EDUCATION 1999-2000 Industrial College of the Armed Forces of the US National Defence University, Master’s Degree 1995-1997 University of Latvia, Master’s Degree in Political Science 1994-1995 University of Groningen, the Netherlands, Political Science and International Relations Studies, certificate 1991-1995 University of Latvia, Faculty of History and Philosophy, Bachelor’s Degree WORK AND POLITICAL EXPERIENCE Since October 25, 2011 - Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia October 2008 – July 2011 Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Latvia, Head of the President’s Chancellery August 2008 – July 2008 Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia, State Secretary 2005-January 2007 NATO Summit Latvia Task Force, Head 2002-2003 Latvia’s Delegation for Negotiations on Accession to NATO, Deputy Head May 1997-August 1997 Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia, Acting State Secretary June 1996 – May 1997 Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia, Deputy State Secretary for Defence Policy March 1996 – September 1996 Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia, Policy Department, director 1995-March 1996 Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia, Policy Department, senior expert 1993-1994 Journalist specializing in the foreign policy issues and international relations LANGUAGE SKILLS Latvian  – native, English and Russian  - fluent, French – good command