Māris Riekstiņš


Māris Riekstiņš is a Latvian politician and diplomat and a former Foreign Minister of Latvia. He is the current Ambassador of Latvia to the Russian Federation.

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, Doha and Cancun. 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, as well as Lithuanian-Latvian sea border delimitation.
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

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, Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis and Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis. 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

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

Other related activities

2008Grand Cross of Merit of the Order of Malta
2008Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise of the Republic of Ukraine
2007Cross of Recognition of the Republic of Latvia, Grand Officer
2004National Order of Merit of Malta
2004Order of Merit of the Italian Republic "Grand Official"
2003Three Star Order of Latvia, Commander
2003Ordem do Infante D. Henrique Grande Oficial, Portugal
20033rd Class Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana of Estonia
2001Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas, 4th class
2001French National Order of Merit, Grand Officer
2000Royal Norwegian Order of Merit, Grand Officer
1998Royal Norwegian Order of Merit, Commander

Language skills

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