Press release, 28 November 2014
Loreta Graužinienė, Speaker of the Seimas, met with Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia. This was the first official foreign visit of Ms Mūrniece who was elected as the new leader of the Latvian Parliament in early November.
“I am glad that brotherhood between the two Baltic nations is symbolically expressed through parliamentary diplomacy, exchange of visits after elections, and the development of cooperation between the groups for inter-parliamentary relations. I do hope that this will successfully continue in the same vein,” said Loreta Graužinienė at the meeting with the Speaker of the Saeima.
She noted that both countries have to deal with the same topical and important matters such as geopolitical situation, energy and transport and cultural ties. The leader of the Lithuanian Parliament also promised to give full support to Latvia during the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Latvia is taking over the Presidency from Italy as of January 2015.
Ināra Mūrniece said that the experience of Lithuanian politicians and experts gained during the Lithuanian Presidency was of great importance to Latvia. Presenting the priorities of the forthcoming Latvian Presidency of the Council of the EU, she focused on promoting the EU’s competitiveness and growth, exploiting European digital potential to underpin the Union’s growth, and enhancing the role of the EU as a global actor.
Photos by Olga Posaškova, the Seimas Office
The meeting was also attended by Vydas Gedvilas, First Deputy Speaker of the Seimas; Irena Degutienė, Gediminas Kirkilas and Algirdas Sysas, Deputy Speakers of the Seimas; Benediktas Juodka, Chair of the Seimas Committee on Foreign Affairs; Vitalijus Gailius and Aleksandras Zeltinis, members of the Group for Inter-parliamentary Relations with the Republic of Latvia; Inese Laizāne, Ivans Klementjevs and Romualds Ražuks, Members of the Latvian Saeima.
Secretariat of the Speaker of the Seimas, tel. +370 5 239 6002
Neringa Mikėnaitė, Adviser to the Speaker of the Seimas, tel. +370 5 239 6344, mob. +370 698 42 759
