Māris Riekstiņš

Māris Riekstiņš (born 8 April 1963 in Riga, Latvia) is a Latvian politician and diplomat and a former Foreign Minister of Latvia (November 2007 – April 2010). He is a former Ambassador of Latvia to the Russian Federation (September 2017 – February 2023). He currently serves as Permanent Representative of Latvia to NATO.

Biography

Riekstiņš' career in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 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 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 (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 1987–1993 University of Latvia, Faculty of Law, lawyer, Master's Degree 1981–1985 Latvian Academy of Sport Education, Faculty of Pedagogy, teacher, Master's Degree

Work experience February 2011 - 2015 Permanent Representative of the Republic of Latvia to NATO May 2010 - Leading Scholar, Association "Sustainable Society Institute" November 2007 – April 2010 - Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia January 2007 – November 2007 - Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister of Latvia 2006 - 2007 - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Latvia to the United Mexican States (country of residence: USA) 2004 - 2007 - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Latvia to the United States of America 1993 - 2004 - State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia November 1992 -August 1993 - Under-secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia March 1992 -November 1992 - Director of the Western Europe Division; Director of the Europe Division; Desk Officer of the Political Department of the Europe Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia 1987–1992 - Deputy Chairman; Desk Officer of the Committee of Latvian Youth Organisations

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 May 2009 - Chairman of the Counsellors' Convention, Latvian Academy of Sport Education 2003 - Deputy Chairman of the Council, Latvia Basketball Association June 2010 –November 2010 - Ambassador-at-Large, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia 2002–2004 - Head of the Latvian delegation for accession negotiations with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) January 2002 - July 2002 - Chairman of Supervisory Committee on Organisation of the NATO Aspirant Countries Summit in Riga on 5 and 6 July 2002 1999–2004 - Chairman of the Advisory Council for the Membership of Latvia in the World Trade Organisation 1997–1998 - Head of the Latvian delegation for the U.S.-Baltic Partnership Charter 1998–2004 - Head of the Latvian-Italian Economic Working Group 1996–2004 - Chairman of the Diplomatic Service Agency's Shareholders Council July 1996 - July 1999 - Head of the Latvian delegation for negotiations on Latvian-Lithuanian sea border delimitation October 1995 - July 1996 - Head of the Latvian delegation for negotiations on Latvian-Estonian sea border delimitation 1995–2004 - Chairman of the Control Committee of Strategic Goods of Republic of Latvia 2011–2015 - Member of the Chapter of Orders

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.