Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia: Foreign Minister invites Latvians living in Japan not to lose their national identity

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia: Foreign Minister invites Latvians living in Japan not to lose their national identity

On 21 February 2006, the Latvian Foreign Minister Artis Pabriks met with representatives of the local Latvian community in Tokyo, the capital of Japan. Minister Pabriks urged his countrymen not to lose their Latvian identity and emphasised the importance of teaching the Latvian language and traditions to children from mixed families. Although there are not many Latvians in Japan, it is important to raise interest in children about their national identity and culture.

The Foreign Minister urged Latvians living in Japan to support each other and to offer their advice to staff members of the newly opened Latvian Embassy in Japan on ways to develop bilateral relations between Latvia and Japan. "Latvia is a small nation, therefore good results can only be achieved by working together," said the Minister. Mr Pabriks also stressed that the embassy staff will always do their best to provide necessary assistance and advice. The representatives of the Latvian community expressed their pleasure at the Foreign Ministry's initiative in organising a meeting of this kind, as previously they did not have much information about one another. This was the first time when more than a dozen Latvians had an opportunity to come together.

They described the Japanese as a very disciplined and hard working people. Latvians who have been living in Japan for a longer period of time commented favourably on Latvia's accession to the European Union, noting that Latvia is not regarded as one of the former Soviet countries anymore, but more as a developed European country. They were also pleased about Latvia's rapid economic growth.