Press releases

Ojars Kalniņš, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Saeima, has expressed his regret regarding Austria’s decision to deny extradition to Lithuania of the former Commander of Soviet Special Forces Unit “Alpha”, Mikhail Golovatov, who orchestrated the bloody attack on defenders of Lithuanian independence at the Vilnius television tower in January 1991.
Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, sent official letters to officials of the European Union (EU) and the parliament of EU presidency (Poland) to inform them about the statements adopted by the Latvian parliament calling on the EU to develop an equitable Common Agricultural Policy so that farmers from all the member states receive the same direct payments, as well as to maintain the existing level of EU cohesion funding.
The www.21augusts.lv website now features newspaper editions covering events of August 1991. The press coverage is published as a part of preparations to celebrate the 20th anniversary of adopting the Constitutional Law on the Statehood of the Republic of Latvia.
On Thursday, 14 July, the Parliament of Latvia (Saeima) adopted two statements: the Statement on an Equitable Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union after 2013 and the Statement on the EU Budget’s Financing for Reducing Social and Economic Disparities after 2013. In the statements, the Saeima calls on the European Union (EU) to develop an equitable common agricultural policy so that farmers from all the member states receive the same direct area payments, as well as to maintain the existing level of cohesion funding in order not to jeopardise implementation of successfully launched investment programmes.
Saeima adopts major amendments to Law on Institutions of Higher Education
On Thursday, 14 July, the Saeima adopted in the final reading amendments to the Law on Institutions of Higher Education that will introduce several important changes in regulations concerning the activity of institutions of higher education; these changes are aimed at improving the quality of education. The Law sets forth stricter rules for developing and licensing a study programme and for selecting the academic staff.
On 21 August of this year, the 20th anniversary of the actual restoration of independence of our country will be celebrated.
Lieģis in Brussels and Warsaw to explain Latvia’s stance on EU direct agricultural payments
From 10 to 12 July, Imants Lieģis, Chairman of the European Affairs Committee of the Saeima, will be on a working visit to Belgium’s capital Brussels and Poland’s capital Warsaw to attend meetings of MEPs and MPs from EU’s national parliaments in order to defend Latvia’s position that our farmers should receive the same amounts of direct payments as farmers from other EU member states receive.
Andris Bērziņš sworn in as President of Latvia
On Friday, 8 July, during the extraordinary plenary sitting, Andris Bērziņš assumed his duties of office and took the solemn oath: “I swear that all of my work will be dedicated to the welfare of the people of Latvia. I will do everything in my power to promote the prosperity of the Republic of Latvia and all who live here. I will hold sacred and will observe the Constitution of Latvia and the laws of the State. I will act justly towards all and will fulfil my duties conscientiously.”
Saeima amends Commercial Law to reveal beneficial owners
On Friday, 8 July, the Saeima adopted in the last reading the amendments to the Commercial Law that were deemed urgent and aimed at identifying beneficial owners.
Latvia’s and South Korea’s speakers discuss possibility to open embassy in Riga
On Wednesday, 6 July, Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima, met with Park Hee Tae, Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, who is on an official visit to Latvia from 5 to 7 July. During the meeting, the Latvian Speaker emphasised that this year marks the 20th anniversary since Latvia and South Korea established diplomatic relations and that this high-level visit not only will give a new impetus to closer bilateral relations in economy, culture and education but also will contribute to opening an embassy in Riga.
Ceturtdien, 28.martā
10:00  Saeimas priekšsēdētājas biedres Zandas Kalniņas-Lukaševicas tikšanās ar Vācijas Federatīvās Republikas ārkārtējo un pilnvaroto vēstnieku Latvijas Republikā V.E. Christian Heldt