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Home For Media Digest Digest - November 10, 2006
On October 7th, for the first time since the restoration of Latvia’s independence 15 years ago, Latvia’s voters gave a resounding vote of confidence to the politicians in power.
When Latvia’s 9th Saeima (parliament) met this week, 7 of the 8 parties elected had been represented in the parliament before. Out of 100 parliamentarians, 51 had served in previous parliaments. Aigars Kalvitis, who headed the last government from 2004 until November 2006, became the first Prime Minister in Latvian history to retain his position after an election.
The Celts may have originated Halloween and the Americans may have commercialized it, but in Latvia this ancient harvest festival retains a lot of its traditional pagan flavor. Oh yes, here in Latvia we celebrate it on November 10 and call it Martin’s Day.
Not many films take 10 years to make, but in the case of a new documentary called ‘Latvia’s Peacekeeping Mission’, it’s easy to see why. Latvian Armed Forces participated in their first peacekeeping mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina 10 years ago. Not having any previous experience they had to train in Denmark. Since then, however, Latvia’s peacekeepers are now fully trained at home. In the last decade they have served in Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq, and are part of the OSCE mission in Georgia.
What’s the biggest sound to come out of Brussels these days? No, not the rhetoric of politicians, but the jazz stylings of the NATO Big Band. Founded 21 years ago, the band is bringing its 21 members to Riga exactly 21 days before the start of the NATO Summit.The arrival of the NATO Big Band is a special treat for a music-loving country like Latvia. After all, our tourism motto is ‘The Land That Sings’.
With only three of weeks to go until the NATO Riga Summit, the NATO Summit Latvia Task Force has made all of the necessary organizational and security arrangements, has solved transport and logistics questions and is currently furnishing the main Summit venue. NATO secretary general Jaap de Hoop Scheffer has praised the enthusiasm of the NATO Summit Latvia Task Force and wished the organizers perseverance for the remaining weeks until the Summit.
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"The NATO Riga Summit is one of the most significant international events to take place in Latvia. Parex, a bank with international interests and ambitions, could not miss the opportunity to contribute to the event. We are proud to support events which contribute to the history and inform Latvia and the international community about NATO and the importance of security in the global economy. "
- Valērijs Kargins,
Parex bank, President
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