Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, met with Paul Ryan, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, in Washington, where she expressed appreciation for the US military presence in Europe and underlined the importance of a strong NATO alliance. Speaker Mūrniece, together with the Nordic and Baltic (NB8) speakers of parliament, is on a visit to the US from 26 to 29 June.

‘By deploying NATO battle group in our region the alliance has demonstrated its capacity to defend itself against any aggression,’ Speaker Ināra Mūrniece stressed on Monday, 19 June, at the Saeima, during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who arrived to welcome the enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroup deployed to Latvia.

Our common goal on both sides of the Atlantic is to ensure security and prosperity for our citizens. Security implies not only military security, but also cybersecurity and the security of financial systems and information space. It is therefore important to strengthen Transatlantic cooperation to counter terrorist threats, information warfare and cyberattacks. Speaker Ināra Mūrniece stressed this on Monday, 19 June, at the Saeima, while opening the 8th Parliamentary Intelligence Security Forum.

Latvia and Azerbaijan have a good basis for deepening cooperation in trade, transport and logistics. Speaker Ināra Mūrniece stressed this on Monday, 29 May, at the Saeima, during a meeting with Ogtay Asadov, Chairman of the Milli Mejlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan, who is in Latvia on an official visit.

“Latvia and Lithuania need to continue active cooperation in security and defence, as well as the transport and energy sectors,” said Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, when she met with Viktoras Pranckietis, Speaker of the Lithuanian parliament, in Burbiškas, Lithuania on Friday, 26 May.

“We are pleased that the Latvian-Uzbek cooperation is becoming more extensive and extends to a variety of areas”. Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, stressed this on Tuesday, 16 May, at the Saeima, during a meeting with Nigmatilla Yuldashev, Speaker of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, who, accompanied by a delegation, was in Latvia on an official visit.

On Thursday, 4 May, at the ceremonial sitting of the Saeima in honour of the 27th anniversary of the restoration of the independence of the Republic of Latvia, Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, said: “Throughout centuries Latvians have demonstrated their ability to take charge of their destiny at the decisive turns of events. It is our determination that will allow Latvia to exist forever and not let the sun in our coat of arms ever set”.

Latvia and China enjoy a very good political dialogue, and we are ready to further our cooperation in trade, investment and transport. Speaker Ināra Mūrniece stressed this on Wednesday, 12 April, at the Saeima, during a meeting with Zhang Dejiang, Chairman of the National People's Congress, who, accompanied by a delegation, was on an official visit to Latvia. The previous visit of this level took place 17 years ago.

By resisting the Russian aggression and implementing reforms, Ukraine has manifested its nation's strength. Latvia calls on Ukraine to continue carrying out reforms. Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, stressed this on Tuesday, 4 April, at the Saeima, during a meeting with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, who is on an official visit to Latvia.