The bilateral relations between Latvia and Italy are good with an intensive political dialogue taking place at the highest level. With Latvia's integration within the structures of the EU and NATO, new opportunities for contacts and the advancing of bilateral relations emerge at all levels.

Diplomatic Relations

Italy, together with other Allied countries, recognised the State of Latvia de iure on 26 January 1921, and never officially recognised the annexation of the Baltic states by the USSR. Italy, together with other members of the European Community, recognised the restoration of independence of the Republic of Latvia on 27 August 1991. The diplomatic relations between both countries were renewed on 30 August 1991.

Italy was among the first countries to open an embassy in Riga in 1991. The current Ambassador of Italy to Latvia is H.E. Francesco Puccio, who was accredited on 6 November 2007.

The Latvian Embassy in Italy was opened in 1995 and a temporary chargé d'affaires appointed. In 1997, Martins Perts was appointed the first post-war Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Latvia to the Italian Republic. From 8 October 2002 to July 2006, the post of the Latvian Ambassador to Italy was held by Janis Lusis. Since 20 September 2006, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Latvia to the Italian Republic is Astra Kurme.

Latvia is represented in Italy by seven Honorary Consuls - Niccolo Rositani, resident in Florence with responsibility for the consular district of Tuscany since 1996; Roberto Comelli in Trieste with responsibility for the consular districts of Friulia, Venezia and Giulia since 2000; Francesco Bambina in Palermo with responsibility for the consular district of Sicily since 2001; Canio Trione - residing in Bari and responsible for the consular districts of Puglia, Calabria, Basilicata and Molise since 2002; Randa Ghattas, residing in Naples and responsible for the consular district of Campagnia since 2003; Patrizia Signorini, resident in Milan, with responsibility for the consular district of Lombardy since 2004; and Giuseppe Landini in Modena with the responsibility for the consular district of Emilia-Romagna since 2004.

Parliamentary co-operation

In the 9^th Saeima, there is a Latvian-Italian Parliamentary Co-operation group led by Ingrida Circene (Jaunais laiks). In the Italian Parliament, the Baltic States Friendship Group is active. The parliamentary co-operation groups of both countries have developed a close co-operation, and an exchange of visits takes place regularly. 

The most significant visits

Economic co-operation 

Italy is Latvia's 10^th largest import and 13^th largest export partner.

On 4 January 2001, a representative office of the Italian Foreign Trade Institute (IFTI) was opened in Riga. IFTI is a non-profit government agency. The main objectives of the Riga office are to facilitate and stimulate bilateral commerce, support the operations of Italian businesses in Latvia and Latvian businesses that are interested in operating in the Italian market, as well as to facilitate Italian investment in Latvia.

Trade

Main export commodities to Italy in 2006 Q3 by type of commodity, M EUR

Main import commodities from Italy in 2006 Q3, by type of commodity, M EUR

Dynamics of trade between Latvia and Italy during the period from 1999 to first half of 2006, EUR

Dynamics of trade between Latvia and Italy during the period from 1998 to 2006 Q3

Co-operation in culture and education

In 2005, the award of the Dante Alighieri Society (Societa Dante Alighieri in Lettonia) was presented to painter Aleksejs Naumovs, art scientist Vita Ozolina, businessman Jevgenijs Gombergs, and translator Dace Meiere. The painter Aleksejs Naumovs maintains close contacts with the universities in Bologna, Florence and Milan, and arranges exhibitions of works by Latvian artists in Italy. In his works of art one can trace many Italian themes. Vita Ozolina educates young Latvian people – she lectures on Italian Antiquity and Renaissance culture, accompanies tourist groups to Italy and arranges exhibitions of works by Italian artists in Latvia. Jevgenijs Gombergs was awarded for his contribution to the renovation of the obelisk erected in 1832 to Filippo Paulucci, a Governor of Riga and Vidzeme who was an Italian. Dace Meiere received an award for her translations of the works by Umberto Eco, Curcio Malaparte and other Italian authors.On 28 February 2006, a second ceremony for the award of the Dante Alighieri Society was held. For contribution to the promotion of Latvian – Italian inter-state and cultural relations, the award – a medal with a picture of Dante, designed by sculptor Janis Strupulis, was presented to Maurizio Lo Re, a former Italian Ambassador to Latvia, historian and the author of the book "Italian Culture in Latvian History", and to Angelo Frosio, an Italian cheesemaker, the author of the Monterigo cheese and a co-operation partner to JSC Limbažu piens dairy company. Awarded also were Cardinal Janis Pujats of the Roman Catholic Curia of Riga Metropolis, who contributed significantly to the establishment of close co-operation between the Vatican and Latvia, and Ojars Sparitis, professor of the Latvian Academy of Arts Art, art historian and the author of the book "Florence – Rīga. Kultūras paralēles" (Florence – Riga. Cultural Parallels).  On 27 February 2007, at the third ceremony for the award of the Dante Alighieri Society in recognition of outstanding contribution to promotion of cultural ties between Latvia and Italy the award was presented to film director Laima Zurgina, Maria Sciavone, a guest lecturer at the University of Latvia, translator Valdis Bisenieks, and to artist Ilmars Blumbergs.

On the whole, co-operation between Latvia and Italy in culture and education is vast and diverse:

• In 1996, an interstate agreement was signed on co-operation in culture, science and technologies. At present, the approval of the draft operational programme for 2005-2007 is taking place.
• An active exchange of information and research staff is taking place. Several co-operation agreements have been signed with Italian higher education establishments within the framework of the European Community programme Socrates/Erasmus on exchange of students, teachers and scientists.
• In 2005, the Culture Academy of Latvia launched a study programme entitled  "International cultural relations: Latvia – Italy".
• For several years, the Italian Government has been awarding three-months scholarships to Latvian students for Italian language studies in Italy.
• Prof Pietro Umberto Dini, lecturer in the Baltic Philology at the University of Pisa compiled an Italian – Latvian, Latvian – Italian dictionary. Launching of the dictionary took place during the State visit to Italy by President Vaira Vike–Freiberga in June 2005.

Fruitful co-operation has developed in the fields of music, choral music, visual art, theatre, cinema, museums and photography:

• From 9 to 27 January 2007, the Teatro Massimo Bellini opera theatre in Catania hosted a guest performance by the Latvian National Opera. In co-operation with the musicians of the Catanian opera, "Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District" was staged.
• From 22 January to 1 February 2007, in co-operation with the Latvian Embassy in Italy, Latvian animators took part in the festival "Un Film nello Zaino" (A Film in a Backpack) in Bologna.
• The Latvian Philharmonic orchestra is engaged in long-term co-operation with conductor Massimo Lambertini. The orchestra goes on concert tours to Italy at least once a year. On 9 March 2005, the orchestra, conducted by Lambertini, gave a concert in Naples at the opening of an exhibition of Latvian artists "Vita Nuova – La Lettonia in Europa".
• Professor Andrea Angelini, an expert in Renaissance music prepared a special programme for the chamber choir "Ave Sol", and conducted two concerts in Latvia in April of 2005.
• In June 2005, the boys' choir of the Riga Dom took part in an international choir festival "La Fabbrica del Canto" in Legnano.
• In October and November of 2005, in the National Library of Latvia, an exhibition "Marta Rasupe – voice of Latvia in Italy" was displayed.
• In 2005, a group of Latvian artists F5 represented Latvia at the 51^st Venice Biennale with an exhibition titled "Tumsas spuldze" (The Light Bulb of Darkness). At the same time, a project "Roza maja" (Rose House) was presented.
• In March 2005 in Naples, an exhibition "Vita Nuova – La Lettonia in Europa" of Latvian artists was shown. Latvia was represented at the exhibition by artists Helena Heinrihsone, Ieva Iltnere, Dzintra Vilks, Ivars Heinrihsons, Ritums Ivanovs, Girts Muiznieks, Egils Rozenbergs, and Peteris Sidars.
• In 2005, in Urbino, an exhibition of Ieva Jaunberga was displayed.
• Latvian film directors regularly participate in various international festivals in Italy. In 2004 and 2005, they took part in 12 festivals altogether. Latvian films have gained two prizes in Italian film festivals:  at the Siena International Short Film Festival, the director Aija Bley received the special prize for her film Daudz laimes! (Merry Christmas!), which was rated as the best short feature film, whereas the director Olafs Okonovs was awarded the Golden Hammer prize at the festival Internazional del Cinema d'Arte for his film Darbnīca laukos (Workshop in the Countryside).
• In the Stameriena castle, a permanent exposition "Stameriena - a Relative of Sicily" is open. The exhibition describes the history of the Stameriena estate and fates of its dwellers.
• The Foreign Art Museum hosts regular exhibitions of works by Italian artists. In May of 2006, the exhibition of the Florentine art "Kad mes sapnojam" (When we are dreaming) was opened.
• In February of 2005 in Rome, during the event "Writers of the New Europe", Latvia was represented by Mara Zalite, a poet and playwright, who read her essay "Nepabeigtas domas" (Unfinished Thoughts). The essay has also been translated to and published in Italian.
• In October 2005, Riga hosted the exhibition of a Florentine photographer Mario Nunes Vais (1856-1932), entitled "Mario Nunes Vais. Atmiņas un dzeja" (Mario Nunes Vais. Memories and Verse).

Defence co-operation

In 1998, an agreement was signed between the Ministries of Defence of both countries on development of contacts and military co-operation. A co-operation plan based on this Agreement is updated every year.

On 9-12 May 2005, the Chief of Staff of the Italian Navy Headquarters, Admiral Sergio Biraghi, visited Latvia.

The Italian Military Attaché, Capt. Vincenzo De Luca, has been accredited in Latvia (resides in Riga; accredited also in Estonia and Lithuania).

The first Latvian Military Attaché in Italy (resident in Rome), Col. Janis Hofmanis, was accredited in May of 2004. From 1 September 2007, the office of the Defence Attaché to Italy, Portugal and Greece will be relocated to Riga. Major Aivars Miruskins will replace Janis Hofmanis as the Latvian Military Attaché in Italy.

Although co-operation between Latvia and Italy in the defence sector is based primarily on information exchange, specific activities are also being undertaken in the following areas: military-political consultations, co-operation in training, visits to Latvia by Italian warships.

Most significant agreements

Databases with information on bilateral agreements: The Italian Republic

Links on the Republic of Italy

Foreign Ministry of the Italian Republic: http://www.esteri.it