On 21 March 2003 in New York, at 12 p.m. local time, diplomatic relations were established between the Republic of Latvia and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations in New York.
Signatories to the protocol establishing diplomatic relations between both countries were Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Latvia and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York Gints Jegermanis, on behalf of the Republic of Latvia, and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York Fawzi Bin Abdul Majeed Shobokshi, on behalf of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Following the signing of the protocol, both Ambassadors expressed the hope that this important event would be backed up with concrete steps to foster understanding between both countries. Traditionally Saudi Arabia has been considered a land rich in oil and natural gas. However, in the view of the Saudi Ambassador, it is important not to forget the particular place the Kingdom holds in the Islamic world. Among other matters, the Ambassador also expressed interest in the Muslim community in Latvia.
The Permanent Mission of Latvia to the UN in New York