History
August 11, 1920 – Latvia signs a peace agreement with Soviet Russia
12.11.2008.
The initial position of the Baltic States was that discussion with Russia would take place collectively. On the other hand, Russia wished to achieve that discussions with each of the Baltic States would take place separately. The first debates within the National Council on possible peace talks with Russia took place on October 6, 1919. Three possible approaches to peace talks with Russia came out from the debates. The first approach was represented by the Interim Government, and was put forward by Latvian Foreign Minister Zigfrids Anna Meierovics - armistice talks must be carried out collectively together with Estonia and Lithuania, but after the armistice is agreed upon, further peace talks must only be made with a Russia that is not ruled by a Bolshevist government.
1920 - The de facto recognition of Latvia
12.11.2008.The last part of Latvia's fight for freedom and the end of warfare in the country moved forward Latvia's attempts for its recognition. On July 21, 1919, Latvia and Estonia signed a border agreement, which basically meant the mutual de facto recognition between the two countries. In the Autumn of 1919 and the first months of 1920, Finland, Poland, Lithuania, Belgium and France recognized the de facto independence of Latvia. Great Britain, Germany and Japan had already previously recognized the de facto independence of Latvia.
1919 - The battles for Latvia's independence and Bermondt's attack against Riga
07.11.2008.
Until the liberation of Riga on May 22, 1919, Karlis Ulmanis and Andrievs Niedra cooperated. However, after the city was liberated, the situation changed. Estonian and Latvian forces moved into Northern Latvia from Estonia, which supported the K.Ulmanis government, but did not acknowledge the A. Niedra government. It is interesting to point out that the smaller Latvian force was actually established in Estonia. Germans, who wished to increase their influence in Latvia, were interested not to allow these military units to capture large territories in Latvia, because this would strengthen the position of K.Ulmanis and his supporters.
April 16, 1919 - Coup against the interim government in Liepaja
04.11.2008.During the time when Latvia's interim government was fighting against the Bolsheviks in Latvia, which had formed the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic in the country, the interim government received help from Great Britain, France and Germany. However, Germany had its own interests, and it attempted to keep Latvia and Estonia under its government control at all costs, which was the reason of a coup by German soldiers to overthrow the interim government.
January 3, 1919 - Soviet Russia forces enter Riga, Latvia
04.11.2008.
Latvia's interim government finds itself in a hopeless situation in the final days of 1918, because on December 30, 1918, social democrats back out of cooperation and leave the National Council, but on January 3, 1919, Soviet Russia forces enter Riga and continue their invasion of Latvia, occupying almost the whole country.
November 19, 1918 – National Council approves first Government of the Republic of Latvia
29.09.2008.
Already the next day after the Proclamation of Independence of the Republic of Latvia, November 19, 1918, the National Council approved an Interim Government, set up by the first Prime Minister of Latvia Karlis Ulmanis, which continued to work for one year, and is considered to be the first Cabinet of Ministers of Latvia.
November 18, 1918 – Proclamation of Latvia’s independence
25.08.2008.
The National Council was established just one day before the proclamation of Latvia's independence, on November 17, 1918. The same day, the National Council elected Latvia's first provisional government, and decided that at the National Council's next session, on November 18, 1918 the independence of Latvia would be declared.
November 17, 1918 – National Council established, which will later set up Latvia’s first provisional government
25.08.2008.
November 17, 1918 is as important day in Latvia's history as November 18, 1918, because on the day before Latvia's Independence Proclamation Day the National Council was formed from two Latvia's representative assemblies. The National Council elected Latvia's first provisional government, declared Latvia an independent country on November 18, 1918, and convened the Constitutional Assembly.
July 12, 1918 - Latvian Provisional National Council delegated Zigfrīds Anna Meierovics to represent Latvia abroad
25.08.2008.
Since the end of 1917, Latvian Provisional National Council (LPNC) and its Foreign Affairs Department underlined in its meetings the need to send representatives of the National Council on visits abroad, outside the borders of Russia at that time. In meetings with foreign diplomatic representatives, which took place in Russia, it was impossible to defend the interests of the Latvian nation, to propagate the idea of proclamation of an independent Latvia or to promote the idea of international recognition of Latvia. Therefore, LNDP adopted a decision to assign Zigfrīds Anna Meierovics, who later became the first Minister of Foreign Affairs of the independent Latvia, to represent the interests of Latvia abroad.
October 13, 1917 – foundation of Latvian Provisional National Council (LPNC)
25.08.2008.The idea of an independent Latvia could materialize as a result of the consequences of World War I, when empires collapsed and a number of new, independent countries emerged (Finland, Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, Caucasus countries, Estonia, Lithuania), on November 18, 1918, also Latvia among them. However, real action to achieve the proclamation of Latvia's independence were taken already before 1918 - one year earlier, on October 13, 1917, Latvian Provisional National Council (LPNC) was founded in Petrograd (currently - St. Petersburg).
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