Latvia and Moldova: Duties of an Honorary Consul representing Latvia in Moldova; scope of authority; type of assistance and information provided by Honorary Consul; whether an Honorary Consul was responsible for issuing Latvian visas, if so, under which circumstances
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 10 January 2005 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ZZZ43239.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Latvia and Moldova: Duties of an Honorary Consul representing Latvia in Moldova; scope of authority; type of assistance and information provided by Honorary Consul; whether an Honorary Consul was responsible for issuing Latvian visas, if so, under which circumstances , 10 January 2005, ZZZ43239.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/42df61d57.html [accessed 19 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Website indicates that the ambassador in Ukraine is also the ambassador for Moldova, and that an Honorary Consul is established in Chisinau, Moldova (Latvia n.d.a; Latvia 25 Feb. 2004).
Moldova does not appear on the list of countries which do not require a visa for their citizens to enter Latvian territory (Latvia n.d.b). Another page from the same Website explains that "[p]rior to the entrance into Latvia a visa shall be received in Latvian consular missions in foreign countries" (Latvia n.d.c).
A senior Officer of the Refugee Affairs Department of Latvia provided the following information on the limits on duties of an Honorary Consul in written correspondence with the Research Directorate:
People from Moldova have to submit documents/applications for visas only at the Embassy of Latvia in Ukraine (Kyiv). The honorary consul in Moldova has no rights [to] issue Latvian visas as well as receive and forward documents for Latvian visas to the Embassy in Ukraine. Latvia's honorary consul in Moldova doesn't perform consular functions (4 Jan. 2005).
In other correspondence, the senior Officer provided more information on the duties fulfilled by the Latvian Honorary Consul in Moldova:
In accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and optional protocols his functions consist of:
* protecting in Moldova the interests of Latvia and of its nationals, both individuals and [corporate bodies];
* the development of commercial, economic, cultural and scientific relations between Moldova and Latvia;
* co-ordinating the international relations of State institutions of Latvia and Moldova.
* helping and assisting nationals, both individuals and [corporate bodies], of Latvia (when documents are lost, [...] appropriate forwarding [of] documents from Chisinau to Kyiv and from Kyiv to Chisinau, help with money, etc.) (7 Jan. 2005).
No other information on the duties of a Latvian Honorary Consul in Moldova was found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Latvia. 7 January 2005. Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs. Refugee Affairs Department. Written communication from a Senior Officer.
_____. 4 January 2005. Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs. Refugee Affairs Department. Written communication from a Senior Officer.
_____. 25 February 2004. "Relations between Latvia and the Republic of Moldova."
_____. n.d.a. Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "Latvian Diplomatic Missions."
_____. n.d.b. Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs. "List of Countries, the Citizens of Which Do Not Need Visas."
_____. n.d.c. Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs. "Visas."
Additional Sources Consulted
Internet sites, including: Embassy of the Republic of Latvia in Canada, Embassy of Latvia in the United States, The Naturalization Board of Latvia, The Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs of Latvia.
