Baltic States – CIS, Culture, Forum, Latvia, Legislation, Tourism

The minister, commenting concerns raised by business owners that the relocation of the music festival from Jurmala will have a heavy impact on businesses operating in the resort city, said that this is not the first time such concerns have been raised.

''In 2012, relations with Belarus were at a low, and back then I heard many interesting theories on the impact this would have. All of these negative scenarios I heard did not come true, and thus I am not convinced of all the opinions I am hearing now,'' the foreign minister emphasized.

''I understand those folks who believe that the Foreign Ministry can forbid and event like New Wave to take place. But the organization of private events like this is not in the ministry's competence. In supporting cultural links with foreign countries, I wish for these events to be solely based on culture, instead of mixed with politics or other matters outside of culture. This matter, whether to remain in Latvia or not, is up to the organizers themselves,'' the minister explained.

As reported, this past July, Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics banned Russian singers Oleg Gazmanov, Joseph Kobzon and Alla Perfilova, also known as Valeriya, from traveling to Latvia ahead of the New Wave pop music contest. Kobzon has been "blacklisted" twice already by Latvia.

Meanwhile, rumors have been circulating in recent weeks that the annual pop music festival could be re-located somewhere else.