Janis JURKANS

Background

JURKANS, Janis was born on August 31, 1946 in Riga. Parents: Antons Jurkans and Marianna Jurkane (née Zaharevic).

Education

Latvian University, Riga, English language and literature. Spoken languages: Russian, English.

Career

He worked as a lecturer from 1974 to 1978. In 1989 he became an activist of the Popular Front. Jurkāns was Minister of Foreign Affairs in Latvia, 1990–1992.

In 1992, Janis Jurkāns, together with 9 other Baltic Ministers of Foreign Affairs and an European Union commissioner, founded the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) and the EuroFaculty.

He resigned in 1992 due to opposition to the Latvian citizenship law, that in his view threatened social harmony in the country. He also rejected territorial claims to the Abrene district.

In 1994, Jurkāns founded the National Harmony Party and was the chairman of the party"s faction in the Saeima (1994–1996. 1997–1998) and later of the parliamentary faction of the Foreign Human Rights in United Latvia alliance.

He was a deputy in the V, VI, VII and VIII convocations of the Saeima (1993–2006).

In 2002, he visited Moscow and met Vladimir Putin, who expressed support for Jurkāns"s policies. Jānis Jurkāns is married, and has two sons.

Achievements

• Janis JurkANs has been listed as a noteworthy government official by Marquis Who's Who.

Religion

Catholic

Politics

In 2005 he distanced himself from politics, concentrating on the logistics corporation "Baltijas asociācija – transports un loģistika". Nevertheless, he participated in the Latvian parliamentary election, 2011 as a Latvia"s First Party/Latvian Way candidate and was a potential candidate for foreign minister. However, he failed to get elected.

Interests

• Avocations: tennis, cycling, books, music.

Connections

Married Ilze Auzere Grace, June 8, 1992. Children: Janis, David.

Father:

Antons Jurkans

Mother:

Marianna (Zaharevic) Jurkans

Spouse:

Ilze Auzere Grace

child:

David Jurkans

child:

Janis Jurkans