouring countries in March, continued in Latvia still in April. The influence of global prices on the monthly food price dynamics was relatively small: according to the FAO data, food prices in March rose 0.2% (1.2% in February). Within a year, consumer prices in Latvia have risen 3.3%. This figure still includes the electrical power tariffs raised in 2011 and the raise in indirect taxes in the summer of 2011 and for that reason the trend of decreasing annual inflation will be sustained in the coming months. Yet contributors to the annual inflation are also the consumer prices of fuel, thermal energy and natural gas that have gone up in the first months of the year and the overall impact of energy resources on the annual inflation is not abating. The prices of several types of goods had a diminishing influence on the annual inflation: household appliances, furniture, transport vehicles, telephone equipment, audio, video, photo and data processing equipment became cheaper as did some services, e.g., the tuition for various courses as well as higher education. As these consumption groups are not a part of essential goods, the trend in their prices likely reflects the impact of the weak demand. Link to full text: http://www.macroeconomics.lv/annual-inflation-continues-drop

Foreign Affairs On Visit to Brazil, Rinkēvičs Discusses Cooperation Possibilities in Various Sectors On April 13, as part of the visit to Brazil, Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs made a visit to the port of Rio de Janeiro and met with the Secretary for Culture of the State of Rio de Janeiro Adriana Rattes and Deputy Secretary for Science and Technologies of the State of Rio de Janeiro Julio Lagun. The minister is accompanied by a representative from the IT sector, President of SWH Sets Jānis Rocēns. At the meeting with Deputy Secretary for Science and Technologies Julio Lagun, the minister informed him about Latvia’s interest in cooperating in the field of science, education and IT. The minister emphasized that Latvia sees the purpose in the internationalization of higher education and increasing its export capacity, and therefore is especially interested in the participation of Latvia’s higher education establishments in the Brazilian Government program “Science Without Borders.” The Rīga Technical University has signed cooperation agreements with several universities in the federal states of Brazil, including the University of Rio de Janeiro. At the same time, other higher education establishments of Latvia are also interested in offering bachelor’s, master’s and post- doctoral studies and research in the fields of engineering science, mathematics, physics, biology, medicine, computer sciences and pharmacology. During the meeting at the Rio de Janeiro port, the Minister of Foreign Affairs was shown the infrastructure of the port and introduced to the plans for its enlargement. The minister emphasized that Latvia’s priority in relation to Brazil is cooperation in the sector of ports and logistics, and Latvia can potentially become a stable logistics platform for the delivery of Brazilian goods to Russia and the CIS. The Latvian side is interested in intensifying economic relations and attracting Brazilian investments, as well as in the use of Latvia’s technologies in Brazil, given that Brazil is host to the 2016 Summer Olympic Games and the 2014 FIFA World Cup, which is a significant achievement of Brazil on the international arena. During the meeting with the Secretary for Culture Adriana Rattes, the Foreign Minister spoke about Latvia’s interest in dynamizing cultural cooperation. The Latvia-Brazil Agreement on Cultural Cooperation offers considerable opportunities for expanding contacts in the area of culture. The minister noted that the Latvian National Opera has expressed particular interest to cooperate with Brazilian cultural institutions. The Latvian delegation also informed the Brazilian side that the Days of Brazilian Culture with participation of Brazilian artists are held on 11-18 April in Rīga, which is proof of successful initiatives in Brazilian-Latvian cultural cooperation. 6

Foreign Minister Rinkēvičs is on a visit in Brazil from 12 to 18 April. On 15-16 April, the minister will stay in Curitiba and, on 17 April, attend the Second Summit of the Open Government Partnership.

Israeli Energy and Water Resources Minister, Business Delegation to Visit Latvia Baltic News Service RĪGA, Apr 16, BNS - Israeli Energy and Water Resources Minister Uzi Landau and a business delegation are due to visit Latvia this Tuesday and Wednesday, BNS was told at the Israeli embassy in Rīga. The minister will arrive in Rīga accompanied by a business delegation, representing the energy sector. The Israeli energy minister and the business delegation are planning to meet with Latvian Energy Minister Daniels Pavļuts, parliament foreign affairs committee chairman Ojārs Kalniņš and other members of the committee, Boriss Cilevičs, who chairs the parliamentary group for cooperation with Israeli lawmakers and other MPs. Talks during Landau's visit are expected to focus on bilateral energy cooperation and other issues essential for strengthening bilateral ties between Latvia and Israel. This year the two countries are marking the 20th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. The officials will be discussing trade, as well as cooperation on infrastructure, energy and water resources. The Israeli minister is also scheduled to deliver a lecture on Israel's natural gas and water sector at the Stockholm School of Economics in Rīga (SSE Rīga) and give a briefing to Latvian journalists. Landau will also meet with representatives of Latvia's major energy companies and leaders of the Council of Latvian Jewish Communities and Congregations. Latvia and Israel established diplomatic relations in early 1992. Less than a year later, Israel opened its embassy in Rīga, which still remains the only Israeli embassy in the Baltic states. Latvia opened its embassy in Tel Aviv in 1995. Latvia and Israel maintain an active bilateral dialogue. Both countries have concluded numerous mutual agreements and are cooperating in international organizations. Latvia believes that economic exchange between the two countries must be stepped up and supported. The key areas of economic cooperation, in Latvia's view, are innovation and technology, IT and computer software development, finances, pharmacy, high-technology-based farming, port cooperation and tourism.

Latvian President to Attend Meeting of Baltic, Polish Heads of State This Week Baltic News Service RĪGA, Apr 10, BNS - Latvian President Andris Bērziņš is planning to attend a meeting of the Baltic and Polish heads of state in Warsaw next Tuesday, April 17, BNS was told at the presidential press service. The meeting has been initiated by Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski in order to discuss the forthcoming NATO summit in Chicago, slated for May 20-21, as well as regional security issues. While Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves is planning to participate, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite will not be attending the meeting in Warsaw. "A visit to Warsaw is not on the agenda for next week," presidential adviser Daiva Ulbinaite told BNS on Tuesday but refused to specify the reasons. Relations between Lithuania and Poland have been strained lately by disagreements over the rights of the ethnic Polish minority in Lithuania and ethnic in Poland.

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Foreign Ministry State Secretary Attends Political Consultations in Kazakhstan From April 10 to 14, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Andris Teikmanis was in Astana, Kazakhstan, where political consultations were held between the ministries of foreign affairs of Latvia and Kazakhstan. The aim of the meeting was to review the current bilateral cooperation and international matters. The Kazakh side was represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksey Volkov. Latvia is interested in a further deepening of political and economic cooperation with Kazakhstan. It must be noted that in 2011 the trade turnover reached USD 106.7 million, including exports to Kazakhstan for a total of USD 61.1 million, which exceeds the volumes for 2010 by USD 29.69 million, that is, by 79%. The parties also discussed the meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on economic cooperation to be held in June this year. Latvia is satisfied with Kazakhstan as a cooperation partner in the transport, transit and logistics sectors and is interested in expanding this cooperation. Latvia also sees an unexplored potential for working together in the fields of education and tourism. State Secretary Teikmanis accentuated that, given common security challenges in the region, Latvia will cooperate, bearing in mind the context of Afghanistan’s security, notably in the transit sector. On 8-9 May in Rīga, the Foreign Ministry holds an international conference on the transformation of the Northern Distribution Network into a commercial transit route. High ranking officials from the Foreign Ministry of Kazakhstan have also been invited to take part in the event. Latvia is also interested in cooperation with Kazakhstan within the frame of the EU Strategy for Central Asia, focusing on the sectors of education, strengthening the rule of law, advancing the parliamentary system, enhancing the environment for economic development, trade and investment, energy (energy efficiency), transport and transit, environmental protection, including an efficient use of water resources, ensuring security (border management, fighting drug trafficking and transit). The 10th of December this year will mark the twentieth anniversary since Latvia and Kazakhstan established diplomatic relations. Last political consultations between the foreign ministries of both countries were held in Rīga on 16 September, 2011.

Foreign Minister of Latvia Visits Brazil On April 11, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkēvičs met with the Ambassador of Brazil to Latvia Leda Kamargo. The meeting took place on the eve of the minister’s visit to Brazil from 12 to 17 April, with the aim of participating in the Second Summit of the Open Government Partnership in Brasilia and holding bilateral meetings with Brazilian officials. During his stay, the Foreign Minister will draw attention to priority areas in the Latvia-Brazil cooperation. Minister Rinkēvičs is to visit Rio de Janeiro and Curitiba in order to strengthen cooperation in the sector of ports and logistics and information technologies. The minister also intends to discuss possibilities for student exchange and cultural cooperation and to meet with the Latvian community. A special topic in the talks with Brazilian officials is the ratification by the Brazilian Congress and Senate of the EU-Brazil agreement on visa waiver for the holders of ordinary passports, so that Latvian citizens could travel to Brazil without a visa for tourism and business purposes. Latvia is interested in dynamizing economic relations and attracting investments from Brazil, as well as in the use of Latvian technologies in Brazil. Latvia regards transit and logistics, the IT sector, engineering and metalworking, chemical and timber industries and tourism as the areas for prospective cooperation. At the conclusion of the visit, the minister will participate in the Second Summit of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) to be held on 17-18 April in Brasilia, the capital city of Brazil. 8

The Open Government Partnership is an international initiative launched in September 2011 on the proposal of the U.S. and Brazilian Presidents, and aims at promoting good governance at the international scale. During the Summit, the OGP member states, including Latvia, will present their national position for achieving the OGP goals. On 10 April, the Cabinet of Ministers of Latvia approved the national position produced by the inter-ministerial working group and defining Latvia’s priorities under the initiative – enhancing the quality of civil society involvement in decision- making; enhancing the quality of public service provision; preventing corruption, and promoting the transparency of information and introducing the open data system. Fifty countries in total, including , Denmark, Finland, Lithuania and , have joined the initiative. Latvian President Andris Bērziņš took part in the first OGP Summit in New York, U.S., on 20 September 2011. The Ambassador of Brazil Camargo is visiting Latvia in relation to the Brazil Days organized by the Rīga Technical University, the opening event for which took place in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 11 April.

Society Latvia’s Ērenpreiss Bicycle Company Launches New Line of Latvian-Made Bikes On April 12, the Ērenpreiss bicycle company launched a brand new line of Latvian-made bikes. The four bicycle – named Tom, Greta, Paula, and Gustav – are elegantly designed vintage city bikes featuring top-of-the-line details and parts. In launching the new line of bikes, the bicycle company resumes an historic Latvian tradition. The Ērenpreiss company was originally founded in 1922 by Gustavs Ērenpreiss, who opened a factory in Rīga, at Brivibas iela 82. The company’s most renowned product, the Ērenpreiss Original, gained popularity throughout the Baltic region, thanks to its superior quality. In 1940 the Ērenpreiss factory was named the largest and most modern bicycle production facility in the Baltics, producing more than 40,000 bikes a year, which comprised about 70% of all bicycles purchased in Latvia. The Ērenpreiss factory was shut down by the Soviet regime at the start of World War II, and Gustavs Ērenpreiss went into exile. This year, the historic bicycle company was rejuvenated by Gustavs Ērenpreiss’s brother’s great- grandson, Toms Ērenpreiss, who has continued the family tradition by once again designing and manufacturing bicycles under the Ērenpreiss name. The bicycles may be viewed and purchased online, at www.erenpreiss.com, or at Gandrs sporting goods stores in Rīga and .

Third New Patrol Boat Built by Latvian Shipyard Gets Launched Baltic News Service RĪGA, Apr 11, BNS - The third of the five coast guard patrol boats that Latvia’s Rīgas Kuģu Būvētava (RKB) shipyard has to build for the Latvian Navy was launched in a ceremony in the Latvian capital Rīga on Wednesday. The launching and name-giving ceremony was attended by several hundred people, including high-ranking Latvian officials, representatives of foreign embassies and the RKB workers. Speeches were delivered by Latvian President Andris Bērziņš, Defense Minister Artis Pabriks and other officials. The Latvian president said he was pleased that “something new has been created in Latvia,” referring to the fact that the military vessel has been entirely made in Latvia. The defense minister expressed hope that the Latvian army would continue to develop based on the products of the local industry.

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The ship was christened the Viesīte. All five patrol boats that RKB is to deliver to the Naval Forces will be named after historical locations of important freedom battles in Latvia during World War I. The Viesīte is the third of the five ships but the first of them that has been fully made in Latvia. Based on the contract signed between the Defense Ministry and RKB on December 21, 2007, RKB is to deliver all five patrol boats by 2014. Two ships –the and the Cēsis -- have already been delivered. The patrol boats will be used not only for military but also for civilian purposes – search and rescue at sea, cleaning of oil spills etc.

Lielais Kristaps Film Festival Awards the Year’s Best Latvian Films The 25th Latvian film festival Lielais Kristaps 2012 was held over the weekend, with a festive awards ceremony held on Saturday night at the Splendid Palace cinema. First held in 1977, Lielais Kristaps is the highest prize awarded in the Latvian cinema. The award for best feature-length film went to director Jevgeņijs Paškēvičs’s Golfa straume zem ledus kalna (Gulf Stream Under the Ice Hill). The best documentary awards went to Ivars Zviedris’s Dokumentālists (The Documentarian) and Roberts Rubīns’s Kā tev klājas, Rūdolf Ming? (How are You Doing, Rudolf Ming), and the best animated film was presented to Jurģis Krāsons’s Norīt Krupi (To Swallow a Toad). New Rīga Theater actress Iveta Pole was named Best Actress, for her role in Kolka Cool, while the best actor title was shared by New Rīga Theater actor Andris Keišs (Seržanta Lapiņa Atgriešanās (The Return of Sargeant Lapins)) and the late Romualds Ancāns (Rūdolfa mantojums (Rudolfs’s Gold)). A number of these films had their premieres at this year’s festival (April 10-15), but the majority were released in past years, among them Dancis pa trim (Dance for Three), Rūdolfa mantojums (Rudolf’s Gold), Kolka Cool, Seržanta Lapiņa atgriešanās (The Return of Sergeant Lapiņš), and others. Its more than 80 films will be screened all over Latvia until May. In Rīga, the films will be screened at the Splendid Palace cinema, Rīga Film Museum, Museum of the Occupation of Latvia, Latvian Nature Museum, and Paula Stradiņa Museum for History of Medicine. The festival's feature films, animated films, short films and documentaries will be also screened in Ikšķile, Ventspilis, Jēkabpils, Aloja, Pļavmuiža, , Suntaži, Tīnūži, Daugavpils, , , Saulkrasti, and elswhere. Link: http://lielaiskristaps.org

On April 20, LNO to Feature First-Ever Latvian Production of La Bayadere A major event will occur on April 20 at the Opera House, when the curtain rises on the first-ever production in Latvia of the captivating La Bayadere. Only a select few companies in the world are equipped to master this ballet, considered the highest height. Now the Latvian National Ballet company can be added to this list. Audiences for over 100 years have been held spellbound by Marius Petipa's brilliant choreography, Ludwig Minkus’s glorious music, and the romantic tale of the temple dancer, the graceful bayadere Niki. The new production, is staged by Aivars Leimanis, the company's artistic director. He is proud to point out that his troupe is so talented that it can afford to present La Bayadere with four sets of principals. "I am pleased with all of them. Even though I cannot promise scenes with several hundred dancers as it was at the premiere in St. Petersburg in 1877, I must point out that the entire ballet company takes part in the production, plus students from the Choreography School and a number of mimes," says Leimanis. The conductor is Farhads Stade, but the striking sets and costumes by Ināra Gauja. Link: http://www.opera.lv

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Articles of Interest Joonbug.com: Contemporary Artists of Latvia Debuts at The National Arts Club http://joonbug.com/national/scenetracker/Contemporary-Artists-of-Latvia-Debuts-at-The- National-Arts-Club/CopzfM71VhP

THE LATVIAN INSTITUTE The Latvian Institute promotes knowledge about Latvia abroad and works closely with international media professionals in developing a wide variety of communications projects. Contacts: Pils iela 21 Rīga, LV – 1050, LATVIA Phone: (+371) 67503663 Fax: (+371) 67503669 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.latvia.lv Twitter: www.twitter.com/LatviaInstitute

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