MEDIA RELEASE

12 July 2006

Prominent foreign politicians take part at Riga Pride

Following an invitation by the Alliance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and their friends “Mozaika”, several prominent European politicians will take part at the Friendships Days and the Riga Pride next week, including the Pride March on 22 July.

Tjeerd Herrema, a Deputy Mayor of Amsterdam, confirmed today his participation at Riga Pride. Job Cohen, the Amsterdam Mayor himself wrote a letter to Aivars Aksenoks, the Mayor of Riga, expressing his support to the Riga Pride. The office of the Mayor of Amsterdam said they are willing and ready to meet the Mayor of Riga to share Amsterdam’s experience in organising pride events.

Following European politicians confirmed their participation at the Friendships Days and the Riga Pride:


· Sophie In’t Veld, member of the European Parliament, Alliance of Liberals and Democrats of Europe, the Netherlands,
· Raül Romeva i Rueda, member of the European Parliament, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance, Spain,
· Ulrike Lunacek, member of the Austrian Parliament from the Green Party,
· Martin Andreason, member of the Swedish Parliament from the Liberal Party accompanied by a groups of the Swedish Liberal Party,
· Simon Emil Ammitzbol, member of the Danish Parliament from the Social Liberal Party.

One of the participants of the Friendship Days and the Riga Pride is Captain Krister Fahlstedt, who will represent the Swedish Armed Forces in the EU Equal-project "All Clear". The project is a co-operation between employers, trade unions and NGOs in order to tackle discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation at the workplace.

At the end of the Riga Pride March all the foreign guests will address the participants of the March. Invitations to address the participants of the Pride March has also been send to various Latvian politicians. Tjeerd Herrema, the Deputy Mayor of Amsterdam, will address the participants with a special greeting. The event at the end of the Riga pride March will be hosted by Elita Drāke and will take place on 22 July 2006. Location details will only be known next week when the Riga City Council’s committee of demonstrations will finalise the venue.

This year three organisations are organing the Riga Pride – Ilga Latvija, Alliance of LGBT people and their friends “Mozaika” and Rīgas Praids.

An invitation to take part at this year’s Riga Pride was also sent to Laila Freivalds, former Justice and Foreign Minister of Sweden. Unfortunately she will not be able to attend this event but she sent a greeting letter which will be read at the end of the Pride March.

Similarly Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London, could not attend the Riga Pride but also provided a greeting letter wishing all the success to the participants of the Friendship Days and the Riga Pride. A support letter was also received from Gavin Newsom, the Mayor of San Francisco.

Linda Freimane, board member of the Alliance of LGBT people and their friends “Mozaika”, said:

“We are grateful to all foreign politicians for their support. Latvia is a full member of such international organisations as the United Nations, Council of Europe, the European Union and NATO and consequently signed up to the principles of human rights and non-discrimination. Following the events of the last year pride in Riga, Latvia became a subject of attention in regards to the situation of LGBT people by various foreign politicians. Here in Riga they will be able to learn more about the current situation, provide support to the Latvian LGBT community as well as share their experience in promoting tolerance with the local politicians.”

Ends

For more information please contact:

Juris Lavrikovs
Media officer, Mozaika
+ 371 22 43 1000

Notes to editors:

1. The Friendship Days and the Riga pride will take place between 19 and 23 July 2006. The Pride March will take place on 22 July 2006, providing the City Council of Riga allows it to take place. The Riga City Council will decide on this issue next week and latest 48 hours before the event.

2. Full programme of the Friendship Days and the Riga pride is available on our website: www.mozaika.lv. The programme include art exhibition, political debate for representatives of various political parties, conference of the Latvian Association of Psychiatrists, seminar on providing support to family members of LGBT people, LGBT cinema days, pride March and much more!