On the day when the restored state of Latvia has become a day older then the first independent state of Latvia, Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, addressed the parliament from the rostrum of the Saeima and urged everybody to think about the basis for the existence of our state and to take responsibility for a free and independent Latvia in the future.

On 21 March 2013 exactly 7,884 days have passed since the restoration of Latvia’s independence. Thus the renewed state of Latvia has existed a day longer than the first free state of Latvia when it was occupied by the Soviet armed forces on 17 June 1940.

“Why do we have to talk about that? First, in order to remind ourselves and society that the Latvia of 1991 is not a new state and that Latvia was proclaimed and recognised as a state back in 1918. We lost our independence in 1940, but we renewed it in 1991,” the Speaker pointed out.

Āboltiņa stressed that the principle of continuity is an extremely important component of our statehood; it is in our power to ensure that in Latvia and elsewhere our history is explained and understood correctly in accordance with international law.

“This day reminds us that unlike many other nations we have our free, independent and democratic state that is based on values. We live in a national, democratic, lawful and parliamentary state where the power is vested in the people. We can express our opinion and cherish our language and culture. Our ability to do our job conscientiously determines the future of our state and our children,” emphasised Āboltiņa.

In her address on 21 March, the Speaker of the Saeima noted that the history of Latvia shows that the founding values of our state are not irrevocable, and their existence is not guaranteed to us eternally. “However, history also shows that our nation is capable of surviving long years of occupation, fighting for our state and restoring it. This is why on this day, when our renewed state is one day older than our free Latvia was in the interwar period, I would like you to remember that one’s own state and its founding values have to be maintained and cultivated every day. The ability of each of us to preserve and defend the values on which our state is founded will determine whether we will be able to pass on to our children and grandchildren an ever more flourishing free and independent Latvia,” said Solvita Āboltiņa.

Saeima Press Service