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“As a reliable ally and true friend, we wish the Ukrainian people to shape the future they desire – in a free, democratic and European country where there is no war and where kids have joyful and happy childhood,” said Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, today, on 17 March, as she addressed the participants of the international project “Children for Peace Around the World” in the Latvian parliament. 

In his address to Ukrainian children, Ainārs Mežulis, Chairman of the group for interparliamentary relations with Ukraine, stressed the project’s importance in proving that children often can achieve what is impossible for adults. “Sometimes adults fail to be heard, but one really has to listen to children, as they will always remind one of the promises made,” said Mežulis. He wished the symbol of the event – a peace dove – to fly and bring peace not only to Ukraine but also to the entire world for children to live in peace and happiness. 

H.E. Yevgen Perebyinis, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Ukraine to the Republic of Latvia, thanked Latvia for the opportunity given to Ukrainian children to recover after the tragic events in Ukraine and for the heartfelt concert last summer in Jūrmala in support of children who had suffered from hostilities. The Ambassador also expressed gratitude to the Hungarian Consulate in Ukraine for starting the peace project, as well as voiced the hope that adults will listen to the children’s wish for peace. 

Today, as part of the international project “Children for Peace Around the World”, an event aiming to express support to Ukrainian peace aspirations and peace around the entire world took place in the Saeima building. The Speaker of the Saeima, members of the Presidium, other MPs, the Ambassador of Ukraine to Latvia, Ambassador of Hungary to Latvia Adrien Müller, as well as project organisers and children from Ukraine and from the Riga Ukrainian Secondary School participated in the event. 

In support of Ukraine and world peace, children, MPs and other participants made a map of Latvia and attached to it symbolic paper peace doves with their wishes for peace. 

The project “Children for Peace Around the World” was started in Ukraine in December last year following the initiative of the Hungarian Consulate in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine. As part of the project, various events have taken place in Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Austria. This week, another event in support of peace in Ukraine and around the world was hosted by the Lithuanian parliament as well. 

The peace project will continue until the International Day for Protection of Children on 1 June, when maps of 35 European countries with children’s paper doves spreading the peace message will be presented at a closing event in Ukraine. 
 

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Saeima Press Service