Māris Riekstiņš

Māris Riekstiņš
Inspector General for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia
Assumed office
5 September 2015
Preceded by Indulis Bērziņš
Permanent Representative of Latvia to NATO
In office
2 February 2011 – 31 August 2015
President Andris Bērziņš
Preceded by Jānis Eichmanis
Succeeded by Indulis Bērziņš
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia
In office
8 November 2007 – 28 April 2010
Prime Minister
Preceded by Artis Pabriks
Succeeded by Aivis Ronis
Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister
In office
January, 2007 – November 2007
Prime Minister Aigars Kalvītis
Preceded by Jurģis Liepnieks
Ambassador of Latvia to the United States
In office
December, 2004 – January 2007
President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga
Preceded by Aivis Ronis
Succeeded by Andrejs Pildegovičs
Personal details
Born (1963-04-08) 8 April 1963
Rīga, Latvian SSR
Nationality Latvian
Political party People's Party (2006—2011)
Children 2
Alma mater University of Latvia (LL.M.) Latvian Academy of Sports Education
Profession Lawyer

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 currently the Inspector General for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia.

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 (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 is married and 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 (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

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.

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