Māris Riekstiņš

Latvian politician and diplomat
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Preceded byArtis PabriksSucceeded byAivis RonisChief of Staff to the Prime MinisterIn office
January 2007 – November 2007Prime MinisterAigars KalvītisPreceded byJurģis LiepnieksAmbassador of Latvia to the United StatesIn office
December 2004 – January 2007PresidentVaira Vīķe-FreibergaPreceded byAivis RonisSucceeded byAndrejs Pildegovičs Personal detailsBorn (1963-04-08) 8 April 1963 (age 61)
Rīga, Latvian SSRPolitical partyPeople's Party (2006—2011)Children2Alma materUniversity of Latvia (LL.M.) Latvian Academy of Sport EducationProfessionLawyer

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 the former Ambassador of Latvia to the Russian Federation (September 2017 – February 2023). Currently serves as Permanent Representative of Latvia to NATO.

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.

Maris Riekstins during his visit in Georgia, 2009.

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 has two children.

Party affiliation and political career

Maris Riekstins with former United States Secretary Of State Hillary Clinton at the Department of State in 2009.

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

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia Maris Riekstins during an annual basketball event between Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Finland, with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Vygaudas Ušackas (left) and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia Urmas Paet (right).

Other related activities

Awards

2008 Grand Cross of Merit of the Order of Malta
2008 Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise of the Republic of Ukraine
2007 Cross of Recognition of the Republic of Latvia, Grand Officer
2004 National Order of Merit of Malta
2004 Order of Merit of the Italian Republic "Grand Official"
2003 Three Star Order of Latvia, Commander
2003 Ordem do Infante D. Henrique Grande Oficial, Portugal
2003 3rd Class Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana of Estonia
2001 Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas, 4th class
2001 French National Order of Merit, Grand Officer
2000 Royal Norwegian Order of Merit, Grand Officer
1998 Royal Norwegian Order of Merit, Commander

Language skills

Riekstiņš is a native Latvian-speaker with proficiency in English, Russian and German.

External links

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