LATVIJAS ROMA PĀRSTĀVA Vizītes īss ieskats Valstu Diplomātiskām attiecībām PAKISTĀNĀ

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Material was prepared specially for Asian Roma Union, Gojra Roma, Punjab, Pakistan,

DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS:

LATVIA

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PAKISTAN

Bilateral Relations between the Republic of Latvia and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan (20.07.2018) Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on 29 April 1996. ďƒź Relations between Latvia and Pakistan can be described as good and constructive. Promote the further development of political dialogue as well as broader opportunities for economic and cultural cooperation. ďƒź Latvia's interests in Pakistan are represented by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Igor Apokin, who presented credentials to President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain on October 2, 2014. The Ambassador resides in Riga.

Latvia has two honorary consuls in Pakistan: o Majid Sultan Khwaja, Karachi, Consulate of Sida Province o Iftikhar Rasul Ghuman, Islamabad Territory Pakistan's interests in Latvia since 28 November 2017 are represented by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Shafqat Ali Khan, who resides in Warsaw, Poland.

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THE MOST IMPORTANT VISITS AND MEETINGS  27 - 30 November 2017 Accreditation visit to Riga by Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan, Ambassador of Pakistan.  5-7 May 2016 December Working visit to Pakistan by State Secretary Andrei Pildegovič and participation in political consultations in Latvia and Pakistan  December 8 - 9, 2015 Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs' Visit to Pakistan: Bilateral Meeting with Foreign Minister of Pakistan on Foreign Affairs (Foreign Minister) Discovery in Islamabad  24-27 April 2015 Working visit to Pakistan by Ambassador Igor Apokin: Opening of the Latvian Presidency of the EU Council in Islamabad and meeting with Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, Head of EU Delegation in Pakistan. Latvian business trade mission Karachi.  24 November 2014 Political consultations between Latvia and Pakistan. On behalf of Latvia, they were led by Deputy State Secretary - Political Director Eduard Stiprais, while the Delegation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan was headed by Nadeem Riyaz, Deputy State Secretary for European Affairs, discussing both bilateral and international issues, including developments in Afghanistan and Ukraine.  30 September-4 October 2014 Ambassador Igor Apokin's Accreditation Visit to Pakistan  3 - 4 June 2014 Visit to Latvia by Governor Mohammad Sarwar of Punjab and Governor Tarari Mahmood Pasha.  April 5-6, 2014 Visit to Pakistan (Lahore, Islamabad) by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Igor Apokin, where a meeting was held on 5 April with Mohammad Sarwar, Governor of Punjab Province, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Federal Minister of Railways , Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, former Minister of State for Pakistan, Chaudhry Parvez Elahi and former Mian Imran Masood, former Provincial Minister of Education; Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Consultations from the Pakistani side were led by Zaheer Pervaiz Khan, Director General of European Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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Issues discussed: opportunities for bilateral co-operation, transport conference in Riga, regional political and security issues.

24 September 2013 Foreign Minister E.Rinkēvičs met with Sartaj Aziz, Advisor to the Prime Minister of Pakistan on National Security and Foreign Affairs, within the framework of the GPA. 6 October 2011 Political consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Latvia and Pakistan led by Jānis Mažeiks, Head of the Economic and Bilateral Relations Directorate, and the Deputy State Secretary Abdul Basit, Deputy State Secretary of Pakistan. Bilateral issues, Pakistan-EU relations as well as global issues, including UN reform, were discussed.

19 September 2011 Latvian Foreign Minister Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis met with Hina Rabbani Khar, the Foreign Minister of Pakistan, in New York. Ģ. V. Kristovskis expressed his interest in strengthening cooperation between Latvia and the European Union as a whole with Pakistan. From the point of view of Latvia, political dialogue with Pakistan is important, as well as the conclusion of new bilateral agreements, as well as the expansion of economic co-operation, as the acquisition of new markets by Latvian entrepreneurs will facilitate the economic growth of the country. Hina Raban Hara also acknowledged the need to exploit the potential of economic cooperation and trade more fully, for example, by setting up a joint economic cooperation commission and participating in international trade fairs.

19 February 2009 Political consultations were held in Riga with the Foreign Ministry of Latvia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, during which the Pakistani delegation met with the then Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins. During the political consultations, bilateral co-operation between Latvia and Pakistan, EU-Pakistan relations, as well as the regional situation were discussed, paying particular attention to the issues of regional stabilization. The Latvian side informed about the civil and military involvement of Latvia in Afghanistan.

30 October 2008 President Valdis Zatlers met with the Prime Minister of Pakistan Yousaf Raza Gillani as part of the World Economic Forum. Afghanistan was the focus of the conversation, as both sides have an interest in promoting the political and economic recovery of Afghanistan in order to promote security and

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stability throughout the region. The President emphasized the key role of Pakistan in stabilizing Afghanistan. Zatlers welcomed the efforts of Pakistani and Afghan leaders to demonstrate the readiness of the parties to establish bilateral dialogue, and pointed out that Latvia is interested in promoting cooperation with South Asian countries. The President stressed that Latvia would continue to stand for EU support to Pakistan by promoting the country's economic growth by supporting democracy development and the fight against terrorism. ďƒź September 26-28, 2008 August Visit of the Trade Advisor to the Embassy of Pakistan in Sweden, David Akbar Bhat. The visit included meetings with representatives of LIDA, LCCI, LDDK and business structures to discuss opportunities for bilateral economic cooperation. ďƒź July 25-28, 1997 December Visit of the Latvian delegation to Pakistan led by the then Foreign Minister, Birkavs.

ECONOMIC COOPERATION Trade in goods in the first quarter of 2016 (source: Central Statistical Bureau) Exports 59. Pakistan - 8,441,257 EUR or 0.12% Imports 57. Pakistan - 2 760 372 EUR or 0.03% After a total trade turnover of 11.20 MEUR, Pakistan ranked 62nd among Latvia's foreign trade partners.

Exports to Pakistan reached 8.44 MEUR, which is 23.2% or 2.54 MEUR less than in Q1-Q3 2015.

The volume of imports from Pakistan reached 2.76 MEUR, which is 7.2% or 184.86 thousand. EUR more than in Q1 2015.

Latvia had a positive trade balance of 5.68 MEUR with Pakistan.

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In the 1st to 3rd quarter of 2016, the following companies were among the Latvian exporters to Pakistan: SIA “Tolmets”, “Ošukalns” Ltd., “Agerona” Ltd, “Baltic Scientific Instruments” Ltd., “Mikrotīkls” Ltd, “Grindeks” Ltd., SIA “VOVA” etc.  At the beginning of the academic year 2015/2016, 34 students from Pakistan were studying in higher education institutions in Latvia (19/20/2015 academic year) 2016 - Main Export Goods to Pakistan:  Metals and articles thereof: 38.79%  Wood and Wood Products: 38.10%

2016- Main import goods from Pakistan:  Textiles 81.01%  Plant products: 11.47% official home web page: https://www.mfa.gov.lv/arpolitika/divpusejas-attiecibas/latvijas-unpakistanas-attiecibas#attiecibas

Latvian Independent Roma Specialist in Psychological Issues and Roma Health and Social Care Industries ANDRIS TERTATS tertats@inbox.lv

12 of March 2019