Speaker of the Seimas Loreta Graužinienė is taking part in the 33rd session of the Baltic Assembly in Tallinn, Estonia. She joined Eiki Nestor, President of the Riigikogu of the Republic of Estonia, and Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia, in congratulating the participants and guests of the event. In her address, Mrs Graužinienė highlighted the importance of cooperation of all the Baltic States in a range of areas, and placed a particular emphasis on regional security.
Eiki Nestor, Speaker of the Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu), Solvita Āboltiņa, Speaker of the Latvian Parliament (Saeima) and Loreta Graužinienė, Speaker of the Seimas. Photo by Olga Posaškova, the Seimas Office
“A safe society, prioritised in the BA agenda for 2014 and included in the priorities of the Lithuanian presidency of the BA, cannot be built without a clear defence policy, strong military cooperation between the Baltic States, and increased military budget. We need to be strong both as individual countries and as a unified region,” the Speaker of the Seimas said.
In her words, Lithuania is consistent in implementing the Accord between the political parties represented in the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania on strategic guidelines for the foreign security and defence policy of the Republic of Lithuania for 2014–2020 signed in March 2014 by all the parties represented in the Lithuanian parliament. This year’s budget foresees an increased funding for national defence, due to be further increased next year. Rapid reaction force has been launched, and NATO training is in place.
“I want to commend the support and heightened awareness of our citizens concerning security and defence at times of danger. On 27 October 2014, the Klaipėda seaport will see the arrival of the tanker, symbolically named Independence. The LNG terminal in Klaipėda offers a real prospect both for Lithuania and the entire region to ensure alternative gas supplies and energy independence from Russia,” highlighted Loreta Graužinienė.
Today, the Baltic Assembly will cover the relevant transport and infrastructure development projects in the region and EU Eastern Partnership. On 1 January 2015, Lithuania will take over the presidency of the BA. In anticipation of that, the BA session will elect the new President and Vice Presidents of the Baltic Assembly as well as approve the new committee chairmen and their deputies.
The events of the BA in Tallinn are also attended by Giedrė Purvaneckienė, Head of the Seimas delegation to the BA, and members of the Delegation, including Linas Balsys, Rytas Kupčinskas, Raimundas Paliukas, Valerijus Simulikas, Aurelija Stancikienė, and Irena Šiaulienė.
Secretariat of the Speaker of the Seimas, tel. +370 5 239 6002
Dalia Valentienė, Adviser to the Speaker of the Seimas
Tel. +370 5 239 6030, mob. +370 698 42 786
