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The Seimas Speaker paid an official visit to Latvia to meet the leaders of the state


18 November

 

During his first official visit to the Republic of Latvia, Speaker of the Seimas Arûnas Valinskas met with the leaders of the state. Head of the Latvian Saeima Gundars Daudze received Mr. Valinskas in the building of the parliament, and President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers received him in his residence in the Riga Castle. The Speaker of the Seimas also met with Latvian Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis and Minister of Foreign Affairs Maris Riekstins, and had dinner with Deputy Speaker of the Latvian Saeima Karina Petersone.

 

The priorities were given to the issues of energy and financial crisis, coordination of positions in the European Union and NATO, and the events to mark the 20th anniversary of the Baltic Road.

 

While expressing Lithuania’s position on energy issues, Mr. Valinskas noted that the most important task was to reduce the risk of energy safety through diminishing energetic exclusion of the Baltic states and their energetic dependency on one external supplier. Concerning the implementation of the link with Sweden, he assured that Lithuania was ready to start the project.

 

“We have established a company, carried out a feasibility study, and we have all necessary finance. With regard to the surveys conducted and the current situation, Lithuania could implement the “SwedLit” project in 2013,” the Lithuanian Speaker of the Seimas stated.

 

Latvian leaders unanimously suggested considering this issue during next negotiations as the electricity supply question could not be delayed anymore.

 

“We are for the joint energy network of the Baltic region. The most important is not the country where the link should be laid but that the project is implemented as quickly, cheaply and usefully as possible,” Head of the Saeima Mr. Daudze said.

 

The Latvian Prime Minister described the current economic situation of the country. Mr. Godmanis, who is now called the “Prime Minister of Crises”, admitted that Latvia is forced to undertake stricter saving and tax collection measures than those laid down in Lithuania’s plans.

 

“Many global processes reach Latvia earlier than Lithuania, thus, by sharing experience, we may avoid certain painful solutions which our neighbour is forced to adopt now. When drawing up the anti-crisis plan, the governing coalition took Latvia’s case into consideration,” Mr. Valinskas noted.

 

During his meeting with the Latvian President, the Seimas Speaker discussed the issues of security and cooperation of the Baltic states.

 

“We have a lot in common with Latvia. We have a common history and two living unique Baltic languages. Therefore, I do hope that our frequent meetings with Latvian leaders of the state will help us to find solutions, shoulder to shoulder heading in the same direction. Crises start and end, but we will always remain brothers,” Mr. Valinskas summarised his meetings with Latvian heads of the state.

 

Spokesperson  to the Seimas Speaker Indrë Virþintë

 





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