“I have a clear message that I want to convey to us, the Baltic people, to our Western partners, and also to those in the East: we are not afraid. We are on the Eastern flank, and though we cannot change our geographical location, we can change policy and, through our decisions, invest increasingly more in security and defence,” said Daiga Mieriņa, Speaker of the Saeima, during her address at the 44th Session of the Baltic Assembly at the Saeima building on Friday, 14 November.
The Speaker of the Saeima emphasized that for centuries, the Baltic states have stood side by side as sister nations. In the most difficult times, we have always stood together as a solid foundation. Since the restoration of our independence, we have made an incredible breakthrough and a positive transformation of our economies and development, and have oriented our values towards the West,” said Speaker Mieriņa.
The Speaker of the Saeima highlighted that today, the Baltic States are the ones standing guard for the European Union and NATO, leading by example first and foremost through their actions. “We are defending Western ideas and values, which the aggressor is trying to eradicate with all his might through the barbaric war in Ukraine. Our societies are using critical thinking and resilience to stand up to the hybrid war waged by the aggressor,” said Speaker Mieriņa, emphasising that the aggressor aims to influence minds and spread fear.
The Speaker of the Saeima referred to the NATO summit in The Hague where a decision was made to allocate five percent of gross domestic product to security and defence. “The Baltic States, along with Poland, will be the first ones to achieve this target,” said Speaker Mieriņa.
The Speaker of the Saeima also emphasized that it is us, the Baltic friends, who are tirelessly calling for more sanctions against the aggressor. “This has not caused our economies to collapse because we are able to separate the wheat from the chaff. In business, too, we are able to adapt, think, and act for the long term.
“The potential of our trilateral cooperation is far from exhausted,” noted the Speaker of the Saeima, emphasising that by coming together, we can find solutions to the challenges in healthcare and education, and strengthen our cooperation in the field of security.
Speaker Mieriņa highlighted that the common tasks for the coming years concern the development of large infrastructure projects, attracting additional funding, and deepening internal Baltic integration by promoting the Baltic languages in border regions. “We are setting an example for the rest of Europe with our developments in cybersecurity, drone technology, artificial intelligence, and even quantum technology. Today, I invite you to appreciate our cooperation, our achievements, and to celebrate our freedom and democracy!” said the Speaker of the Saeima while concluding her speech.
Parliamentarians of the Baltic States have gathered in Riga to discuss the topicalities of Baltic cooperation and review the success of the Latvian presidency. The 44th Session of the Baltic Assembly will focus on transport connectivity.
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Saeima Press Service