LATVIA—Ambassador to Poland Leah M. Basinang-Ruiz presented her credentials as nonresident Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of the Philippines to the Republic of Latvia before President Egils Levits at his residence in Riga Castle on January 7.
Ruiz was accompanied by Deputy Chief of Mission and Consul General to Warsaw Mardomel Celo D. Melicor.
During the private audience with the Latvian president, which was also attended by Foreign Affairs Adviser Solveiga Silkalna, Ruiz conveyed the warm greetings, felicitations and best wishes of Philippine President Duterte as her own deep appreciation for the warm welcome and excellent arrangements for her visit.
During the private audience following the ceremony, both sides agreed to further strengthen the legal framework for political, economic and cultural cooperation and promote more people-to-people contacts through parliamentary visits, business-to-business meetings, tourism, academic and cultural exchanges.
Prior to the ceremony, the Filipino ambassador met with the following Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials: Deputy Head of State Protocol Inese Liepiņa, Secretary of State Andris Pelšs, as well as Head of Asia and Oceania Division Counselor Ligita Davidova.
Afterward, she talked with Deputy Speaker of Parliament (Saeima) Dagmāra Beitnere-Le Galla, who was accompanied by Foreign Affairs Advisor to the Presidium of the Saeima Andrejs Kovalovs.
The foreign ministry also arranged a briefing tour of the two most important museums in Riga: Occupation Museum of Latvia and the art gallery Riga Bourse, which provided a valuable insight into the history, as well as the arts and culture of Latvia.
Ruiz expressed appreciation to the officials of her host country for her inclusion in the first accreditation schedule of the year in Latvia during the midwinter season. She is the fifth resident Philippine ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the Philippines to Poland, and has concurrent jurisdiction over Philippine relations with Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Ukraine.
Previously, the diplomat was the first woman Philippine ambassador to Lebanon from 2011 to 2016. DFA
Image credits: Warsaw PE