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On Friday, 23 August, as a part of the celebrations of the 30th anniversary of the Baltic Way, ceremonial opening of the Hall of the Baltic Way was held at the Saeima, with parliamentarians from several countries in attendance.
In her address Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, emphasised the role of the Baltic Way as an act of non‑violent resistance and manifestation of the people’s unwavering will, unity and drive towards attaining the common goal of freedom.
We take pride in the fact that the independence of the Baltic States was reinstated through a non-violent parliamentarian solution as the Baltic peoples' movements, namely, the Latvian Tautas fronte, the Estonian Rahvarinne and the Lithuanian Sajūdis, joined to reach a common objective. The Baltic Way is not only important for us. The Baltic Way is important for all Europeans in reminding us of the values that unite us. To remind us that we must fight for freedom and democratic ideals, said Speaker Mūrniece.
Thirty years ago the Baltic States demonstrated how unity and solidarity may prevail over political and military superiority, and make history. We should not take our cooperation for granted. It is a task of the Baltic Assembly (BA) and each of us to deepen the cooperation between the Baltic States and work towards the development of the region. The Baltic Way has taught us a valuable lesson: unity is essential to ensure independence of our countries and prosperity of our people, said Jānis Vucāns, President of the BA, Head of the Latvian delegation.
The ceremonial event dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Baltic Way was also attended by Aadu Must, Head of the Estonian delegation to the BA, and Valerijus Simulik, Head of the Lithuanian delegation to the BA.
Speaker of the Saeima awarded to the Heads of the delegations the unique bird’s-eye view photograph of the Baltic Way by Aivars Liepiņš and the commemorative badge of the Baltic Way. The gifts will be displayed in the Hall of the Baltic Way, which will permanently feature official gifts exchanged between the three parliaments of the Baltic States.
The event also included congratulatory addresses by representatives of the Baltic American Freedom League; Foreign Affairs Committee of the Estonian Parliament; Benelux Parliament, the Nordic Council, the Parliament of Georgia and the Parliament of Azerbaijan.
The Hall of the Baltic Way is located on the first floor of the Saeima building at 6/8 Jēkaba iela, next to the Baltic Hall.
About the Baltic Assembly:
On January 1 2019 Latvia assumed a year-long presidency of the Baltic Assembly.
The Baltic Assembly is an interparliamentary cooperation organisation of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania established on 8 November 1991. Each national parliament of the Baltic States is represented in the Baltic Assembly by 12 to 16 members of parliament. It is a coordinating and consultative organisation which has a right to express its opinion to the national parliaments and governments of the Baltic States, as well as the Baltic Council of Ministers, in the form of resolutions, decisions, declarations and recommendations; it also has a right to request the above-mentioned bodies to provide information on cross-border issues that are high on the Baltic Assembly’s agenda.
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Saeima Press Service