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International Internet Magazine. Baltic States news & analytics Friday, 29.03.2024, 15:39

MFA: diaspora represents Latvia's growth potential

BC, Riga, 27.07.2017.Print version
The diaspora represents a potential for Latvia's growth regardless of whether or when those people returned to Latvia, the Foreign Ministry's parliamentary secretary, Zanda Kalnina-Lukasevica, said at the cooperation forum with Latvian experts working in the EU or other international organizations, cites LETA.

She said that in modern times the diaspora had a multi-faceted mission, including public diplomacy, protection of national interests in business, at the international organizations, etc.

 

"As Latvia joins international organizations, the number of Latvians working at those organizations, especially the EU and the UN, is also growing. This year there are 280 Latvian working for the European Commission and 139 in the European Parliament. This is a great force that makes a huge contribution to Latvia's growth," Kalnina-Lukasevica said.

 

Latvian parliament speaker Inara Murniece (National Alliance) said that Latvians living abroad could look at Latvia from a different perspective than those living here and this fresh approach was much appreciated. "Hopefully, in ten years Latvia will become a cleaner and more transparent place, valued by all Latvians," she said.

 

Janis Citskovskis, Director of the Latvian State Chancellery, said that, as a small nation, Latvia valued every individual. The diaspora and Latvians working in international organizations have potential and intellectual capacity as well as opportunities to help build Latvia for the next generations, he said.

 

The forum is organized by the Latvian parliamentary committee in European affairs and the European Latvian Association to promote exchange of knowledge between the professionals working in Latvia and the representatives of the diaspora.






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