Ojārs Ēriks Kalniņš

Ojārs Ēriks Kalniņš
Kalniņš in 2010
Member of the Saeima
In office
2 November 2010  14 October 2021
2nd Ambassador of Latvia to the United States
In office
1993–1999
PrecedingAivis Ronis
Preceded byAnatols Dinbergs
Personal details
Born22 October 1949
Munich, Bavaria, West Germany
DiedOctober 14, 2021(2021-10-14) (aged 71)
Riga, Latvia
SpouseIrma Kalniņa

Ojārs Ēriks Kalniņš (22 October 1949 – 14 October 2021) was a Latvian politician and diplomat who served as a member of the Saeima (2010–2021), head of the Latvian Institute (1999–2010), and as Ambassador to the United States (1993–1999). Born in a displaced person's camp in Germany to parents escaping the Soviet occupation of Latvia, he spent his early career working for various Latvian-American organizations before moving to Latvia and taking part in the restoration of Latvian independence. In 1998, he was awarded the Order of the Three Stars.