Latvia

Latvia launches online aural history project

Latvian President Valdis ZatlersRiga - Latvian President Valdis Zatlers launched a national history project Friday in the suitably historic surroundings of Riga Castle.

Zatlers recorded a brief piece of video in which he talks about Latvia from a personal perspective.

His contribution will be added to an online library of interviews with ordinary Latvians which has been created at the website www. collectivememory. tv.

The hope is that as video clips are added to the 40 currently online, an authentic aural history of the Baltic nation will be established, distinct from academic history.

Baltic markets still shaky, but investors starting to return

Baltic markets still shaky, but investors starting to returnRiga - The three Baltic stock exchanges were all down Thursday at the close of trading.

The NASDAQ OMX Tallinn exchange in Estonia suffered the biggest hit of the day, down 4.67 per cent. The Vilnius exchange in Lithuania was down 1.73 per cent. Meanwhile, Riga dipped just 0.75 per cent, despite the suffering of three of the larger listed Latvian companies.

Drinks maker Latvijas Balzams, steel producer Liepajas Metalurgs and pharmaceuticals manufacturer Rigas Farmaceitiska Fabrika all suffered double-digit falls in their share prices.

Baltic markets hold steady

Riga, LatviaRiga - The three Baltic stock exc

Soldier dies in Latvian parliament in suspected suicide

Latvia Riga MapRiga- A soldier belonging to the Latvian parliamentary and presidential security service was found dead in the national parliament overnight, according to a statement released by the National Armed Forces (NAF).

The man's body was found on Thursday morning in one of the premises guarded by the security service located in the parliament building.

Why Latvian president should look good on the dance floor

Riga MapRiga - The government of Latvia spent more than 2,000 euros on improving the table manners and dance skills of President Valdis Zatlers and his staff, a report said Wednesday.

Zatlers, who was plucked from obscurity as a doctor to unexpectedly become president in July 2007, was taught to dance the polonaise by instructor Valdis Skutans at a cost of 280 euros (about
380 dollars), the Neatkariga Rita Avize (NRA) newspaper reported.

Latvian central bank chief reaffirms euro aspiration

Riga  - The Governor of the Bank of Latvia, Ilmars Rimsevics, called on the Latvian government to be "strategic and resolute" Tuesday, in order to speed the country's aim of adopting the euro as its currency.

Speaking to an audience of bankers and businessmen in the Latvian capital, Riga, Rimsevics bemoaned the fact that rapid economic growth in recent years had created a situation in which "many seemed to succumb to the euphoria of the moment, forgetting our long term commitments and strategic goals."

Latvia originally intended to replace its lats with the euro in 2008 but narrowly failed to meet the necessary Maastricht convergence criteria on inflation, which subsequently soared.

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