“Many Latvians in Australia are now reconsidering whether to travel to Europe and Latvia. We hear about drones appearing in the Latgale region, and people begin asking how safe it really is,” Jānis Roberts Dēliņš, Honorary Consul of Latvia in Melbourne, Australia, tells BNN. We spoke about what this voluntary role means to him personally, how Latvia’s upcoming parliamentary elections will be organised on the fifth continent, his impressions following the 12th Meeting of Latvia’s Honorary Consuls, recently held in Latvia, and a range of other topics. Jānis Dēliņš was appointed Honorary Vice Consul of Latvia in Melbourne in 1991 and became Honorary Consul in 2004. Since the establishment of the Honorary Consuls’ Meetings in 2002, he has participated in every one of them.
The most important question concerns security. How does Latvia’s security situation look from an Australian perspective?
Latvia is a NATO member state, and Allied forces are stationed here, including the Canadian-led brigade. That provides a sense of security. You cannot live in fear all the time. If we in Australia are worried, we should also think about how the people living in Riga feel—they have to continue living their daily lives. That said, I do wonder about civil defence shelters—whether enough of them are being built and whether I myself would even know where to go in Riga if the need arose.
At the same time, Latvia continues to allocate increasing resources to defence, which is encouraging. In my opinion, there is no reason for excessive concern in the near future, as Russia itself is struggling to sustain its war in Ukraine.
How easy—or difficult—is it to serve as Latvia’s Honorary Consul in another country, especially considering that this is an unpaid voluntary position that often requires investing your own time and resources?
Yes, it is entirely voluntary work, but it is also a great honour for me. I handle many matters related to Latvian citizenship, helping prospective citizens prepare and submit their applications. Through this work I get to know these people, and it is a real privilege that they share their family histories with me.
Back in the 1990s, when Australia did not yet have a Latvian embassy and Latvia was only rebuilding its consular service, we were given two large, thick manuals and told to study them and work out what needed to be done. I remember, for example, a case involving the repatriation of a deceased person’s remains to Latvia. We had to determine ourselves the correct procedures and the necessary steps.
At first, cooperation with the authorities was not always straightforward, but over the years it has improved considerably. The institutions themselves were also learning during those early years. There was a great deal of bureaucracy, although procedures are necessary. If a document has not been submitted or prepared correctly, the entire process comes to a halt.
In the past, we had far more consular responsibilities because Australia did not have a Latvian embassy. At one time in Melbourne, I personally issued approximately 800 Latvian passports, if I remember correctly. The passports were sent from Latvia, and it was my responsibility to enter the holders’ details, attach the photographs and apply all the required official stamps. Following the terrorist attacks of the 11th of September, 2001, in New York, this practice came to an end, and passport issuance was centralised in Riga. However, other consular duties remained, including issuing emergency travel documents and various official certificates.
Since the Latvian Embassy opened in Canberra in 2022, the volume of my consular work has decreased. Today I devote more time to diaspora-related matters, assist people with documents that must be submitted to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, help with document translations, and facilitate contacts in Australia for entrepreneurs from Latvia.
I also take an active part in the activities of the Melbourne Consular Corps and represent Latvia at the national day celebrations and other official events of its member states.
You also help organise official visits by Latvian delegations, including ministers, business representatives and other guests…
Two years ago, then Minister of Foreign Affairs Baiba Braže visited Melbourne on a one-day working trip, and together we visited RMIT University. Last November, a delegation from Riga Technical University also came to Melbourne, and I had the opportunity to meet with them. Contacts like these are extremely important.
Recently, I received a request from the Melbourne-based orchestra Corpus Medicorum, whose members include many doctors, medical professionals and surgeons. They are planning to perform in Riga next September and asked whether I could help them find suitable venues for rehearsals and concerts for their 60-member orchestra. I put them in touch with contacts at Riga Technical University and elsewhere, and also suggested several possible concert venues. This is a practical way in which I can help people.
This autumn, Honorary Consuls of Latvia around the world will face another important task—the elections to Latvia’s 15th Saeima. How are votes counted in Australia: manually or electronically?
We count all votes manually. At the last parliamentary elections, 222 people cast their ballots in Melbourne. Voting also takes place at other Latvian centres across Australia, but Melbourne usually has the highest turnout.
Latvia’s electoral system, with its preference votes and negative marks, is quite complex and requires a great deal of work. Sometimes we remain at the Latvian House until two or three o’clock in the morning while waiting for confirmation from Riga that the protocols have been received and everything is in order.
We now also have an electronic voter registration system—voters arrive and are registered electronically. In the past, we simply recorded everyone’s details on paper.
One of the responsibilities of Honorary Consuls is to promote economic cooperation between Latvian businesses and their host countries. What impressed you most during the meeting with entrepreneurs at the VEF Culture Palace? Were there any particularly interesting companies that could attract the attention of Australian businesses?
The meetings with Latvian entrepreneurs were extremely interesting. We got to know one another, exchanged contacts, and I will do my best to help wherever possible. The range of companies represented was very broad. For example, Ammunity Ltd., based in Bauska, manufactures NATO-standard ammunition and cartridge cases. Their opportunities in the Australian market may be limited, but until you actually explore the possibilities, you cannot say that with certainty. I would also like to mention CODEX Ltd., whose goal is to develop a unique software engineering process that supports the growth of the Baltic region by creating innovative, efficient and fully integrated digital solutions for local and regional businesses and organisations. The company is also looking to establish partnerships in Australia.
There may also be opportunities for cooperation with the timber industry. Stiga RM Ltd., which manufactures birch plywood for the construction sector, and ZAZA TIMBER CONSTRUCTION, which produces glued timber structures and already cooperates with Australian companies and projects, both have potential for further collaboration. We also met a young entrepreneur, Artūrs Bondars of Glove Tray Ltd., who has developed a devicce for drying golf gloves.
After a round of golf, the glove is placed on a hand-shaped stand, allowing it to dry properly and last significantly longer. He gave me one of the devices, and I believe this product has considerable commercial potential within the golfing community.
You also mentioned companies in the timber industry. Could products like these be of interest to Australian businesses? As far as I know, Australia has very strict biosecurity regulations concerning wood products.
Wood products may be imported into Australia provided they have been properly treated and are accompanied by certificates confirming that they are free from pests and other harmful contaminants. There is a strict approval process—you cannot simply buy a wooden box and bring it into Australia. However, companies that meet all the regulatory requirements and possess the necessary documentation can certainly export such products. The quality standards are very high. For example, Latvijas Finieris has been operating successfully in the Australian market for many years. Smaller companies could also export, provided they can guarantee a consistent supply. If a customer requires a specific number of tables, chairs or other products, the manufacturer must be able to deliver the agreed quantity. Transporting goods from Latvia to Australia is also expensive, which is another important consideration.
Latvia has more than 170 Honorary Consuls representing the country in over 40 countries worldwide. Do you stay in touch with one another, or do you mainly meet during the Honorary Consuls’ gatherings in Riga?
It largely depends on personal relationships, but we do try to stay in contact because these meetings are held only once every two years. That is why it was particularly interesting to get to know many of the other Honorary Consuls. This year I met Honorary Consuls from Ukraine, Israel, Tanzania and several other African countries. There were thirteen representatives from the United States, five from Australia, as well as the Honorary Consul from Haiti. I also met Sabīne Zommerkampa-Homane, who holds a doctorate in philology and has served as Honorary Consul in Hamburg for the past thirty years. She writes poetry in German and has been working with the Latvian publishing house Jumava to have her poems translated into Latvian and published in book form. This year’s gathering also welcomed, for the first time, a representative from Fiji and the newly appointed Honorary Consul in Japan, alongside colleagues from Italy, Germany, France and many other countries.
These visits often bring memorable moments as well. While walking along Smilšu Street, I came across a demonstration outside the Ministry of Education protesting the planned closure of the Jūrmala branch of the Murjāņi Sports Gymnasium. There were police vehicles present and around ten demonstrators holding placards. A little later, I saw Minister of Education Ilze Indriksone come outside and speak directly with the protesters. I asked someone to introduce me to her and told her how encouraging it was to witness democracy in action in Latvia—people engaging in a respectful discussion with a government minister about an issue that mattered deeply to them.
As is customary, Latvia’s Honorary Consuls take part in regional visits to learn more about the economic development, investment opportunities and cultural life of different cities. Two years ago you visited Valmiera and Cēsis, while this year the destination was Liepāja. What impression did Latvia’s “City of Winds” leave on you?
I had last been there around twenty years ago, when one of the previous Honorary Consuls’ meetings included visits to both Ventspils and Liepāja. I remember arriving in Ventspils and being impressed by how beautiful the city was. This time, however, my first impression of Liepāja was somewhat disappointing, as the old industrial buildings are still very much visible. The newly planted trees look attractive, but behind them you can still see the red-brick buildings with broken windows that once formed part of the former Liepājas Metalurgs steelworks. It is not the kind of first impression one hopes to have when entering the city.
Later, we visited the industrial park that is now being developed on the site of the former steelworks. We also toured the port, where we saw NATO vessels.
What impression did the Liepāja Special Economic Zone leave on you? It is often cited as an example of how a port city can continue to develop despite losing cargo traffic.
A very positive one. I was particularly impressed by what the Mayor of Liepāja and the city administration are doing. They are actively working to attract people to live and work in the city while also investing in the construction of new housing. Latvia is a small country, and its cities inevitably compete with one another for people, businesses and investment. I was also impressed by the city’s preparations for its year as a European Capital of Culture. We visited the Great Amber Concert Hall, an outstanding building located close to the sea. It clearly demonstrated the city’s ambitions and its determination to compete for investment and international recognition. On our journey to Liepāja, we also saw the large wind farms that have been developed in the region. We visited the Orthodox Naval Cathedral in Karosta, which was truly magnificent. Unfortunately, we did not have the opportunity to visit the Šķēde Memorial on the seashore, which commemorates the victims of the Holocaust in Liepāja.
Liepāja is a relatively small city, yet it has achieved a great deal. At the same time, there is still much work to be done. For example, some of the Soviet-era apartment blocks are in a very poor state of repair. The contrasts that still exist in Latvia remain quite striking.
How can Honorary Consuls help Latvia—and cities such as Liepāja in particular—attract investment? Is it mainly a matter of sharing information about what you have seen and introducing potential business opportunities?
I can certainly help establish contacts in the cultural sector—for example, between musicians, symphony orchestras and other artistic projects. At the same time, Liepāja itself needs to continue promoting what it has to offer. Its primary market is, of course, Europe. Perhaps certain Latvian technologies could also find opportunities in Australia, but it is difficult to identify specific areas where Australian investors might be interested—for example, in real estate development or hotel construction. Those are much more complex investment decisions.
Your father, Emīls Dēliņš, served for many years as Latvia’s Honorary Consul in Melbourne. You and your brother, Daris Gunārs Dēliņš, have continued that work, and it seems that Daris’s son, Matīss, is also showing an interest. Can we speak of a family tradition of the Dēliņš family serving Latvia?
Today, Latvian embassies have taken over a much larger share of consular responsibilities, and representatives of the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) also provide valuable support. For example, Daris previously had considerably more consular duties. He helped many people with translations and citizenship matters. Daris served for several years as Latvia’s Honorary Consul in New York and now serves as Honorary Consul in the U.S. state of Vermont. For the past eight years, he has also organised the New York Baltic Film Festival (NYBFF). Although there are fewer Latvians living in Vermont, people still call him regularly seeking assistance. He has done a great deal to strengthen cultural and economic ties between Latvia and the United States.
This year, he brought his seventeen-year-old son, Matīss, with him to the Honorary Consuls’ meeting in Riga. Matīss spent two days attending the conference, observing its work and learning how everything is organised. I believe that he, too, may one day contribute to Latvia, because he has a strong connection to the country.
When it comes to business cooperation, I should also mention that Sabīne Kazaka, the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia’s representative in Australia, is based in Melbourne. We have developed an excellent working relationship in recent years. Following my meetings with Latvian entrepreneurs, I will send her a summary together with the relevant contact details so that we can jointly assess which opportunities are worth pursuing further.
I often think of John F. Kennedy’s famous words: “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.” Like my father before me, I regard this position as a privilege and an opportunity to continue helping others. That sense of service has been with me since childhood. We attended the Latvian Saturday school, and every Sunday morning we first had to complete our Latvian school homework before we were allowed to go to the park. At home, we spoke only Latvian. The most important lesson I inherited from my father, however, was the importance of being helpful, open and kind to other people.
Being open and kind is sometimes the hardest part because people are very different. Occasionally, a visitor may say something unpleasant, yet you still have to remain courteous.
Perhaps this is not always customary in Latvia. If you ask someone, “How are you?” they may wonder why you are asking. But it is an attitude—a simple way of establishing a personal connection from the very beginning. In France, for example, when you enter a shop, it is customary to greet the shopkeeper with “Bonjour, monsieur” or “Bonjour, madame.” In recent years, I have also noticed that in Latvia it has become much more common for strangers to greet one another with “Labdien” (“Good day”). People are becoming more open, and everyday communication is increasingly moving closer to the standards of Western Europe. Personal contact can make an enormous difference.
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