The 10th convocation of the Saeima can be characterised by active work on foreign policy matters – it organised the first parliamentary foreign policy debate, established even closer ties with parliamentarians of other Baltic States and Nordic Countries, and on the European level it lobbied matters essential to our state regarding Cohesion Policy and Common Agricultural Policy, indicates Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima.
“The 10th convocation of the Saeima will be remembered for introducing a new tradition – the foreign policy debate. Active discussions and appreciation expressed by foreign policy experts testify to the need for such a parliamentary debate. This type of debate will increase the role of parliament in defining Latvia’s foreign policy priorities,” says the Speaker. The first debate on Latvia’s foreign policy was held on 27 January 2011, and, pursuant to the Rules of Procedure, from now on it will be held every year.
“During the 10th Saeima, one of the most impressive foreign policy events for me was participation in the conference on women enhancing democracy held in Vilnius for female leaders and attended by Hillary Clinton, U.S. Secretary of State. I was also honoured to welcome the speakers of Nordic and Baltic parliaments in Riga on 21 August at the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the de facto restoration of Latvia’s independence,” notes Āboltiņa.
The Speaker notes that MPs facilitated parliamentary diplomacy by their meetings with foreign parliamentarians and other high public officials. During numerous diplomatic meetings, issues that are important to Latvia have been addressed, including attraction of foreign investment and protection of interests of Latvian entrepreneurs abroad.
“During the term of office of the 10th Saeima, speakers of three countries visited Latvia. I would like to particularly highlight the visit of Park Hee-tae, Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea. That was the first visit to Latvia by parliamentarians of the Republic of Korea on such a high level, and one of its goals was to promote economic cooperation between both countries,” says Āboltiņa. Mehmet Ali Şahin, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of the Republic of Turkey, and Miroslava Němcová, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, also visited the parliament of Latvia.
Speaker Āboltiņa emphasises that during the meetings with foreign ambassadors and speakers of parliaments, including Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Parliament, Norbert Lammert, President of the German Bundestag, and Per Westerberg, Speaker of the Swedish parliament, issues that are of particular interest to Latvia regarding the multiannual financial framework of the EU, namely, cohesion funds and direct payments in agriculture, have been highlighted.
The 10th convocation of the Saeima significantly contributed to defining Latvia’s position – namely, on 14 July it adopted statements on the Cohesion Policy and the Common Agriculture Policy. In these statements the Saeima urged the European Union to devise an equitable Common Agricultural Policy that would provide equal direct area payments to all farmers and that would retain the current level of cohesion funds so that successful implementation of investment programmes could continue.
Latvia’s position regarding these matters was also expressed directly during meetings with public officials of the European Commission, including Maroš Šefčovič, Vice President of the European Commission, and Janusz Lewandowski, Commissioner on Financial Programming and Budget, indicated Imants Lieģis, Chairman of the European Affairs Committee. Latvia’s interests were also actively lobbied during regular meetings of chairmen of the European affairs committees of the EU member state parliaments.
“It is imperative for all representatives of Latvia – ministers, diplomats, members of the European Parliament and the Saeima – to express a uniform position at all levels of the EU. Only by coordinated lobbying on all EU policy levels will we have a chance to gain favourable results for Latvia,” says Lieģis, who also highlights the need to find allies among other EU member states.
When reflecting upon the most significant visits by foreign parliamentarians to the Saeima, Ojārs Kalniņš, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, highlights the visit of U.S. senators, as well as the visits of several delegations from the People’s Republic of China.
“Latvia was visited by Han Qide, Vice Chairman of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China, members of the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Li Zhaoxing - former Minister for Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China. A visit by such a high- level delegation to Latvia and the Saeima should be regarded very positively, especially if we take into account the fact that of the three Baltic States they, visited only Latvia. That reflects China’s particular interest in cooperation with Latvia,” indicates Kalniņš.
Saeima Press Service