Local Doctor and Latvian Prime Minister Cut Ribbon on Consulate

When Dr. Juris Bunkis got the call that the prime minister of Latvia and 40 other Latvians were coming to his office, he was more than a little surprised.

"I almost fell off my chair," the Coto de Caza plastic surgeon said.

But, after the shock wore off, he and his staff got his Rancho Santa Margarita office ready.  

The prime minister of Latvia helped cut the ribbon for a new honorary consulate within the city of Rancho Santa Margarita on Sunday, and officially recognized Bunkis as the honorary Latvian consul for Southern California.

An honorary consul serves as a diplomatic representative of a foreign country but is usually not an employee of that foreign government. The honorary consul works to foster friendly business and social relationships between two nations.

"I am confident he [Bunkis] is up to the challenge," said Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis in front of a group of at least 50 people crowded into Bunkis’ office.

"We do wish [him] all the success in the world." 

The son of Latvian immigrants, Bunkis graduated from the University of Toronto Medical School in 1974 and completed a general surgery residency at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital, Columbia University, in New York and Beth Israel Hospital, Harvard University.

He served as chief of plastic surgery at San Francisco General Hospital. Since 1984, Bunkis has been in private practice.

“It is with great honor that I undertake this task,” Bunkis said with his wife, Tina, at his side at the July 17 event.

For a more complete biography on Bunkis, click here.

Caroll Chronister, a patient coordinator who has worked with Bunkis for eight years, said the whole thing was exciting.

"Dr. Bunkis is such a generous man. He gives so much to many people," Chronister said. "It’s nice that he gets honored, and that, at the same time, he is able to give back to his country."

Bunkis has particpated in many volunteer activities including surgical work with children in Central America. For his efforts, he was knighted by the Cavelieri Di San Marco (Knights of St. Marc) in Venice, Italy, in 1995.

The afternoon ribbon-cutting ceremony was part of a national working visit of the prime minister and the Latvian delegation to the United States in an effort to foster economic relationships between American and Latvian businesses.

According to the prime minister, the country was hit hard by the economic meltdown in 2008-2010.

One of the members of the delegation, Valentina Jegorova, a project manager with Latvian construction company Ostas Celtnieks, made her point clear despite difficulty speaking English.

 “We hope for partners in America,” Jegorova said.

After a number of welcome messages from locals including Orange County Supervisor Pat Bates and Congressman Ed Royce, honorary consul Bunkis and Dombrovskis cut the dark red ribbon.

Latvian Ambassador Andrejs Pildegovics joked that he cannot help Latvia "to be rich and famous" without honorary counsels. Such positions as Bunkis' are not paid positions.

At the ceremony, Bunkis and Dombrovskis exchanged gifts. 

Bunkis gave the prime minister a gift of Oakley sunglasses—an Orange County-based company—and a book about local motorcycle and hotrod customizer Arlen Ness, who also attended the event. 

Dombrovskis gave Bunkis his official American State Department honorary consul identification card.

Many attendees wore pins with the American and Latvian flags linked together.  

After the ceremony, Bunkis, and the Latvian delegation visited Rancho Santa Margarita City Hall where

The honorary consulate will serve the Southern California region and is located at 30212 Tomas, Suite 275.