Indulis Bērziņš
{{Short description|Latvian politician (born 1957)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Indulis Bērziņš
| image = Indulis Bērziņš, 2002-05-04.jpg
| caption = Bērziņš in 2002
| term_start = 16 July 1999
| term_end = 7 November 2002
| office = Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia
| president = Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga
| primeminister = Andris Šķēle
| predecessor = Valdis Birkavs
| successor = Sandra Kalniete
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1957|12|04|df=y}}
| birth_place = Madona, Latvian SSR, Soviet Union
| profession = Historian
| party = Popular Front of Latvia
| otherparty = Latvian Way
| alma_mater = University of Latvia
}}
Indulis Bērziņš (born 4 December 1957) is a Latvian historian and diplomat who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia from 1999 to 2002.
Biography
He was born in the town Madona.
In 1981, Indulis Bērziņš graduated with a degree in history from University of Latvia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/diplomatic-missions-en/latvian-delegation-to-nato|title=Indulis Bērziņš|date=7 September 2015 |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia |access-date=6 March 2019}} From 1981 to 1990, he was a history lecturer at the University of Latvia and Latvian University of Agriculture. Bērziņš was an active member of the social political organization Popular Front of Latvia, and he was actively involved in the restoration of independence of the Republic of Latvia. As an elected member of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia Bērziņš voted twice in favour of restoration of Latvia’s independence, on 4 May 1990 and 21 August 1991. From 1990 to 1999, he served as Member of Parliament representing Latvia’s Way political party. In his career as a Member of the Latvian Parliament (MP), Bērziņš has served in several key positions, including as Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, head of the delegation to the North Atlantic Alliance, and head of the delegation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nato.int/cps/ua/natohq/who_is_who_122421.htm |title=Indulis Bērziņš |publisher=North Atlantic Treaty Organization |publication-date=September 8, 2015|access-date=6 March 2019}}
From 16 July 1999 to 7 November 2002, Bērziņš was Latvia’s minister of foreign affairs. This period was of significant importance to Latvia in reaching several crucial milestones in the process of accession to the European Union and NATO. Bērziņš was Head of Delegation of Latvia to the EU accession. Since 2002, he has served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Latvia to the Kingdom of Denmark (2002-2003), the United Kingdom (2004-2009), and the Republic of Austria (2009-2013). In this period, he has served as Latvia’s non-residing ambassador to Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Slovenia. Beginning in September 2015,{{Cite web|url=https://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/belgium/latvia-in-belgium |title=Latvia in Belgium |date=11 February 2019 |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia |access-date=6 March 2019}} Bērziņš served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Latvia to NATO in Brussels, Belgium.
Bērziņš is Commander of the Three Stars Order of the Republic of Latvia and Grand Officer of the Cross of Recognition of the Republic of Latvia. In 1997, he was decorated as Commander of the Ordre National du Merit of France. In 2013, he received a Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria.
References
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{{s-bef|before=Valdis Birkavs}}
{{s-ttl|title=Minister for Foreign Affairs of Latvia|years=16 July 1999 – 7 November 2002}}
{{s-aft|after=Sandra Kalniete}}
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{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Berziņš, Indulis}}
Category:Communist Party of Latvia politicians
Category:Popular Front of Latvia politicians
Category:Latvian Way politicians
Category:Ministers of foreign affairs of Latvia
Category:Deputies of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia
Category:Deputies of the 5th Saeima
Category:Deputies of the 6th Saeima
Category:Deputies of the 7th Saeima
Category:Ambassadors of Latvia to Denmark
Category:Ambassadors of Latvia to the United Kingdom
Category:Ambassadors of Latvia to Australia
Category:Ambassadors of Latvia to Austria
Category:Ambassadors of Latvia to New Zealand
Category:Ambassadors of Latvia to Switzerland
Category:Ambassadors of Latvia to Liechtenstein
Category:Ambassadors of Latvia to Slovenia
Category:Permanent Representatives of Latvia to NATO
Category:University of Latvia alumni