On 24 April, Nordic representation in Latvia celebrated 35 years since its official establishment. The occasion was marked with a visit from international guests, meeting local partners and a formal reception.
In honour of the celebrations, Karen Ellemann, Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers, and Ville Väyrynen, President of the Nordic Council and member of the Finnish Parliament, arrived in Riga on the afternoon of 23 April.
During the visit, the Secretary General met with Daniel Olsson, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to Latvia, who provided an overview of the political situation and current developments in Latvia. The international guests and our Director Nina Hvid Enevoldsen also met with local cooperation partners and non-governmental organisations. President of the association European Movement Latvia Andris Gobiņš and Secretary General Liene Valdmane greeted guests at the youth organisation Club The House, where discussions focused on the future involvement of the Nordic countries in coordinating Signal Elections in Latvia or mock-elections, as known in the Nordics.
Gunta Sloga, the Director of the Baltic Centre for Media Excellence and Edgars Spuravs, the Director of the Media Studies Centre at the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga, hosted a meeting discussing challenges related to disinformation and the protection of independent media in Latvia.
During the visit in Riga, Karen Ellemann also met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Baiba Braže and the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Artjoms Uršuļskis.
The formal opening reception of the anniversary year took place at the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Office in Latvia at Berga Bazārs in the capital. The event brought together state and municipal representatives, local cooperation partners and former staff members. Guests had the opportunity to explore the organisation’s history through a retrospective exhibition created by artists Marta Veinberga and Ilze Kalnbērziņa-Prā, which highlighted key moments of Nordic-Latvian cooperation over the past 35 years through different time periods.
As part of the celebratiobn, next to the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Office in Latvia, an art exhibition titled KAAVIIAARNEQ° CYCLE by Inuk/Kalaaleq and Latvian-origin artist Bolatta Silis-Høegh is on display.
Both exhibitions are open to the public free of charge from 30 April to 17 May (Thursday to Sunday, except 1 May).
