Heads of Lithuanian and international organisations congratulated the parliamentary Congress: we must ensure a world order based on international law

Press release, 12 May 2023

Photo by Ilona Šilenkova, Office of the Seimas

 

On Friday, a two-day global parliamentary congress The Future of the World has begun at the Seimas. The participants were welcomed by the heads of Lithuanian and international organisations. Welcoming addresses included concern about geopolitical tensions, focus on Ukraine, and attention to parliamentary democracy.

 

In his video address, Gitanas Nausėda, President of the Republic of Lithuania, stressed that Russia’s cruel war against Ukraine reminded that the future of the world depends on ‘our collective ability to support and guarantee respect for international law’. According to the President, this means respect for borders and commitment to the non-use of force to change them.

 

Mr Nausėda encouraged parliaments and their members to consolidate efforts in strengthening parliamentary democracy and implementing it, thus concurrently fighting against growing threats to human rights, democracy and the rule of law. ‘The parliamentary dimension is essential in achieving these goals,’ stressed the President.

Photo by Ilona Šilenkova, Office of the Seimas

 

Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Speaker of the Seimas, spoke about the need to ensure a world order based on international law. ‘When states respect international law, they create a stable and predictable environment in which cooperation and collaboration can thrive. This is the only way to meet the global challenges of the future,’ said the Speaker of the Seimas. Nevertheless, she stated that the international law was currently under threat: ‘We see how international norms and rules are being flouted, how an engagement in aggressive behaviour and violation the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other states becomes a new norm. This threatens the stability and security of the global system and undermines our ability to solve the challenges we face.’

 

The Speaker of the Seimas was convinced that it was no exaggeration to say that much of the world’s political future was being decided in Ukraine. ‘The aggression against Ukraine is not just about territorial integrity or geopolitical interests. It is about the fundamental values that underpin our societies. It is about the right of people to choose their own future and to live in a free and democratic society. It is about the rule of law, human rights, and the dignity of every individual,’ said Ms Čmilytė-Nielsen.

 

The Speaker of the Seimas called on the parliamentarians to actively defend these values and gave the audience an example of how to involve politicians in such political processes. She mentioned her initiative to convene a High-Level Meeting of NATO parliamentary speakers on 1–3 June 2023 ahead of the NATO Vilnius summit. ‘My hope is that this High-Level meeting will help the speakers of the parliaments and other MPs be better equipped for national debates on issues relevant to NATO as well as to contribute to the development of the consensus among member countries that must underpin Alliance policies, and help make the workings and policies of the Alliance more transparent and comprehensible to parliaments and their publics,’ stressed Ms Čmilytė-Nielsen.

Photo by Olga Posaškova, Office of the Seimas

 

In his video message, Guy Bernard Ryder, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, presented the UN Secretary-General’s initiatives aimed at addressing the vital problems of future generations. He mentioned the agreement between the governments on the Declaration for Future Generations, which would recognise the needs of future generations and freedom of choice; the need for appointing a Special Envoy for Future Generations, who would, among other things, advise governments on how best to represent the interests of future generations; and the need for establishing a network of future laboratories within the UN system with its headquarters in Helsinki. Mr Ryder associated these initiatives with the UN’s preparations for the Summit of the Future to be held in New York on 22–23 September 2024 and invited the Congress to actively contribute to the achievement of the objectives of this event.

Photo by Ilona Šilenkova, Office of the Seimas

 

Like other speakers, Duarte Pacheco, President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, underlined the need for a greater involvement of parliaments in addressing current and future challenges in the world. Mr Pacheco emphasised that the IPU, which represents 180 states and unites 47 thousand MPs, condemned the military aggression against Ukraine and the illegal annexation of its territory. He called on parliamentarians to take resolute action because they had the decision-making power. ‘We need to cooperate with our Ukrainian counterparts and do our utmost to help win this war,’ said the IPU President. He stressed that Ukraine’s victory would be not only Ukraine’s victory, but also the triumph of the European democratic values.

 

The photos of the event are published on the Flickr account of the Seimas and will be free for use provided they bear the indication of the source.

 

Live webcasting and video recordings will be available on the Seimas YouTube channel Atviras Seimas (Open Seimas).

 

Find out more on the Congress here.

 

Jolanta Anskaitienė, Adviser, Press Office, Information and Communication Department, tel. +370 5 239 6508, e-mail: [email protected]