Washington, DC (JBANC) --- A copy of the just-published book documenting Latvia’s efforts to join NATO was presented to Edgars Rinkevics, the State Secretary of the Latvian Ministry of Defense, on March 1 at the opening of the new Latvian Embassy in Washington, DC.

Entitled “The Campaign to Admit Latvia into NATO,” the book was published by the World Federation of Free Latvians on the initiative of its president Janis Kukainis, who made the formal presentation. Mr. Kukainis earlier served as president of the American Latvian Association (ALA) and the Joint Baltic American National Committee, Inc. (JBANC).

The book is composed of two primary sections, the first being a comprehensive overview of the history of the Baltic countries joining NATO, written by the current Latvian NATO ambassador Janis Eichmanis, who earlier served as the Deputy Chief of Mission of that country’s embassy in the United States. The second part is a chronology of noteworthy events during the campaign and related documents, compiled the by book’s editors, Anita Terauds and Karl Altau, JBANC’s Managing Director. Mrs. Terauds was the Secretary General of ALA from 1974-1998.

“The Campaign to Admit Latvia Into NATO” chronicles the dedicated work from 1991-2004 of not just Latvia, the United States, and other allies, but of the Baltic-American community, particularly the Latvian-American community and its organizations, to support the aim of NATO membership for Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania. The three countries joined NATO in 2004.

The next NATO Summit will be held in Riga, Latvia on November 28-29, 2006.

Following the presentation of the book to Mr. Rinkevics, an official opening ceremony for the new Embassy of Latvia was held. Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Latvian Ambassador Maris Riekstins, Washington, DC Mayor Anthony Williams, and ALA President Martins Duhms presided over the ceremony, which was attended by about 150 guests.

President Vike-Freiberga is on a trip to the United States, visiting U.S. government officials, members of Congress, and is the guest of honor and keynote speaker at the U.S.-Baltic Foundation’s gala event in Washington, DC on March 4.

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