Latvian Prime Minister to Visit Rancho on Sunday

The prime minister of the Republic of Latvia will visit Rancho Santa Margarita Sunday for a ceremony celebrating the creation of an honorary Latvian consulate within the city.

Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis and his delegation will meet with local, state and U.S. officials at the council chambers during an event Sunday, July 17, at 4 p.m. that is open to the public.

City Manager Steve Hayman said the event is intended to promote “economic cooperation” between business communities in Latvia and the U.S., including those in Southern California and Rancho Santa Margarita.

Hayman told the City Council at its July 13 meeting that “it’s a very exciting opportunity.”

Last spring, Coto de Caza resident Juris Bunkis was named honorary Latvian consul. Bunkis, who is of Latvian descent, runs a cosmetic surgery practice in RSM.

An honorary consul serves as a diplomatic representative of a foreign country but is usually not an employee of that foreign government. The honorary consul works to foster friendly business and social relationships between two nations.

The consulate will be at 30212 Tomas, Suite 275, Rancho Santa Margarita. Dombrovskis will attend a private ribbon-cutting at 3 p.m. on Sunday.

As for the 4 p.m. ceremony, the schedule of events includes a formal welcome, a reception line and remarks by Mayor Tony Beall and Dombrovskis.

Expected to attend are officials including U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-Orange), State Sen. Mimi Walters (R-Laguna Hills), Assemblymen Jim Silva (R-Huntington Beach) and Don Wagner (R-Irvine), San Clemente Mayor Lori Donchak, Irvine Mayor Sukhee Kang and Mission Viejo Mayor Dave Leckness.

The prime minister's working tour of the United States began July 13 and continues through July 22. His itinerary includes Washington, DC, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin, Texas and New York City, according to the Latvian Embassy website.

In a news release, Latvian Ambassador Andrejs Pildegovics said Latvia could serve as “an ideal springboard into northern Europe and Russia” for Californian companies.

“Many Latvian companies are eager to form partnerships with local companies in Orange County,” Pildegovics said.

Hayman said in an interview with Patch that the offer from the Latvian delegation was so surprising at first because it was so out of the ordinary for the city.

“It was like—to use the vernacular—'Are we being punked?' ” Hayman said.

Hayman said the city staff worked hard to get everything ready for Sunday’s event.

Beall, in an interview with Patch on Wednesday night, said the city’s low crime rate and business-friendly environment make RSM a great place for the Latvian delegation to visit in its effort to connect with California companies.

“My dad would always say, 'I was pleased but not surprised,' " Beall said.  The visit, he said, "made sense to me."

The 4 p.m. event is free, but council chamber seating is limited. For additional information about the prime minister’s visit, contact City Clerk Molly McLaughlin at 949-635-1806 or mmclaughlin@cityofrsm.org.