Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08RIGA298
2008-05-30 14:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Riga
Cable title:
JUSTICE MIN STATE SECRETARY BICEVSKIS NOMINATED
how-toVZCZCXRO7250 OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHRA #0298 1511431 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 301431Z MAY 08 FM AMEMBASSY RIGA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4954 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L RIGA 000298
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/29/2018
TAGS: PGOV EFIN PINR LG
SUBJECT: JUSTICE MIN STATE SECRETARY BICEVSKIS NOMINATED
FOR FINANCE MIN SPOT
REF: RIGA 229
Classified By: Ambassador Charles Larson, for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L RIGA 000298
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/29/2018
TAGS: PGOV EFIN PINR LG
SUBJECT: JUSTICE MIN STATE SECRETARY BICEVSKIS NOMINATED
FOR FINANCE MIN SPOT
REF: RIGA 229
Classified By: Ambassador Charles Larson, for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (U) On May 27, the Latvian Cabinet of Ministers confirmed
the appointment of Martins Bicevskis to the vacant position
of Finance Ministry State Secretary. Bicevskis, the current
Justice Ministry State Secretary, will take his new position
on June 2, replacing Irena Krumane, who left to become the
new Chairperson of the Financial and Capital Markets
Commission (reftel).
2. (U) Bicevskis has been holding the Ministry of Justice
State Secretary position since 2004 and previously was the
head of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs
(2000-2003). Bicevskis ran as a Parliamentary candidate for
the People's Party and served as a Saeima (Parliament) member
for some time in 1999, before taking a position in 2000 as
advisor to the Interior Minister. He is a graduate of the
University of Latvia's Faculty of Law. Born February 8, 1975
in Riga, he is married, has two daughters, and speaks
Latvian, Russian, English and German.
3. (C) Comment: Post does not view Bicevskis' appointment as
good news. Described at times as a "hack", there is nothing
identifiable in his background that would make him a good
manager of Latvia's finances. In interactions with him, post
has found Bicevskis to be very skeptical of dealings with the
U.S., and rather skittish of why we would even want to talk
to him. At a time when Latvia is under pressure to show that
they take management of their economy seriously, it is hard
to see how this appointment is beneficial.
LARSON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/29/2018
TAGS: PGOV EFIN PINR LG
SUBJECT: JUSTICE MIN STATE SECRETARY BICEVSKIS NOMINATED
FOR FINANCE MIN SPOT
REF: RIGA 229
Classified By: Ambassador Charles Larson, for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (U) On May 27, the Latvian Cabinet of Ministers confirmed
the appointment of Martins Bicevskis to the vacant position
of Finance Ministry State Secretary. Bicevskis, the current
Justice Ministry State Secretary, will take his new position
on June 2, replacing Irena Krumane, who left to become the
new Chairperson of the Financial and Capital Markets
Commission (reftel).
2. (U) Bicevskis has been holding the Ministry of Justice
State Secretary position since 2004 and previously was the
head of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs
(2000-2003). Bicevskis ran as a Parliamentary candidate for
the People's Party and served as a Saeima (Parliament) member
for some time in 1999, before taking a position in 2000 as
advisor to the Interior Minister. He is a graduate of the
University of Latvia's Faculty of Law. Born February 8, 1975
in Riga, he is married, has two daughters, and speaks
Latvian, Russian, English and German.
3. (C) Comment: Post does not view Bicevskis' appointment as
good news. Described at times as a "hack", there is nothing
identifiable in his background that would make him a good
manager of Latvia's finances. In interactions with him, post
has found Bicevskis to be very skeptical of dealings with the
U.S., and rather skittish of why we would even want to talk
to him. At a time when Latvia is under pressure to show that
they take management of their economy seriously, it is hard
to see how this appointment is beneficial.
LARSON