LATO activities 2002
January
11.01 Toms Baumanis, LATO chairman and Ojars Kalniņš, vice-chairman meet with Ambassador Gunter Altenburg, NATO assistant secretary general for political affairs.
17.01 Signing of co-operation agreement between LATO and the Latvian Ministry of Defence.
18.01 LATO panel discussion “Latvia and Security of the Society” in Rēzekne. Participants: Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis - Latvian Minister of Defence, Professor Andrejs Siliņš - vice-president of the Latvian Academy of Science, Atis Lejiņš - LATO board member, Director of Latvian Institute of Foreign Policy. Discussion moderated by Askolds Rodins - political commentator of daily newspaper “Diena“.
Supported by: NATO, US government, Latvian Ministries of Defence and Foreign Affairs.
25.01 Presentation of LATO and Ministry of Defence project - youth booklet - “NATO and Open Doors” with the participation of Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis - Latvian Minister of Defence.
Supported by: Latvian Ministry of Defence.
29.01 Founding of the Baltic Atlantic Treaty Association (BATA), Riga.
Supported by: Danish Atlantic Treaty Association
February
01.02 LATO board members meet with representatives of the “Latvian National Soldiers Association” board. Participants: Ojārs Kalniņš - LATO vice-chairman, LATO board members Atis Lejiņš and Mārcis Gobiņš, as well as Grigorijs Krupņikovs - LATO founder.
13.02 LATO board members meet with representatives of the “Latvian National Soldiers Association” board and regional co-ordinators. Participants: Toms Baumanis - LATO chairman of the board, Ojārs Kalniņš - LATO vice-chairman, LATO board members Atis Lejiņš and Mārcis Gobiņš, as well as Grigorijs Krupņikovs - LATO founder.
15.02 LATO panel discussion “Our Visions of Latvia in Future Europe” in Liepāja. Participants: Indulis Bērziņš - Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Artis Pabriks - LATO board member, Artūrs. Medveckis - European Movement in Latvia, head of Liepāja branch. Discussion moderated by Ilmārs Mežs - International Migration Organisation, head of Riga office.
Supported by: NATO, US government, Latvian Ministry of Defence and Latvian Ministry Foreign Affairs.
23.02 Ojārs Kalniņš - LATO vice-chairman of the board, Dagnija Stuķēna - LATO secretary general and Uldis Umulis - LATO member participate in an international conference “Russia-NATO Strategic Partnership: Not Whether But When?”, St. Petersburg.
March
19.03 LATO Gold member lunch with German Ambassador to Latvia, H.E. Eckart Herold.
20.03 LATO Seminar “NATO Science Fellowships for Latvian Scientists” at the LATO Information Centre. Speaker: Professor Andrejs Siliņš - LATO member, vice-president of the Latvian Academy of Science and official Latvian representative at the NATO Science Commission. Moderator: Tālavs Jundzis - LATO member and founder, director of the Baltic Strategic Research Centre.
NATO Science Programme http://www.nato.int/science
22.03 LATO panel discussion “The Role of Latvia and the Baltics in a Stable Europe” in Ventspils. Participants: Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis - Latvian Minister of Defence, Grigorijs Krupņikovs - LATO founder. Moderator: Ramona Umblija - Ventspils City Council deputy executive director.
Supported by: NATO, US government, Latvian Ministries of Defence and Foreign Affairs.
15.-04.05Interactive event series in Latvian secondary schools “NATO Week”. Organisers: Latvian Transatlantic Youth Club in co-operation with LATO. Event took place in Latvian regional centres - Pāvilosta, Liepāja, Rēzekne, Cēsis, Limbaži, Jelgava, Ventspils, Rīga, Saldus.
Supported by: the Danish Atlantic Treaty Association, Latvian Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
April
02.-05.04 Ģirts Milgrāvis - LATO member, participates in an international youth conference “Perpetual partners? Euro-Atlantic Security relations in a Changing World”, Hague.
04.04 Announcement of the Baltic essay competition “Why Does NATO Need the Membership of the Baltic States?”. Best essay to be published in a special edition. Grand-prix - trip to Brussels.
06.04 NATO Day - public discussion “Secure Our Future!” at the Rožu laukums (Rose Square) in Liepājā. Additionally a school teacher seminar “Latvian Security and Defence - Integration to NATO”. Similar NATO Day events took place also in Lithuania and Estonia.
Supported by: the Danish Atlantic Treaty Association, Latvian Ministry of Defence and the Latvian Armed forces.
06.-08.04 Danish Atlantic Youth Club visits Latvia.
09.04 LATO board meeting.
12.04 LATO panel discussion “Why Should Latvia Join NATO” in Daugavpils. Speakers: Indulis Bērziņš - Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs; Dmitrijs Nikolajevs - LATO board member,Grigorijs Krupņikovs - LATO founder. Moderator: Discussion moderated by Askolds Rodins - political commentator of daily newspaper “Diena“.
16.04 BATA regional meeting in Vilnius. Participants: Dagnija Stuķēna - LATO secretary general, Oskars Cēris - LATO Baltic project co-ordinator.
23.-25.04 LATO board member Dr. Artis Pabriks and LATO founding member Grigorijs Krupņikovs visit to London to promote Latvia`s NATO membership aspirations among influential British academic, political and non-governmental figures.
24.-27.04 Oskars Cēris - LATO Baltic project co-ordinator participates in an international conference - “Prospects for Think-tank Networking and Regional Co-operation in the Context of EU Enlargement”, St. Petersburg.
26.04 Opening of LATO regional office in Rezekne.
May
04.05 Latvian Transatlantic Youth Club and LATO youth conference “NATO Week in Latvian Secondary Schools”. Speakers: Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis - Latvian Minister of Defence and youths from secondary schools in Latvia .
Supported by:Danish Atlantic Treaty Association, Latvian Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Stockholm School of Economics in Riga, Student and Yout Travel.
07.05 Danish Atlantic Treaty Association organised international conference “Copenhagen Conference on the Baltic states and the NATO Enlargement - Perspectives and Public Opinion”. LATO participants: Toms Baumanis - LATO board chairman, Ojārs Kalniņš - LATO vice-chairman, Atis Lejiņš - LATO board member, Dagnija Stuķēna - LATO secretary general, Oskars Cēris - LATO Baltic project co-ordinator.
09.05 LATO public discussion on NATO, security and defence with secondary school pupils in Jēkabpils. Speaker: Mārcis Gobiņš - LATO board member. Moderator: Oskars Cēris - LATO Baltic project co-ordinator.
15.05 Public lecture “Situation in the Baltic Region after Prague Summit” at the LATO information centre. Speakers: Profesors Andrew A. Michta - Rhodes College, professor of International Studies, Ojārs Kalniņš - LATO board vice-chairman and Atis Lejiņš - LATO board member.
21.05 Best essay award ceremony “Why does NATO need the Membership of the Baltic States?” Hosted by the Royal Danish Embassy in Riga.
23.05 Public discussion “Latvia in Secure and Stable Europe.Why should Latvia Join NATO?”, Jelgava. Participants: Indulis Bērziņš, Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Artis Pabriks, LATO Board member.
29.05 LATO panel discussion “Latvian Opportunities of Joining NATO. “What Can be Expected from the Prague Summit?” at the Vidzeme University College. Participants: Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis, Latvian Minister of Defence, Žaneta Ozoliņa, lecturer at Latvian University. Discussion moderated by Dagnija Stuķēna, LATO Secretary General.
Supported by: NATO, US government, Latvian Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
June
04.06 Public lecture “NATO Enlargement and Its Implications on the Current International Relations” at the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga. Speaker: Michael Zantovsky, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Security of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic.
06.06 Presentation of LATO Information campaign “Secure our Future! Latvia in NATO!”.
Supported by: World Federation of Free Latvians, Danish Atlantic Treaty Association and informative sponsors: television company “LNT“, daily newspaper “Diena“.
08.06 NATO Day in Rēzekne - SECURE OUR FUTURE! Interactive public event on NATO, security and defence issues. Supported by: Latvian Ministries of Defence and Foreign Affairs.
Supported by: the Danish Atlantic Treaty Association, Latvian Ministry of Defence and the Latvian Armed Forces.
11.06 LATO Joint meeting.
July
04.07 BATA regional meeting, Riga.
06.07 LATO NGO Forum “Post-Prague vision of the Enlarged NATO: Missions, Relationships and Challenges” during the Summit of NATO aspirant countries “Riga 2002: the Bridge to Prague“.
BATA Statement on the Occasion of the Summit
09.-10.07 LATO Secretary General Dagnija Stuķēna participation at the international seminar “Security of the Baltic Sea Region: The Way Ahead”, Tartu.
08.-07.07 Participation of Latvian Transatlantic Youth Club at the Danish Atlantic Youth Seminar “The Enlargement of the European Union and NATO: Progress, Problems and perspectives”, Alborg.
13.-14.07 LATO Information Campaign in the Regions - NATO Road Show in Zemgale region.
Supported by: World Federation of Free Latvians, Latvian Ministry of Defence, National Armed Forces.
19.-20.07 LATO Information Campaign in the Regions - NATO Road Show in Kurzeme region.
Supported by: World Federation of Free Latvians, Latvian Ministry of Defence, National Armed Forces.
24.-28.07 Latvian Transatlantic Youth Club and LATO International Youth conference “Baltic NATO Summer 2002″, Jurmala. More
Supported by: Danish Atlantic Treaty Association, Latvian Ministry of Defence, NATO, Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Student and Youth travel bureau, newspaper “Diena“, the public policy site “policy.lv“.
30.07 LATO Information Campaign in the Regions - NATO Road Show in Zemgale region.
Supported by: World Federation of Free Latvians, Latvian Ministry of Defence, National Armed Forces.
August
02.-03.08 LATO Information Campaign in the Regions - NATO Road Show in Vidzeme region.
Supported by: World Federation of Free Latvians, Latvian Ministry of Defence, National Armed Forces.
04.-07.08 LATO Youth seminar in Rezekne Region organized by LATO Regional Branch in Rezekne.
10.08 LATO Information Campaign in the Regions - NATO Road Show in Zemgale region.
Supported by: World Federation of Free Latvians, Latvian Ministry of Defence, National Armed Forces.
16.-17.08 LATO Information Campaign in the Regions - NATO Road Show in Latgale region.
Supported by: World Federation of Free Latvians, Latvian Ministry of Defence, National Armed Forces.
September
27.09 LATO Conference on Minority issues “Societal Integration and Security in Latvia”.
Supported by: World Federation of Free Latvians.
29.09 LATO Information Campaign in the Regions - NATO Road Show in Sigulda City.
Supported by: World Federation of Free Latvians, Latvian Ministry of Defence, National Armed Forces.
October
02.10 LATO teacher seminar - “Latvia`s Integration Towards NATO”, Rezekne City.
Supported by: Norwegian Government, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Education and Science.
03.-04.10 BATA Regional meeting, Rīga.
09.-12.10 LATO participation in Atlantic Treaty Association 48th General Assembly, Istanbul. Participants Ojārs Kalniņš, LATO Chairman, Dagnija Stuķēna, LATO Secretary General.
18.10 LATO teacher seminar - “Latvia`s Integration Towards NATO”, Jelgava City.
Supported by Norwegian Government, Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Education and Science.
31.10 BATA Regional meeting, St. Petersburg.
November
01.-02.11. LATO participation at the international conference “Promoting win - win
relationship for Security and Democracy Growth in the Baltic Sea region: Agenda for the
Future”, StPetersburg.
04.11 LATO teacher seminar - “Latvia`s Integration Towards NATO”, Riga City.
Supported by Norwegian Government, Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Education and Science.
08.11 LATO teacher seminar - “Latvia`s Integration Towards NATO”, Ventspils City.
Supported by Norwegian Government, Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Education and Science.
14.11 LATO teacher seminar - “Latvia`s Integration Towards NATO”, Daugavpils City.
Supported by Norwegian Government, Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Education and Science.
16.11 LATO teacher seminar - “Latvia`s Integration Towards NATO”, Jēkabpils City.
Supported by Norwegian Government, Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Education and Science.
17.-25.11 International youth project “Baltic Youth NATO Bus to Prague”.
21.-24.11 LATO participation in Prague Atlantic Youth Seminar (PASS), Prague.
21.-22.11 NATO Prague Summit. LATO Welcomes Latvia`s Invitation into NATO and Expresses Support for Democratisation of Iraq.
28.11 Participation of LATO vice-chairman Toms Baumanis at the 12th Annual
Zappeion Symposium organized by the Greek Association for Atlantic and European Cooperation “”From Prague to Copenhagen: Enlargement and Euro-Atlantic Security and Cooperation”, Athens.
Supported by: Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
December
02.-03.12 Participation of LATO chairman Ojārs Kalniņš at the international seminar “Euro-Atlantic Security the Day After the Prague Summit”, Rome.
06.12 LATO II International conference “Post Prague Agenda: Prospects for Cooperation in Eastern and Northern Europe”, Riga.
Supported by: Konrad Adenauer Foundation and World Federation of Free Latvians.
12.12 BATA Regional meeting, Rīga.
14.-17.12 Participation of LATO Secretary General Dagnija Stuķēna at the international youth forum “Russia, NATO, the EU and other regional actors: New Dimensions for further Cooperation”, Suzdal and “Interests of NATO and Russia in Barenc region - perspectives for further cooperation”, Arhangelsk.
19.12 LATO Board meeting.
