Latvian Counselor to the US Anatols Dinbergs, among leaders of 73 countries around the world, signed the Apollo 11 Goodwill Messages on behalf of the Latvian nation. Nevertheless, Latvia was not allowed to establish a government-in-exile in any Western country or sign the Declaration of the United Nations (1942), as Latvian diplomats wished. The Soviet Foreign Ministry issued formal protests against the Baltic diplomatic missions remaining open in Washington DC and elsewhere. In Canada the official list of diplomats included the offices of the Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. In the early 1960s that caused the Soviet Embassy in Canada to refuse to receive the lists distributed by the Canadian Department of External Affairs. Eventually, the UK excluded the Baltic diplomats from the Diplomatic List, but as a compromise Baltic diplomats continued to be accepted as possessing a diplomatic character by His/Her Majesty's Governments. The Latvian diplomatic service in exile actively co-operated with organizations of the Latvian diaspora in joint efforts to keep Western countries from formally recognizing Latvia’s annexation by the USSR. The existence of the exiled diplomatic service was another demonstration of the illegality of the annexation. Transition of mandate after restoration of independence The exiled diplomatic service of Latvia played an important role during the restoration of independence of Latvia in 1988 - 1990 and in ensuring the legal continuity between the newly independent Latvian state and the interwar Latvian Republic. Latvia's parliament officially restored the country’s full independence on the 21 August 1991 in the aftermath of the failed Soviet coup attempt. Wide international recognition of restored independence started after that, and the legations and consulates of the exiled diplomatic service were transferred to the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Anatols Dinbergs, the last head of the diplomatic service in exile, was promoted to the rank of Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations (September - December 1991) as well as Ambassador to the United States (1991–1992). Heads of the Latvian diplomatic service in exile Kārlis Zariņš (Charles Zarine) (1940–1963) Arnolds Spekke (1963–1970) Anatols Dinbergs (1971–1991). See also State continuity of the Baltic states Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Latvia) Latvian Central Council References Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic Baltic diplomatic missions Diplomatic services Former governments in exile Government of Latvia Occupation of the Baltic states Anti-communist organisations in Latvia