“The Baltic people still remember the Soviet occupation of 1940, the lies and humiliations, the struggles of the national resistance movements, the Soviet repressions, and the marginalisation of Latvians, Lithuanians, and Estonians under the Soviet occupying regime. We understand our Ukrainian brothers, and we are doing and will continue to do everything within our power to protect the path of development chosen by the Ukrainian people towards decent life based in European values. What happened during the 50 years of occupation in the Baltics cannot repeat in Ukraine,” said Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, while opening the 41st Session of the Baltic Assembly on 28 October.

Latvian, Lithuanian, and Estonian parliamentarians agreed on cooperation priorities for 2023 during the 41st Session of the Baltic Assembly (BA), which took place in the Saeima building on 28 October. Safe and resilient Baltic States were defined as the first priority, followed by Baltic cooperation through unity, solidarity and support, as well as sustainable development of the Baltic States.

“No area of Baltic cooperation can be discussed without considering the context caused by the invasion of Russian military forces in Ukraine. Security and defence cooperation was an important priority on the Baltic Assembly agenda even before the war, but it has become fundamentally important in these new circumstances, also adding coordinated support for Ukraine,” said Jānis Vucāns, President of the Baltic Assembly (BA) and Head of its Latvian Delegation, on 28 October.

“We have come together to honour democracy and parliamentarism. To honour the strength of Latvia and the fact that our voices have always been crucial to the destiny of Latvia. That was the case during the founding of the state of Latvia and during the restoration of Latvian independence, and it is true today as we create the future of Latvia—the continuation of us. Freedom, independence, democracy—these are the highest values laid at the foundation of our state and the state system,” emphasised Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, on Thursday, 27 October, in her opening address of the celebratory concert “Continuation. Our Voices” dedicated to the centenary of the Saeima.

“On the path towards their own country, the people of Latvia chose democracy and parliamentarism, and our history affirms that it was the right decision,” said Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, on Thursday, 27 October, at the ceremonial unveiling of a plaque dedicated to the centenary of the Saeima.

During the First Parliamentary Summit of the International Crimea Platform in the Croatian capital Zagreb, Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, received a national award of Ukraine—the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, II degree. The Order was presented to the Speaker of the Saeima by Ruslan Stefanchuk, Chair of the Parliament of Ukraine.

“The Armed Forces and the brave people of Ukraine are now fighting for the right to live in their own country. Their goal is to liberate the occupied territories and establish peace. The victory of Ukraine is a victory for us as well. Only a full Ukrainian victory and total defeat of Russia will guarantee lasting peace in Europe,” emphasised Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, on Tuesday, 25 October, in Zagreb in her address at the First Parliamentary Summit of the International Crimea Platform, which brought together over 30 different countries and international organisations.

On Thursday, 20 October, a ceremony was held at the main building of the Saeima to present a postage stamp and envelope dedicated to the centenary of the Parliament of Latvia. “The Latvian Post has captured several events crucial to the history of our state, such as the founding of the Latvian Popular Front, the Baltic Way, and the 4 May 1990 Declaration of Independence. Today, another postage stamp will be added to this collection, dedicated to the centenary of the Saeima,” said Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima.

On Thursday, 20 October, the Saeima adopted in the third and final reading the Rail Baltica Law to ensure the construction of European standard gauge high-speed rail infrastructure and prevent obstacles affecting timely completion of construction corresponding with the allocated funding.