Special Ceremony Honors Latvian Prime Minister Visiting Rancho Santa Margarita

With Secret Service agents guarding both sides of the dais, the prime minister of Latvia told attendees at a special ceremony in Rancho Santa Margarita on Sunday that his country hopes to create "more economic ties" with America.

As part of a visit to the United States to promote business relationships between the United States and Latvian companies, Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis met with local officials inside the packed council chambers at City Hall on July 17.

"We feel it’s important to develop economic cooperation, to develop more economic ties with America," Dombrovskis said. "That’s why we are here. It is the main purpose of this visit."

The visit was also aimed at inaugurating an honorary consulate in the city.

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.

Coto de Caza resident Juris Bunkis was named honorary Latvian consul this year. Bunkis, who is of Latvian descent, runs a cosmetic surgery practice in Rancho Santa Margarita.

The prime minister helped cut the ribbon at the consulate at 30212 Tomas, Suite 275, at a private ceremony before the City Hall event.

Seated in a room filled with visiting federal, state and local representatives and residents, Dombrovskis said America was Latvia’s "strategic partner" and thanked the country for its current and past support.

The Republic of Latvia is in the northeastern section of Europe on the coast of the Baltic Sea, and is a member of NATO and the European Union.

Latvia gained independence from Russia in the early 20s. However, the Soviet Union annexed the country in 1940. After decades of Soviet rule, Latvia regained independence in 1991, and Dombrovskis said the U.S. was an important part of that.

“We are certainly very thankful for the [American] support we have received during the Soviet occupation, for the [American] non-recognition policy of the Soviet occupation, and for the [American] support we have been receiving during the time … we struggled to regain independence,” Dombrovskis said.

Mayor Tony Beall proclaimed the day "the Republic of Latvia Day" and gave the prime minister a tile with the city logo and a golden "key to the city."

"With the creation of your new honorary consulate here in Rancho Santa Margarita, you may always consider this … your home in Southern California," Beall said.

In turn,  Dombrovskis gave the mayor a book about his country called Latvia: The Land We Love, and another book titled How Latvia Came Through The Financial Crisis, co-written by the prime minister.

The council dais was decked out with red and white flowers, the colors of the Latvian flag. Secret Service agents, the Orange County Sheriff's Department and California Highway Patrol officers were part of the security detail. 

Some federal, state and local representatives in attendance included California State Senator Mimi Walters, Mission Viejo Mayor Dave Leckness, City Councilman Steve Baric and United States Congressman Ed Royce.

Royce told attendees that Latvia had shown "a thirst for freedom" through the many years it was occupied by foreign forces.

"Today, Latvia is a beacon to the world," Royce said. "Prime minister, welcome to the United States. We share a lot in common with your country, and your spirit."

According to the CIA Factbook:

• Latvia is the world's 124th largest nation in size—it's slightly larger than West Virginia.
• Its population, estimated earlier this month, is 2,204,708; 13.5 percent of the population is 0-14 years; 69.5 percent is 15-64 years; 16.9 percent is 65 and older.
• The median age is 40.6 years; for men, 37.6 years; for women, 43.7.
• Life expectancy at birth is 72.68; for males, 67.56 years; for females, 78.07.
• The population is comprised Latvian (59.3 percent), Russian (27.8), Belarusian (3.6), Ukrainian (2.5), Polish (2.4), Lithuanian (1.3), other (3.1) based on figures from 2009.
• The capital city is Riga, with a population of 711,000 (2009).
• The official language is Latvian (58.2 percent), followed by Russian (37.5), Lithuanian and other (4.3) based on the 2000 census.
• Religion is primarily Lutheran (19.6 percent) followed by Orthodox (15.3), other Christian (1), other (0.4), unspecified (63.7) based on information from 2006.
• Its land boundaries are Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, and Russia.
• It borders the Baltic Sea, between Estonia to the north and Lithuania to the south.
• Its natural resources are peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, timber, arable land.
• Land in Latvia is often too wet and in need of drainage, not irrigation.